The Exorcist: 40th Anniversary Edition

Superb writing style, I really loved this book and its bittersweet ending. Memorable, this will stay with you haunting you for a very long time. I recommended this story to anyone who loves a good horror with a twist of rationality and mystery.

Am reading the book after seeing the movie first and loved the additional details that were not in the movie. The book as a whole is very well written and the characters well developed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about supernatural happenings.

This is an exciting read though rather too steeped in Catholic Church mythology. Father Karris is gripped by guilt surrounding his relationship with his mother but to the reader this does not seem enough of a provocation for his actions at the novel's climax. Similarly, Merrin"s motives are not made clear. To say more would give away too much and this reviewer still would recommend this book.

Everybody knows the story, but a big thing to like about this book is how well it was written. The little nuances of the characters bring them to life as you read and even in the parts describing mundane life events ( lighting cigarettes, drinking coffee etc.) The writing keeps you hooked. A great read !

Fantastic. Better than than the movie. I wish I had read this ages ago. The horror is exceptionally scary and bound to give you nightmares for days (as great horror does), but the life lessons about love that creeps in towards the end of the book is what really impressed me. I'll be buying a printed copy of this to keep.

I read this many years ago, and upon revisiting the story I found that it continues to have the same bone chilling effect on me as it did when I was younger.
Being a fan of the movie as well it amazes me that the book sets my nerves on edge like the movie never has.
I will continue to revisit the world created by Mr. William Peter Blatty, for years to come.

Excellent book that has dated very well. Obviously game more of a back story than the movie, explaining a number of things the movie didn't have time to. Great characters as well. Scarier than the movie as well.

The Exorcist written by William Peter Blatty is one of the all time greatest horror stories. It chronicles a young up and coming actor, and her daughter in D.C neighborhood near Georgetown University. Her daughter becomes possessed and after little help from modern medicine, the mother turns to a catholic priest to perform an exorcism. This honestly scared me more than the movie, depending on your tolerance for horror movies that may not be saying much, but scary none the less.

Remarkable. Though I've never seen the movie, I was a bit worried that scores of pop culture references to it would have taken some of the bite away. If they had I couldn't tell. I was totally shaken from the beginning to end.

Love, Spirituallity, Horror...some how Blatty's The Exorcist presents them in a wonderful portrait of a family's struggle. Smartly put together, it was the best book I read this year. Intelligent and crystal clear description of a terrifying event unimaginable to the human element. Why did I wait so long to re-read this classic?

ve always been a fan of horrors, I remember sharing my bed with my older siblings though I was too young to see it when it came out. When I was a teen I saw them all, then about 10 years ago the un-cut version came out. Tjis is closer to the uncut movie. I think its great, sleep with lights on good!!!! Reading during all hollows eve week too. Ilike it.

I really enjoyed this book. As a lover of horror, it was and is a must-read. That being said, Blatty's style was a bit difficult to follow at times. He seemed to struggle with dialogue and flow. Overall, I would recommend it, though.

Much grosser than I expected. I felt that all the rants and exclamation points made Regan's mother, Chris, seem weak and ineffectual. Nice set-up before watching the movie, but there were enjoyable minor plot points in the book that were left out that I would have liked to see on-screen.

An actress watches her daughter fall to demon possession while a detective investigates a death and a priest wrestles.with his faith. Dark, disturbing, and heartbreaking as the demon shatters lives. Slow at times but rich with character and a black charm only the best horror can have.

This is still has the power to scare the bejeezus out of me. I read this for the first time when it came out and over the years and several moves, my copy got lost. I noticed the Kindle copy and decided to purchase it and read it again.
When I first read it, it really scared me and gave me nightmares. I had to sleep with a light on for several weeks.
At that time, I viewed it more as a horror novel. I was more focused on the possession and the demonic aspects of the story. It certainly lived up to the scare factor.
Now as I finished reading it, I see the themes of faith and the belief in God that permeates the story. Through the reflections of Fathers Karras and Merrin, the reader becomes privy to their own struggles with faith and learning to view love fellow human beings as Christ viewed and loved them. That through the times of doubt and a feeling of estrangement from God that one's faith can be revived.
There are points in the book that also show that there is hope and redemption.

This novel is very entertaining and well written its hard to put down once you start reading. my only complaint is that the author did not reveal how Regan was possess by the demon otherwise its a great read.

I would highly recommend everyone read this novel. There are deep nuances that are not present nor evident in the film. This book will keep you up all night and leave you with much to ponder during the day. Powerful read.

When I found out theres a 40th anniversary edition of the original novel being released, I just had to pick it up. Why not? I grew up on the "Exorcist" movie. I first saw it theatrically with my family when I was four years old. Scared me to death! I've seen it hundreds if not thousands of times, on tv, video, DVD, and Blu-ray. Even the few recent times its been re-released in theatres, not only has it become my favorite horror film of all time....IT'S MY FAVORITE FILM OF ALL TIME, PERIOD!! I didnt get a chance to finally read the original Blatty novel until 2000, but when I did....I loved it!! Just as creepy and character driven as the movie itself. Bottom line is, both the book and the movie each stand the test of time, and I hear theres a new, highly disturbing character in the new edition as well. Tonight I just started reading it. I'm prepared to be scared...AGAIN!!

it was very well-rewritten. Love the story of the battle of good and evil. This is a perfect example of light and darkness does exist in our world. Looking for a top-notch horror book, this is it. No one can top Blatty. Best one out there and he set the tone in horror writing.

Good versus Evil. The oldest story known to man. Forty years after its release, 'The Exorcist' proves that the story is not only timeless, this novel's presentation of it is as well. It is not one bit less effective today than four decades ago.

I would quite happily read this beautifully written book numerous times to fully benefit from the thought provoking ideas and inspiring prose. Having only seen the film before, I was surprised to find the novel did not intend to scare, and although some scenes were definitely shocking, the narrative rested more on the clinical and religious aspect of exorcism cases. A psychological journey through the mind and hearts of a priest and a mother.

I first read the Exorcist as a teenager. I remember the depressing and oppressing effect it had on my emotions. This time around, as an adult, I found the sad aspects of the story not as prevalent for me. I really got into the characters, especially the mother 'Chris' and the priest 'Damien Karras'. The novel is still one of the best horror stories ever written, in large part because it not just about demonic thrills. The author shows how the influence of demons effects all areas of their lives.

I read this story after reading lots of feedback online that said it was one truly terrifying story. While I didn't find it to be particularly scary, the story was very captivating and I read it quickly.

Outstanding. I'd seen the movie, of course (including back in 1973 in the theater), most recently in the last month. While the movie is outstanding, the book adds much about Fr. Karras, and in a very meaningful way. Highly recommended, especially for the faithful.

While I have seen the film twice, including the director's cut, I had never read the original novel. It has been several years since I last saw the movie so I had forgotten some aspects of the story. I have read the tale of the actual case on which William Peter Blatty had based his novel, The Exorcist. So, I went into this read with a sketchy idea of what to expect. The structure of the novel is interesting in that the demon is not heard from until the last 100 pages of a 378-page novel. In this 40th Anniversary edition of the Exorcist, Mr. Blatty has expanded on the story and added some more depth to his characters. Although, Father Merrin should have been more fleshed out. The most interesting characters are Father Karras, Inspector Kindermann and Karl Engstrom. Regan's character is never fleshed out and is a mere prop for the demon. As a thriller, it is very good but as a horror novel it is only slightly above average. My main criticism is that the rite of exorcism and more details about deliverance would have added more mystery and awe to the story. I did learn something new. I used to think the title referred to Fr. Merrin but in fact it refers to Fr. Karras. Overall, I would rate this 4 of 5 stars.

I first read this book about twenty years ago, have seen the classic movie adaptation a number of times, and am a fan of the new Fox series as well, so I had to pick this back up and read it again.

The book and the movie are much different experiences. William Peter Blatty gives you insights about the characters you never see in the movie, such as Chris' having lost a child prior to Regan; the subplot with Karl and Elvira; more of the complexities and inner turmoil of Damien Karras; an even-more bumbling Kinderman (who seems a little stereotypical--my only real gripe), etc. We also get much more delicious dialogue and one-liners from a possessed Regan there simply wasn't time for in the movie. The fact the household staff practically sits by her bedside up until the exorcism tells me the monster in the novel isn't quite what we get in the movie. Either that, or Chris is paying them handsomely for all their trouble.

The identity of the church desecrator is left ambiguous (at least to me) here as well, and you are left to wonder if it was really Regan or perhaps even a sleepwalking Karras who did it. Sleepwalking (and its medical jargon) receive quite a bit of mention, so I tried to read between the lines to see if I was led on to the church culprit.

Thankfully we are spared the ridiculous and physically-impossible 360-degree head turn of the movie (which I understand Blatty disliked as well).

Apparently this newer 40th anniversary edition has edits from the original, but it has been so long since I read the book I was unable to see any discernable differences. It isn't the greatest horror story I've ever read, but it is entertaining, thrilling, and Blatty does a tremendous job with the subject matter. The scares and the "creep factor" still hold up after a few decades. I highly recommend fans of the movie read the book for a more in-depth immersion into the characters and what may have brought on the terror.