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Book Reviews of The Exorcist

The Exorcist
The Exorcist
Author: William Peter Blatty
ISBN: 39056
Pages: 405
Rating:
  • Currently 2.8/5 Stars.
 3

2.8 stars, based on 3 ratings
Publisher: Bantam Books
Book Type: Paperback
Reviews: Write a Review

23 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

CocoCee avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 404 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Originally published in 1971, this story has the staying power for the past 36 years! The movie and the re-released movie were scary, but this book expounds all of the horror, the supernatural, the demonic doings that the films could not show. Great character development. Shocking graphic details include blasphemy and inappropriate sexual content. A classic to be read by all horror fans!
Sarah13Rose avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 35 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
very scary, but I must warn you that it does get really in depth at times
scarier than the movie, gave me nightmares
reviewed The Exorcist on
Helpful Score: 1
I have never read a scarier book. This classic story plays on the struggles between good and evil, stepping beyond the boundaries of our realm to reveal a darker side of life. William Peter Blatty captures the essence of demonic possession with such vivid clarity and tension, making every page turned an apprehensive moment for the reader. The story concludes on a scale that is beyond epic. I couldn't put this book down. A recommended read for anyone with an interest in the occult and spirituality.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The book is certainly much more frightening than the movie was. It can be a bit of a slog at some points, but I really enjoyed it.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 118 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
The Exorcist has been my favorite movie for years, so I looked forward to reading this eagerly. It didn't disappoint. The only "issue" I had was the way that Detective Kinderman rambles. It almost made the book stutter. There's also more information on the beginning, in the desert, which seems really out of place in the movie. It makes much more sense in the book.
emeraldfire avatar reviewed The Exorcist on
Regan MacNeil is a young girl who is living with her famous actress mother, Chris, when Regan becomes inexplicably ill and she becomes the target of poltergeist activity. As time goes on, Regan becomes fully demonically possessed and in desperation her mother takes her to a Catholic priest who deals with psychiatric issues. Father Damien Karras has recently lost his mother and starts out not truly believing that Regan is actually demonically possessed.

Suffering from a crisis of faith, it only takes a couple of visits with young Regan for Father Karras to begin to suspect possible possession. In trying to get the Catholic Church to perform an exorcism of Regan, Karras turns to a local bishop who initially refuses the exorcism unless Father Karras can contact Father Lankester Merrin to be primary exorcist of Regan.

The doubt-ridden Father Karras contacts Father Merrin, currently on an archaeological dig in Iraq but who has begun to feel that in time, he will face an immense spiritual battle. Father Merrin returns to the United States and both priests prepare themselves physically, mentally and spiritually for the upcoming battle with something that will drain them almost to the point of death. I really enjoyed reading this book again and give it an A+!
AntGiant3000 avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 159 more book reviews
Not my type of book, but my mom loved it...
reviewed The Exorcist on + 118 more book reviews
Loved it more than the movie!
reviewed The Exorcist on + 121 more book reviews
Horror doesn't get any better than this. A classic!
shanna71 avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 145 more book reviews
The scariest book on the occult, EVER! A good read if you like horror & the occult.
ellzeena avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 149 more book reviews
I read this a very long time ago; I'd never pick it up today. Do with that as you will.
Sleepy26177 avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 218 more book reviews
How do you describe a book which movie one has seen for more than 10 times during the past 15 years ? It is difficult to see the book as the inspiration for a great horror movie because they are so different from each other. While the movie focuses mainly on Regan's possession the book rather keeps everything a bit like a mystery. Like for example who killed the director Burke Dennings and the police detective Kinderman's investigations into his mysterious death.

However, I can imagine why a lot of people thought this book is so frightening. In some parts it becomes very clear in how Regan's behavior emerges to the surface and impacts her surroundings. For me however, it wasn't frightening at all. I believe you've got to be religious to become frightened.

The movie clearly has an advantage to let the viewer know how Regan's head turned or how her famous spider crawling looked like. But even if there would not have been a movie the book couldn't keep up with my expectations caused by the hype.
musyklvr avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 32 more book reviews
this was a book i was given by my dad. i watched the movie in high school, and so i thought i would watch this movie. i almost stopped reading 20 pages in, because i thought the writing style was horrible. i checked out reviews to see what others said, and since they all raved about it, i decided to give it more of a chance. by 25 pages in i was hooked! the movie is very true to the book, although the book is more graphic in detail. i definitely enjoyed it.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 55 more book reviews
I stayed up all night reading this one straight through. A fascinating horror story.
phoenixorion avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 17 more book reviews
I waited eight years to read this book because the movie scared me so bad. I was not disappointed, as it was very interesting and kept my attention well. However, it did not scare me. I think what makes the idea of demon possession so frightening is actually seeing it rather than just imagining. If I had not seen the movie prior to reading the book, it would have been difficult for me to imagine a lot of Regan's physical actions during her possession. The book is not hard to understand in that it uses "big words" but the dialog switches rapidly (blink and you'll be lost). I wasn't fond of the dialog between Kinderman and Karras, as it took a while to get to the point. Kinderman seemed to ramble a bit too much and came off a bit too insecure for a 'cop,' imo. It also describes extremely graphic sexual content, satanic rituals and is best kept away from even older teens (imo). Overall, I enjoyed reading it and recommend it for those who are morbidly curious like me. ;)
reviewed The Exorcist on + 9 more book reviews
A pretty good horror piece, although it seems a little dated. It made for a quick, fun read.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 612 more book reviews
I enjoyed reading this book very much.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 8 more book reviews
Can't believe I waited so long to read it...awesome!
reviewed The Exorcist on + 32 more book reviews
Much better than the movie!!
reviewed The Exorcist on + 57 more book reviews
I read this in middle school -- scared me to death!
reviewed The Exorcist on + 35 more book reviews
A classic in the horror genre.
shoga avatar reviewed The Exorcist on + 4 more book reviews
I really didn't enjoy this book. I have never seen the movie but just didn't find this book frightening at all (perhaps I'm jaded from all the horror I previously read?). I couldn't make any connection to the characters, scenes dragged on and large pieces were very boring. I did make it to the end, but it just wasn't one of those books which left a lasting impression.

This is just my personal opinion. For anybody interested in horror and is leaning towards reading this book, I think you SHOULD. It's a classic horror and so many others loved it that'd I'd give it a shot.
reviewed The Exorcist on + 4 more book reviews
This is the 1972 9th Bantam printing