The Exorcist: A Whole Bunch of YES

GAHHHH! I have just finished The Exorcist and I must say that this novel, hands down, is my new favorite horror story of all time.

“An experience you will never forget.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“The Exorcist is as superior to most books of its kind as an Einstein equation is to an accountant’s column of figures.”—New York Times Book Review

Four decades after it first terrified the world, William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist is back! An extraordinary classic work of horror and dark paranormal suspense—widely considered one of the most frightening novels ever written—Blatty’s masterpiece of unrelenting chills was the basis for the acclaimed Academy Award-nominated motion picture directed by William Friedkin and starring Ellen Burstyn and Max Von Sydow. Rediscover the power of The Exorcist in this stunning 40th Anniversary Edition, as a desperate mother and two priests fight to free the soul of a little girl from a supernatural entity of pure malevolence.

This book is everything I hoped it would be considering I saw the movie first. You know, 95% of the time us bookish folk are complaining that the movies don’t do the book justice, but I have to say, the movie version of this book is basically spot-on.

But don’t let that fool you into not reading the book! Here’s why you should consider reading it if you liked the movie:

1. There is significantly more character development. The exorcist himself, for example, is infinitely more badass in the book than in the movie. He has such an awesome presence in the story. Also, since you learn way more about Father Karras, Chris, Regan, Willie, Karl, and Sharon, the stakes become a lot higher. You’re way more invested in what happens to all of them.

2. There are some creepy scenes that aren’t in the movie (and vice versa). There were numerous times reading the book that I thought I knew what would happen next because I was so familiar with the movie. When something happened that was unique to the book it scared the crap the out of me, because I was completely caught off-guard! AND I LOVED IT!

3. This one is for those of you who don’t like horror as much: the book is frankly less scary. I mean, there were several occasions where I was freaked out, but nothing like I am when I watch the movie. That’s just going to happen with horror novels, because you do have the auditory and visual input that you do with movies. But if you loved the scariness of the movie, don’t let this point deter you! You will be 100% satisfied with this book!

I could not be happier with this novel and its movie adaptation. I can’t wait to force it on every horror-loving soul I come into contact with in the next few weeks…

Have you read or seen The Exorcist? What were you thoughts?

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.