Easily one of the most controversial books of the 20th century, William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist is a slow burning rumination on faith that explores the crossroads between psychology and religion in a way that's as thought-provoking as it is sacrilegious as it is spiritually chilling.
Despite seeing the film many times over the years, I still felt like I needed to go to confession immediately upon completing this book. Blatty's language throughout is boldly deliberate in its blunt blasphemy and insightful examination of the psychological and spiritual desperation of these imperfect, wholly relatable characters, bringing their struggles to life with dire urgency and lasting consequence. The prose and narrative throughout is daring and propulsive, but the dialogue is downright flawless; whether through the deeply theological or the shockingly profane, Blatty fills these pages with dialogue that's richly authentic to each character, leaving a truly lasting mark upon the reader.
And above all else, Blatty's work is a masterclass in atmosphere, putting these characters and the reader together in room after room that's dripping with doubt, dread, and the weight of our wavering faith. I shivered, I cringed, I cursed, I gagged, and I blessed myself... time and time again. The Exorcist is a thematically groundbreaking, utterly haunting piece of literary horror that will shake the very foundation of your beliefs.
Despite seeing the film many times over the years, I still felt like I needed to go to confession immediately upon completing this book. Blatty's language throughout is boldly deliberate in its blunt blasphemy and insightful examination of the psychological and spiritual desperation of these imperfect, wholly relatable characters, bringing their struggles to life with dire urgency and lasting consequence. The prose and narrative throughout is daring and propulsive, but the dialogue is downright flawless; whether through the deeply theological or the shockingly profane, Blatty fills these pages with dialogue that's richly authentic to each character, leaving a truly lasting mark upon the reader.
And above all else, Blatty's work is a masterclass in atmosphere, putting these characters and the reader together in room after room that's dripping with doubt, dread, and the weight of our wavering faith. I shivered, I cringed, I cursed, I gagged, and I blessed myself... time and time again. The Exorcist is a thematically groundbreaking, utterly haunting piece of literary horror that will shake the very foundation of your beliefs.
