Exorcist [Import] [Paperback]

William Peter Blatty (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: CORGI BOOKS (TWLD); n.e. edition (November 1, 1999)
• ISBN-10: 0552147699
• ISBN-13: 978-0552147699
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (235 customer reviews)

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57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An unforgettable read with profound implications, August 9, 2003

By 

Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Exorcist (Mass Market Paperback)

William Peter Blatty's seminal novel of demonic possession took the nation and much of the world by storm when it was published in 1971, and the movie adaptation of The Exorcist ranks as one of the most famous horror movies of all time. Many, many readers over the years have described it as a quite unsettling if not frightening read; I envy these people because I didn't find the book at all shocking or scary. I was actually more affected by the inner turmoil of Father Karras than anything else. His doubts over his own faith, the horrible guilt he feels for having left his aged mother alone when he became a Jesuit priest, and some of his scattered sad childhood memories make of him a philosophical, sentimental character who serves as the main liaison between the reader and the events of the novel. What we see through Father Karras' eyes is a complex, troubling vision of life and death, a conduit of our own philosophical and religious struggles.

The plot of the The Exorcist is well-known to just about everyone. Chris MacNeil and her daughter are living in Georgetown while Chris is filming a new movie. The energetic and happy child, Regan, suddenly begins to change. Strange things begin to happen in the house - rustling noises are heard at night, objects seem to disappear and reappear in strange places, and Regan begins to complain about her bed shaking at night. When Regan's state of mind begins to deteriorate, Chris seeks medical help for her daughter, but the doctors, after a series of complete, agonizing tests, can find no evidence to support their theories of a condition brought about by a lesion in the temporal lobe of the brain. Regan continues to worsen, making wild animal noises, struggling with her caretakers with superhuman strength, cursing like a drunk pirate, speaking with several different voices, projectile vomiting a nasty green substance, claiming to be the devil himself, and - in what is probably the most shocking image of all - hideously violating herself with a religious icon. She eventually has to be strapped into bed for the protection of her as well as those around her. Desperately, the nonreligious Chris turns to the Jesuit priesthood for help, asking for an exorcism to be performed on her daughter. Father Karras studies the case, attempting to find a medical explanation for Regan's behavior even after he witnesses some extraordinary things in Regan's room and converses with the demon claiming to reside within her. In the end, Father Merrin, whom we met in a highly symbolic scene at the beginning of the book, comes to perform an exorcism, engaging once again in battle a demon he had defeated years earlier. The book concludes in a particularly strong, dramatic, and satisfying way.

The descriptions of Regan's behavior and increasingly disturbing actions are laid out in quite open and impacting ways here, but I think this aspect of the story is expressed much more effectively in the movie. It's one thing to read about projectile vomiting, a head spinning completely around, and the other physical manifestations of Regan's condition, but it's something else to actually watch it presented visually onscreen. The book's main strength, in my opinion, comes in the form of the character of Father Karras. The novel provides much deeper access into the mind and soul of this tragically troubled character, and herein is to be found the true heart of the book. The exorcism itself does not take center stage the way it does in the film. Despite all of its religious and demonic attributes, I believe Peter William Blatty's novel is a deep look inside the heart of man as he attempts to make sense and keep the faith in the face of the sometimes revolting human condition.

Those who have seen the movie will benefit greatly from a reading of Blatty's novel. There are a number of sub-plots covered only in these pages, and much of the symbolic and quite subtle aspects of the harrowing drama are not captured in the film at all (or are awkwardly included in the form of symbology that the casual viewer may not notice or recognize). It is interesting for me to ponder why so many find The Exorcist a truly frightening reading experience while I really do not. Perhaps those who are not religious have never really examined pure evil as straightforwardly as they are forced to in the form of this possessed child. In any event, I believe the horror many feel at this undeniably gripping and disturbing story comes not from a vision of the events so vividly described herein, but rather from a consciousness of the changes and perhaps fears wrought upon their own heart and soul by the implications of the experience.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More substance and subtlety than the movie, September 4, 2000

By 

keviny01 - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Exorcist (Mass Market Paperback)

Compared to the 1973 movie version, the book spends a great deal more effort in keeping it a mystery as to whether a genuine possession is taking place or whether it is simply a case of mental hyperactivity that can be explained scientifically. In trying to keep the reader guessing as to the authenticity of the possession, the more suspenseful the story becomes and the more unsettling and disquieting the result is.

The book frequently posits logical explanations whenever a seemingly paranormal event takes place. For instance, Regan's imaginary friend "Captain Howdy", who is first believed to be the source of the possession, may simply indicate a guilt complex caused by the absence of her father, who is named Howard; and prior to her acting out certain occultist rituals, she may have read a book on witchcraft that a party guest had given to her mother. These and many other details in the book are all but ignored in the movie. The movie also differs greatly regarding the exorcism ritual itself; while the movie is pretty clear on how it ends, the book still entertains the thought that the guilt-striken Jesuit priest simply suffers a mental breakdown...

Also not adequately explained in the movie is that why the Jesuit priest, who has been so skeptical of the alleged possession, should have a change of heart and agree to perform an exorcism. The book explains this. Although he doesn't believe a possession has occurred, he believes the ritual of exorcism would actually serve some form of psychiatric treatment that no known scientific method can.

The book mentions many scientific theories on paranormal activities; while I'm no scientific expert and cannot tell how factual they are, they help to maintain an "investigative" style of storytelling that serves to heighten the drama.

The book will enhance your appreciation of the story even if you read it after having seen the movie.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not What You Think, April 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Exorcist (Mass Market Paperback)

First, this is unquestionably the most terrifying book I have ever read. Secondly, many readers seem to enjoy the book but miss the point. I find it amusing that many hard-core Christian types are down on this book (i,e, it glorifies Satan, etc.), as that shows that they clearly do not know anything about it. The entire point of the book is that a priest, trained in the ways of science (he is a Psychiatrist) has through his pursuit of science lost his belief in God. His lack of faith in God brings with it a disbelief in the existance of Satan as well. When he is asked to see the possessed girl, Regan, it is as a priest, to confront what is clearly (to the mother) a case of demonic possession. Instead he approches the situation with his scientific rather than his spiritual training, and sees the girl as insane and thus treatable via science, rather than possessed. Even in the face of all evidence, he steadfastly refuses to admit that there is anything supernatural about the girl's condition, though science has so far failed miserably to treat the girl. We get insight into this when he arranges a exorcism (for cathartic, not spiritual, reasons) and interacts with a priest who is a believer, has performed exorcisms in the past, and is very respectful and afraid of the power of a very real Satan. At one point, the young priest discusses the possession of Regan, and tells the old priest that he cannot understand what Satan might stand to gain from harming an innocent girl. The old priest replies that in a possession it is not the possessed who is the target, but rather the persons around the possessed. Upon hearing that, and upon hearing some very personal attacks on the young priest by the possessed/insane Regan, it becomes obvious that the young priest is the target of Satan's attack, and the priest's lack of faith is what has made him a target. Later, after the death of the old priest, and upon the occurance of some shocking and blatantly supernatural occurances, the young priest comes to believe that the girl really is under possession by Satan. At that point, the logic is obvious. If Satan exists, then God must exist also, and this brings a sudden reawakening of the young priest's faith. This gives him the strength to spiritually combat Satan and defeat him, and thereby rescue the girl. So, the point is that the priest has lost his faith to science, and is not able to effectively counter Satan until his belief in God returns. Thus Heaven triumphs over Hell, and I really can't understand why this would be lost on the many naysayers who have tried to steer people from this shocking book. One wonders who is truly the pawn in the plot of this book; Regan, in Satan's attack on the young priest; or Satan himself, in some heavenly strategy to bring the priest back into the fold. Note that I have deliberately oversimplified the story line so as not to ruin the book for those who have yet to read it. Be forewarned that the book is complex, shocking, graphic (violence and perverse sexuality) and is terrifying, but you will not find a better horror novel anywhere. I can't recommend this book highly enough, but it is not for the faint hearted. I also find it noteworthy that after at least five reads of the book, I (a thirtyish man) still find it necessary to sleep with the light on for a few days after finishing the book