Horror Aficionados discussion

THE EXORCIST, by William Peter Blatty won our poll for the February Group Read. This is the place for discussion! Please remember to use spoiler tags, page numbers, chapters, or percentage read. Have fun!

I heard a great story about this book on radio 4 the other day.

This guy was being interviewed. I didn't catch his name. We'll call him Larry.

Anyway, Larry said that when the Exorcist was first published, a colleague of his (we'll call him John) read it. John said the book was so evil that he couldn't bear to keep it - so he'd walked to the end of the pier (they worked in a sea-side town) and threw it as far as he could into the sea.

Larry said that when he heard this, he went out at lunch-time and bought a copy of The Exorcist, waited till John was out of the office, put the book under the tap (American readers - the faucet) got it soaking wet, and then put it in John's desk.

Nice!

lol. That's hilarious.

I might have to come out of my cave to join this read. The Exorcist is my favorite novel.

I loved The Exorcist when I finally got around to reading it last year (after having seen the movie countless times - certainly enough to recite it line for line). I look forward to this discussion.

Jack, I love your story about the book - totally something I would do! LOL

Yay! I've already got it on my Kindle!

Going up to the attic to get my copy. It has been years since I read it. Great selection.

I don't know if I feel like re-reading it already. I read it a little more than a year ago. mmmm

I read it two years ago and enjoyed it very much. I hope everyone enjoy the reading too :)

I don't know if I can read this...i absolutely HATED the movie. Maybe I should read it though, I'm assuming the book is much better?

I'M SO EXCITED WE'RE READING THIS BOOK!!!!!! I have read many a horror novel and can say that this is flat out one of the best pieces of horror fiction I have ever come across. One suggestion, however: listen to it on audio. The speaker's voice is so gravely and low it adds volume of context to the overall story.

Excellent- I have an old 1970's paperback copy that smells so good I cannot wait to crack it open! -Jen from Quebec :0)

I can see myself re-reading this one--probably more towards the middle of the month.

Peter wrote: "I loved The Exorcist when I finally got around to reading it last year (after having seen the movie countless times - certainly enough to recite it line for line). I look forward to this discussion..."
Yes, I loved that story. BTW, I've never read the Exorcist so I'll definitely be getting a copy and joining in this discussion.

I would love to join in on this read.

It's been many years since I've read this but it is an excellent book. Have fun. RIP Mr. Blatty.

I've never read this before although I'm a fan of the movie and the recent Fox TV show. I hope I get my copy in the next day or two so that I can read along with the book group.

JUST realized I have this not only in battered ancient paperback edition, but an audio version, too! EXCELLENT. Do we begin on Feb 1st? -Jen from Quebec :0) (I am super stoked for this one- The Exorcist is my 'scares me more than any other' film)

Jennifer Lynn wrote: "JUST realized I have this not only in battered ancient paperback edition, but an audio version, too! EXCELLENT. Do we begin on Feb 1st? -Jen from Quebec :0) (I am super stoked for this one- The Exo..."

Yes, the month of February. :) Read (or listen) at your own pace--just be sure to let people know how far you are into it and use spoiler tags when commenting.

I saw a movie but never read a book. Frankly speaking, I found out that there's a book not long ago. Shame on me. Anyway, I've just got it on my kindle and looking forward to reading it.

I just picked this book up from the library the other day in anticipation of the group read. It's the first time I've participated in one of these group reads, and while I've never read The Exorcist before I've been meaning to for a few years now. Seems like a good time to do it! :)

Is there anything I need to know, being a newbie to this group read thing? I read the first comment, but I just mean additional rules or guidelines that people who have been here longer than I have are already aware of?

mr.jinglesss wrote: "I saw a movie but never read a book. Frankly speaking, I found out that there's a book not long ago. Shame on me. Anyway, I've just got it on my kindle and looking forward to reading it."

I got my copy on Kindle a few months ago. It was interesting to read the book because the movie is so familiar.

Happy Reading Everyone

I haven't read this since the late 70's. I'm going to get a copy and try to read it this month.

I didn't realize there is now a 40th anniversary addition with some revisions and a new character. Are most people reading the newer version or original.

This is when I wish I never got rid of my books when we moved 18 yrs ago. :(

Nancy wrote: "I didn't realize there is now a 40th anniversary addition with some revisions and a new character. Are most people reading the newer version or original.

This is when I wish I never got rid of my..."

I'm reading it. It's the copy the library had so I took it. I didn't realize that there were some drastic changes, though. This is a good question, since it could easily affect the discussion!

Traci wrote: "Nancy wrote: "I didn't realize there is now a 40th anniversary addition with some revisions and a new character. Are most people reading the newer version or original.

This is when I wish I never..."

I didn't realize this, either! I have an older edition....

My library only has the 40th anniversary edition as well.

Jack wrote: "I heard a great story about this book on radio 4 the other day.

This guy was being interviewed. I didn't catch his name. We'll call him Larry.

Anyway, Larry said that when the Exorcist was first..."

Thank you! Hilarious!

Downloaded an audio version from the library.

Blatty is a hero to me. He was criticized by religious folks for writing horror, yet by the end of his life he was recognized for his orthodoxy. I point to him whenever I'm accused of doing something wrong by reading horror.

I've been meaning to read this after picking up a used copy this summer for 25cents at a book sale. Happy reading!

Mine is the 1971 edition.

Kate wrote: "Mine is the 1971 edition."

That's the one I have. :)

Sarah wrote: "Blatty is a hero to me. He was criticized by religious folks for writing horror, yet by the end of his life he was recognized for his orthodoxy. I point to him whenever I'm accused of doing somethi..."

Agreed..

Mine is the audio 40th Anniversary and the author is reading it too! He has a low gravely voice. Scary... :)

I have 40th Anniversary edition as well. It was the only offered at Amazon

I don't remember the crazy alcoholic director being in the movie version, lol.

Lena wrote: "I don't remember the crazy alcoholic director being in the movie version, lol."

Oh yeah. He'd get wasted and ask the Swiss butler if he'd ever been bowling with Goebbels. I thought he was great comic relief.

The audiobook read by the author himself is freakin amazing!

Lena wrote: "Mine is the audio 40th Anniversary and the author is reading it too! He has a low gravely voice. Scary... :)"

Oh, that sounds fantastic! I think once I finish reading, I'll then find and listen to the audiobook. I'd love to hear it in the author's own voice, especially if his voice lends itself by nature to reading stories like this.

So far, I'm really liking the book. I'm only 26% in (page 99), but I'm finding it easy to read with an engaging writing style. I really like the way he writes dialogue, too.

(view spoiler)[I do want to say that I think the scene where Chris is talking to the doctor after Regan's examination to be a bit odd. I realize the time period was different, but I found it kind of strange that when the doctor admitted to Chris that Regan had told him to keep his fingers away from her private parts, instead of wondering why Regan thought the doctor was going to put his fingers anywhere near her there, she was just worried about the sudden penchant for obscene language.

At this point, Chris is still an atheist and the idea of paranormal entities or demonic possession hasn't entered her head yet, and while she believes Regan has developed a habit of lying it wasn't Regan who relayed the information to her but the doctor himself.

My mother never allowed me to be alone with the doctor when I was a kid, my earliest memories of the doctor no matter what was going on are with my mother always in there with me (I'm 31 now, the same age my mother was when I was born) and even if she did I just can't imagine that if she found out I'd said something like that, her first question wouldn't have been "why did she think you were going to touch her there?" at the very least.

Lots of people let their kids go into the doctor's exam room alone, that's not really my issue here. It's just that when the doctor himself admitted the very specific thing her daughter had said to him, it didn't seem to occur to her to wonder if there was a good reason for Regan to be worried that she was about to be molested, and instead focused on the new problem of obscene language.

I also don't want to make it sound like I think the doctor did do anything or tried to do anything inappropriate with Regan. Shocking, obscene, often sexual language and accusations go hand-in-hand with traditional demonic possession stories, even when there's no reason to think there's any truth to the accusations or insinuations.

I just found it a little odd. Sorry this is so long-winded! It makes it seem like this really upset me or bothered me, but really I was just trying to clarify so I don't give the wrong impression on my thoughts! I hope nobody thinks I'm being unreasonably critical, that wasn't my intention but sometimes when I get long-winded and try to clarify that's how it seems. :p

A couple of little asides: I love Father Dyer, and I really liked that experience between Regan and the Apollo astronaut where she told him that he was "going to die up there." The way the author described her voice when she said it and the astronaut's reaction to her prediction, had the hairs on the back of my neck standing up! Not to mention, I think just knowing what happens with the Apollo mission helps lend to that, as well. (hide spoiler)]

I encourage people to check out Legion when they finish The Exorcist. Stylistically different but still a worthy sequel. I still have fond memories of seeing the film in the theater back in 1690 or 1990 or whenever that was. I guess it was a while ago.

38% in. Way too much excrement being mentioned. I've found male authors get stinky. (view spoiler)[Why did she kill Denning? Or why did it kill Denning? Seems an odd first choice. (hide spoiler)]

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "I encourage people to check out Legion when they finish The Exorcist. Stylistically different but still a worthy sequel. I still have fond memories of seeing the film in the theater b..."

I can't remember how long ago I read that one--I couldn't even say what it's about anymore! Might be a good option to vote on next month...

Kimberly wrote: " THE EXORCIST, by William Peter Blatty won our poll for the February Group Read. This is the place for discussion! Please remember to use spoiler tags, page numbers, ..."

I think I will read this. :)

Just finished part two (55 %). As I wrote before, I saw a movie some time ago but all I remember is just the general idea, no details. I find the book captivating and easy-to-read, like the author's stile which is true-to-life (I mean the dialogue). But as the story develop [no spoilers], some moments seem to me shocking and even disgusting... I wonder how it passed the censorship

11811 (Eleven) wrote: "I encourage people to check out Legion when they finish The Exorcist. Stylistically different but still a worthy sequel. I still have fond memories of seeing the film in the theater b..."

A great book and the foundation to Exorcist 3 which is a great film. Forget Exorcist 2 as that has nothing to do with either book and I guess John Boorman hangs his head in shame thinking about it!

Traci wrote: "So far, I'm really liking the book. I'm only 26% in (page 99), but I'm finding it easy to read with an engaging writing style. I really like the way he writes dialogue, too.

*********** Spoiler Al..."
Hi Traci.

As you get further in to the book you will realise the significance of the scene with the Doctor and Chris O'Neill.

Liked like the movie, but hope the book takes it up a notch.