D_Davis
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2008
- Messages
- 1,348
I guess the horror sub-forum is as good as place as any for this, although I do hesitate to call these books "horror."
Anyhow, it's no secret that William Peter Blatty is among my favorite authors; I feel as though he and I are kindred spirits of sorts, as we're both into examining humanity in the hopes of discovering spiritual and religious truths. And so in this regards, Blatty's Trilogy of Faith - The Exorcist, The Ninth Configuration, and Legion - speak to me on a level that few other works of fiction do. And on another level, these three books are simply some of the finest works of genre fiction I know of.
Blatty is a masterful writer and story teller - one aspect is not sacrificed for the other. He's got style to spare, and I'd be hard-pressed to think of another writing who writes better dialog and character interactions. He is the whole and complete package, a writer with great style, exquisite prose, and one who also possesses the ability to spin an entertaining yarn.
He also understands humanity a great deal - in all of its capacity. He gets the humor and absurdities of human existence, as well as the pleasures and the pain.
I just finished my third reading of The Exorcist, and I loved it more than ever. I'm not sure if the new 40th Anniversary Edition is really any better (although it is the version the Blatty wants to be remembered for), or if I simply got more out of it this time, but whatever the case I was even more astonished by how absolutely perfect the entire thing is. I do think it is an example of a perfect literary work.
I'm going to also be re-reading The Ninth Configuration (in my top 5 books of all time), and Legion, so if anyone would like to discuss these books, please do so.
Anyhow, it's no secret that William Peter Blatty is among my favorite authors; I feel as though he and I are kindred spirits of sorts, as we're both into examining humanity in the hopes of discovering spiritual and religious truths. And so in this regards, Blatty's Trilogy of Faith - The Exorcist, The Ninth Configuration, and Legion - speak to me on a level that few other works of fiction do. And on another level, these three books are simply some of the finest works of genre fiction I know of.
Blatty is a masterful writer and story teller - one aspect is not sacrificed for the other. He's got style to spare, and I'd be hard-pressed to think of another writing who writes better dialog and character interactions. He is the whole and complete package, a writer with great style, exquisite prose, and one who also possesses the ability to spin an entertaining yarn.
He also understands humanity a great deal - in all of its capacity. He gets the humor and absurdities of human existence, as well as the pleasures and the pain.
I just finished my third reading of The Exorcist, and I loved it more than ever. I'm not sure if the new 40th Anniversary Edition is really any better (although it is the version the Blatty wants to be remembered for), or if I simply got more out of it this time, but whatever the case I was even more astonished by how absolutely perfect the entire thing is. I do think it is an example of a perfect literary work.
I'm going to also be re-reading The Ninth Configuration (in my top 5 books of all time), and Legion, so if anyone would like to discuss these books, please do so.
