Exorcist scribe William Peter Blatty has died, less than a week after his 89th birthday. If you've only seen the movie, do yourself a favor and read the novel too. It's truly astounding and deserves its legendary status.
I read The Exorcist when the book was first published in 1971. I was seventeen then and doing a weekend babysitting gig...alone-out in the country with an infant. The story scared the crap out of me but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in the three days I was there. No book has ever jolted me like that in the years since of reading nearly every popular horror book out there. Good stuff!
Similar to Sandra, I read it first in 1972 after the pb came out and the movie was due for immanent release. I read parts of it out loud to my older sister telling her how scary it waS SO Far and frankly so I could share the experience without being alone. Still the most hypnotizing tome I've read while I shuddered!
"Where were you when you first read 'The Exorcist'?" I read it in a condensed version in Cosmopolitan's Sept. 1971 issue and the full novel in 1972 while traveling up the California coast. I was creeped out both times! This is one of those books that will remain in literature's collective consciousness for many years.
I found this site through LitReactor, and am I ever glad! I grew up in the 70s and 80s, poring over these fantastic horror books in used bookstores. Great site!
I read The Exorcist when the book was first published in 1971. I was seventeen then and doing a weekend babysitting gig...alone-out in the country with an infant. The story scared the crap out of me but I couldn't put it down. I finished it in the three days I was there. No book has ever jolted me like that in the years since of reading nearly every popular horror book out there. Good stuff!
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Sandra, I read it first in 1972 after the pb came out and the movie was due for immanent release. I read parts of it out loud to my older sister telling her how scary it waS SO Far and frankly so I could share the experience without being alone. Still the most hypnotizing tome I've read while I shuddered!
ReplyDelete"Where were you when you first read 'The Exorcist'?" I read it in a condensed version in Cosmopolitan's Sept. 1971 issue and the full novel in 1972 while traveling up the California coast. I was creeped out both times! This is one of those books that will remain in literature's collective consciousness for many years.
ReplyDeleteI found this site through LitReactor, and am I ever glad! I grew up in the 70s and 80s, poring over these fantastic horror books in used bookstores. Great site!
ReplyDeleteThanks Doc! Glad you're enjoying a blast from the past here.
ReplyDelete