Review ~ The Exorcist - A Novel by William Peter Blatty

 

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty is not only a great classic but possibly one of the best books written in the 20th century. First written in 1971 we meet Chris an actress and her daughter Regan or Rags as she's called. Also living in the house are the housekeeper and bookkeeper a married couple from Poland.  At first, everything seems normal, Regan is a healthy twelve-year-old girl enjoying life and spending days painting or playing with the ouija board. It is through this ouija board that things take a drastic and dangerous turn. All of a sudden Rags becomes combative, swearing, cursing, hearing noises, and complains that her bed is shaking at night. At first, Chris thinks it's just her wanting extra attention but it soon becomes apparent that something is truly wrong. So, off to the doctor they go, they try different meds and think it's something physical but nothing seems to help. They soon seek a psychiatrist who tries to figure out what's going on with Rags as she only continues to deteriorate and is soon bed-bound, spitting and vomiting, defecating and urinating, and the horrible cursing. 

Soon things get horribly deadly. There is a man whom Chris knew that was killed and an investigator comes around questioning Chris and the servants; however, he is not made aware of Rags true condition only that she's sick but she was the only one in the home when the man was killed. But it wasn't her who killed him but the demon who lives inside. After getting no help from doctors and psychologists, Chris goes to the local priest who is also a psychologist. He finally agrees to see Rags. Soon he learns that he's dealing with something far more sinister than he could have ever imagined and at first he too doesn't want to believe that she's possessed but he eventually seeks the help of his superiors and an exorcist is called in and he is to assist. We soon meet not one but many demons in the little girl's body but can the exorcists get rid of what ails Rags before it's too late? Or will the demons take over? You will have to read to find out! 

This book is just amazing on so many levels, and it is scary on so many levels. Many do not believe in possession but it does occur and this book is based on an actual case a 14-year-old boy in 1949 from St. Louis, Missouri was possessed from playing with an ouija board, the same as Rags. Eventually, that boy was freed of his demons. Yes, demon possession can and does happen. This book goes into great detail and historical fact, as well as fiction, is thrown in. I would highly recommend this book!