The ExorcistThe Exorcist
Score Classic
What it's about
In Georgetown in 1971, Chris MacNeil, a famous actress, notices that her eleven-year-old daughter, Regan, is changing: noises in her room, then strange behavior, then violent fits that doctors can't explain. As Regan gets worse, Chris turns to Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit psychiatrist who is losing his faith. He comes to believe that Regan is possessed, and that only an exorcism can save her.
Why it's worth reading
It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list and became one of the most famous horror films ever made. It's still one of the most frightening novels ever written.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's very disturbing, with graphic violence and sexual content involving a child. It's also a serious book about faith.
By the numbers
- Readers79 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller70 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #9 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #55 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #148 of the 762 classics we rank
- #459 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is The Exorcist worth reading?
Yes. It spent months at #1 on the New York Times list and became one of the most famous horror films ever made. It ranks #459 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Exorcist about?
In Georgetown in 1971, Chris MacNeil, a famous actress, notices that her eleven-year-old daughter, Regan, is changing: noises in her room, then strange behavior, then violent fits that doctors can't explain. As Regan gets worse, Chris turns to Father Damien Karras, a Jesuit psychiatrist who is losing his faith. He comes to believe that Regan is possessed, and that only an exorcism can save her.
How long does it take to read The Exorcist?
About 10 hours (402 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Exorcist?
If you liked it, try It by Stephen King, Misery by Stephen King or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.