This is my second time reading The Exorcist. Most have either read the book or watched the movie. It's a tale "What an excellent day for an exorcism."
This is my second time reading The Exorcist. Most have either read the book or watched the movie. It's a tale of possession but it is also so much more. The Exorcist also is the tale of one's man questioning his faith and one mother's love for her daughter.
Regan was eleven years old, when her actress mother, Chris MacNeil, noticed drastic changes in her daughter. Doctors were baffled by her shocking symptoms and believed that Regan was suffering from undiagnosed mental illness. Damien Karras: a priest and psychiatrist, believed that there was something more sinister going on and the church called for Father Merrin, to conduct an exorcism.
This book still stands and although it felt a little dated, delivered on the tension, unease, the dread, the creepiness, and the horror! The language, the scenes, and the horror is very unsettling and does a great job making readers uncomfortable. With Regan's body bent backwards in an unnatural shape, and the bed levitated, I still got chills. If you have seen the movie and not read the book, it will still be a worthwhile and chilling read.
I appreciated how the author had Chris MacNeil seeking out all forms of help for her daughter. She was willing to look at all avenues from medial to possession. What she finds is a priest questioning his faith and a fight ensues for a young girl's soul.
Well written, horrific, shocking, and chilling.
* Buddy read with Jess. Please read her review as well.
I may never view Christmas songs the same way again. I don't know if I should thank Joe Hill for that or kick him in the knee!
What can I say? I loved I may never view Christmas songs the same way again. I don't know if I should thank Joe Hill for that or kick him in the knee!
What can I say? I loved it (by "It" I mean this book and not "It" which I also loved)!!! I liked Horns, I liked Heart shaped box and I do believe those two books were Joe Hill getting "warmed up" and NOS4A2 is him hitting his stride. I seriously could not put this book down. I found it to be interesting and captivating from cover to cover...and yes, I am on the "nice" list because I read the acknowledgements!
I respect that Joe Hill shortened his name to create a pseudonym in order to stand on his own merit. But come on Joe, you look just like your Dad! But kudos!!! How brave to enter a profession where your father is "King" and how wonderful to know that you can stand on your own two feet and hold your head high knowing that you are an Author on your own merit. This book KICKED ASS!
Vic a.k.a Victoria a.k.a. "the brat" has a knack for finding lost things. She just gets on her trusty bike, rides across a rickety old bridge and is transported wherever she needs to go in order to get what she is looking for: a bracelet, a photo, etc. She knows not to mention the bridge or her visits to wherever she needs to be. She does not mention meeting Maggie, a stuttering librarian in Iowa who gets messages through scrabble tiles. Maggie warns her about Manx... but well, do people ever really listened when warned to not do something? A mother may warn her child not to touch a stove, but will the child still touch the stove to see just hot hot the stove is? hmmmm
Charles Manx is a maniac who preys on children. He takes them for rides in his 1938 Wraith which has the license plate of NOS4A2. His car seems to have power of it's own, it can go wherever it needs to go on secret "hidden" highways and can control it's locks and doors. What it can also do is take Children to Christmasland. Christmas Carols always seem to be playing and if you are a good boy or girl you will be "rewarded" with a visit to Christmasland.
One fateful day Vic finds Manx and of course, all hell breaks loose. She manages to escape - barely and helps put Manx away. Vic goes on to grow up and leave a troubled yet normal life. She has a relationship and child with Lou, the man who saved her from Manx. How does not live a normal happy life after seeing and experiencing what cannot be explained or even believed? She begins to received phone calls from the Children in Christmasland. They are not happy withe her for taking Manx from them. Vic is not stranger to inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations, I mean she is speaking to missing children who live in Christmasland. Who will believe that?
Until one day when Charles Manx goes missing. No one can find his "body" and yet he is out and searching....searching for that one person who escaped him. He wants his second chance if you will to destroy Vic's life. As I mentioned, Vic has a son. A son Manx would very much like to introduce to Christmasland.
"Was there any human urge more pitiful - or more intense -than waning another chance at something?"
Manx is coming and Vic is ready for him. She receives a little help along the way but in the end there will be a showdown. I liked that Maggie came back to help as did Lou.
This is a BIG book. It's HUGE in fact but it didn't feel big. It did not feel as if it were over 700 pages. I read this book FAST as in very FAST because I wanted to know what happened next. I love when books have me on the edge of my seat, scare me a little but also dazzle me with their character development. All three were great in this book. There are also some really great characters in this book. There is also humor. This book has "teeth" and they will sink in and hold you captive. Hill's best in my opinion.
I love when a book surprises me. I did not expect this book to be bad but I was not expecting to like it as much as I did! It really did take me by surprise in a very good way.
Wonderfully written, a fun suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages and on the edge of my seat!
***Received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway
This book was really, really good. I found it to be a fast and very interesting ***Received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads giveaway
This book was really, really good. I found it to be a fast and very interesting read. I loved the characters, the story and the way the plot unfolded. The trust and friendships that developed as the stroy progressed were believeable and well written. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes vampires, werewolves and/or humans with special powers. Heck, I would just recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story. So happy I received this giveaway....more
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