Reviews

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty doesn’t needed an introduction. We all know the infamous scenes of Regan being possessed from the film. The film being as brilliant as it is, the book is a different being. Having never seen the film or read the book I was excited to be sucked into this story. Right off the bat we are introduced to Father Merrin on a dig in Northern Iraq. We feel Father Merrin’s unease and paranoia within his setting. We then read the name ‘Pazuzu’ for the first time. 

We are then introduced to Chris MacNeil , a famous actress,  who is hearing a rapping coming from her 12 year old Regan’s room. Regan however is deep in sleep and of course, to Chris the logical source of the rapping is from rats. But that doesn’t explain the icy coldness of the room. Blatty sets up the start of the unexplained supernatural doings perfectly. Starting small and unnoticeable we're not ready for the journey we're about to go on. Karl and Willie the help within the house and Sharon Regan’s tutor just like Chris pass of these strange happenings. We learn that Regan is talking to ‘Captain Howdy’ via an Ouija board in the basement which at the time was seen as a parlour game, so no big deal! Regan worsens becoming the complete opposite to her usual happy self. It being blamed on her mothers and fathers divorce, doctors come involved but thought all the tests and medications Regan is lost to the possession and is sadly put through invasive medical checks. Then the death of Burke Denning the British director and close friend of Chris takes place.

Whilst this is going on we find Father Karras ,a Jesuit Priest and psychiatrist,  who is battling his own faith and grief having just lost his mother. Father Karras is approached by Chris to give Regan an exorcism. Like any logical being Karras also looks into Regan via the scientific route due to his psychiatrist background. Finding that the voices and ungodly happening to Regan is unexplained  and not a mental health issue the exorcism is approved. Father Karras however cannot preform it himself, Father Merrin is back in the States from Northern Iraq and leads the exorcism. 

This novel is more than a possession of a 12 year old girl who is lonely and neglected. It explores faith, grief and helplessness. Pazuzu does more than possess Regan it makes Father Karras question his own faith even more, whilst dealing with the guilt from the death of his mother. Pazuzu takes Chris’s one dream of directing a film away from her. Pazuzu causes Karl’s secret to come to light that he’s been hiding from Willie. Pazuzu’s goal was to find these vulnerable people and torment them. However though the torment the ending is beautiful. Every character is able to see clearly after the exorcism and to be able to live their life now having to be free from the vulnerability’s that Pazuzu tormented them with.  The deep running themes of family and love, the battle of good and evil and faith and doubt are complex on their own but Blatty explores them so well and with such ease.

I adored this book so much so I finished it in a day I couldn't put it down. I love a mix of supernatural and religion I think they go hand in hand perfectly. And as a lover of anything that makes us question what's normal I'd recommend this book to everyone.

5/5 !

True Grit has been on my to read list for a few years. All I can say is that I’m so annoyed that I didn’t read it sooner. Charles Portis is a genius. I have a bit to say about this book so beware spoilers! 

True Grit is a beautiful story with an ending that made me cry my heart out. We follow the head strong fourteen year old Mattie Ross as she avenges her father’s death. Frank Ross was shot in cold blood by the dangerous Tom Chaney. Mattie hires a Marshall, Rooster, who has true grit to find Chaney as we learn he’s entered the Indian territory with Lucky Ned Pepper. 

Mattie Ross isn’t taking no for an answer. She is going to find Tom Chaney no matter what. I have read many books with strong female characters but, I think I can confidently say Mattie Ross is my favourite. Having a female lead in a western is something I wasn’t aware of, I think of Western’s I think men. Strong men that brave all to survive what’s thrown at them. But Mattie is funny, brave, confident and set in her ways. We find ourselves in Indian territory towns, lonely cabins and roads and caves. It’s a wild journey from start to finish which will have you laughing and crying. 

The plot is quick and fast paced keeping with the adventure they are on. We find a range of characters that are loveable and others not so much. Lucky Ned Pepper as dangerous as he is made me laugh, as well as Tom Chaney. Journeying through the Indian Territory we are transported to the settings. Feeling the snow on our snow skin as described in the novel. The simpleness of the spaces created is beautiful. The calm of the landscapes and vastness is a perfect contrast between Mattie’s thoughts and ramblings throughout the journey. Once confronted with Chaney Mattie takes her one chance (back fire as it may) we enter a hair raising situation. As mentioned the relationships between Pepper, Chaney and Mattie had me laughing and forgetting the situation Mattie was in. The ending had me in tears, the image of Rooster racing to get Mattie to get help on Blackie (Mattie’s horse) had me broken. Then with Blackie dying whilst carrying them both with miles to go, was so unexpected. A metaphor for Mattie’s old life dying or her innocence dying maybe ? Either way it had me crying. Then Rooster carrying Mattie with his wounds from the shot out, it just confirmed the fatherly love. Just what Frank Ross would do to save Mattie. We learn at the end of the novel after years Rooster had reached out to Mattie to come see him at the circus. However to my already sore eyes despair, Rooster had just passed away days before Mattie arrived. 

The relationship between her and Rooster goes on a beautiful journey where you can see the father figure love form. It’s the same with Mattie and LaBoeuf. LaBoeuf the Texas ranger that joins the two on the journey cannot think of anything worse than having Mattie with them. Again towards the end of the novel we see LaBoeuf protect Mattie and risk his own life. The change within his feelings towards Mattie is a stark change from the beginning where he whips Mattie to stop her joining them, to him stating “I think she has done fine myself. She has won her Spurs”. I was smiling at the page. 

This novel has beautiful themes of independence, revenge, loyalty and friendship. Now within these ramblings I have only spoken about a small range of the characters and goings on. It’s only a small novel of 215 pages but you will find every character interesting good or bad. I will recommend this book to everyone baby sis.

5/5 !

Maurier creates a moody atmosphere having this novel take place in the winter months based in the Cornish Moors, which have her classic gothic horror descriptions. Jamaica Inn itself is a loveless building since being taken over by Joss. Mary is made to risk her life as she learns of what’s happening at the Inn. Her only escape from her day to day duties is exploring the moors where she gets closer to Jem who is Joss’s younger brother. This relationship explores Mary’s own thoughts towards love and marriage and where she see’s her life going. We follow Mary as she makes her own decisions and braves what’s going on around her. We explore the relationship between Uncle Joss and Aunt Patience which is full of tension and sadness. Learning what can make a man so bitter and mean. 

This novel explores a range of human emotions from revenge, power, greed, guilt and fear. It’s a short read perfect for a stormy winters night with twists and turns at every corner. Whilst it’s a tale of smugglers, murder and crime at the heart of the novel is the a tale of survival. The beautiful descriptions of the moors and dark and moody atmosphere it Maurier at her best. You can truly taste the sea salt air when reading this novel. The history of the Jamaica Inn is interesting to explore once finished, having passed it many a time whilst travelling down to Cornwall it was magical seeing it come alive in this book. 

5/5 stars from me !