The Exorcist - Becca In A Book

Originally published in 1971, The Exorcist is now a major television series on FOX. It remains one of the most controversial novels ever written and went on to become a literary phenomenon: It spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by a true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying.

Two years after its publication, The Exorcist was, of course, turned into a wildly popular motion picture, garnering ten Academy Award nominations. On opening day of the film, lines of the novel’s fans stretched around city blocks. In Chicago, frustrated moviegoers used a battering ram to gain entry through the double side doors of a theater. In Kansas City, police used tear gas to disperse an impatient crowd who tried to force their way into a cinema. The three major television networks carried footage of these events; CBS’s Walter Cronkite devoted almost ten minutes to the story. The Exorcist was, and is, more than just a novel and a film: it is a true landmark.

Purposefully raw and profane, The Exorcist still has the extraordinary ability to disturb readers and cause them to forget that it is “just a story.” Published here in this beautiful fortieth anniversary edition, it remains an unforgettable reading experience and will continue to shock and frighten a new generation of readers.

(Goodreads Summary)

My Thoughts

WOOWWWWWW!

This book was absolutely insane and so much more than I thought it would be.

I am still in shock to tell you the truth…

This movie has always been on my list, but I’ve always been too afraid to watch it. Although it may not seem like it, I’m actually kind of religious and the idea of this book scares the poop out of me.

BOY DID IT DELIVER!

The author was extremely descriptive and usually that makes me want to skim or tear my hair out, but this crazy story needed all the details it could get.

After reading the book, I watched the movie and although it was amazing… the author just gave so much wonderful information that the movie left out. You think Reagan is crazy in the movie…. SHE WAS INSANE in the book. There were double the amount of instances of Reagan’s insanity in the book and it was so disturbing in the best way (I’m demented, but I don’t care.)

And Yes… she vomits a LOT in the book, much more than the movie lol

We also get so much more background about all the characters surrounding Reagan including the priests and Reagan’s mother. As a reader you bond with them so much more and it makes the story so much better. Also, Father Merrin is such a sweetheart and it makes me sad that we didn’t get to see that in the movie. He was such a brief and calming presence and I kinda wish he was real.

There was a part in the book that really got to me because I was always stumped about why certain people are chosen for possession and Father Merrin answers this question so effortlessly that I will be thinking about it for the rest of my life. (It’s located on page 345 if you are interested in reading it because I won’t give it away.)

Omg this book was…. Just a freaking masterpiece and I’m so glad I finally read it.