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missmim's review against another edition
3.0
Anyone looking for a page-turning thriller in the style of Blatty's previous efforts, The Exorcist and Legion, will probably be disappointed with Dimiter. Though it's also set up as a who-done-it, it has a quiet and contemplative tone and is much slower-paced. Blatty once again turns to explorations of faith and of the goodness and evil in man. I enjoyed it.
jarthur's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bnadams's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don’t think any of his will top the exorcist. This one was a bit confusing with characters coming in and out with little to know explanation.
zetaxx's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Forced institutionalization, Torture, Body horror, and Murder
roxi_r40's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
blearywitch's review against another edition
5.0
Mmmmhhhh. Blatty's style is beauty.
"The code of the bessa could not be satisfied except by the killing of a male. And so one year after the death of the farmer, when wariness and vigilance had relaxed, Grodd the baker returned to the farmer's house where he happened to come upon his (the farmer's) two-year-old son as he played alone in a dreamy field, and there, amid the sun-washed, breeze blown poppies that were bluer and more vivid than Bengal light; among the hazel and cherry trees and the dogwood, the mustard and the parsley and the brabble of larks and the swaying, star flung Michaelmas daisy petals as white as the Arctic fox, Grodd watched as the boy chased a black-winged butterfly, listened to a cowbell's tinkle in the distance, remembered his youth, heard the little boy laugh, took a breath, and then shot him between his brindled eyes."
Blatty is extremely good at shock factor. It is also clear by now that he is really knowledgeable with regards to the Middle East, and the religions that originate there, as well as the languages.
It is sad that Blatty died 2yrs ago at 89yrs old, an extremely accomplished individual who came from absolutely nothing, had absolutely nothing other than determination and ambition. I plan to read more of his works.
I learnt of the existence of Peduncular hallucinosis, a rare and bizarre neurological condition in which people who were totally sane saw small and familiar cartoon characters like Porky Pig or Daffy Duck dressed in military uniform, frequently that of the Nazi S.S.
This book is unputdownable, filled with intrigue at every turn of the page, and completely unpredictable. Blatty is a master storyteller. I am glad I picked this book up (it has only been on my To Be Read shelf for 7yrs, lol).
Words: bessa, raki, mem (#13 in Hebrew)
"The code of the bessa could not be satisfied except by the killing of a male. And so one year after the death of the farmer, when wariness and vigilance had relaxed, Grodd the baker returned to the farmer's house where he happened to come upon his (the farmer's) two-year-old son as he played alone in a dreamy field, and there, amid the sun-washed, breeze blown poppies that were bluer and more vivid than Bengal light; among the hazel and cherry trees and the dogwood, the mustard and the parsley and the brabble of larks and the swaying, star flung Michaelmas daisy petals as white as the Arctic fox, Grodd watched as the boy chased a black-winged butterfly, listened to a cowbell's tinkle in the distance, remembered his youth, heard the little boy laugh, took a breath, and then shot him between his brindled eyes."
Blatty is extremely good at shock factor. It is also clear by now that he is really knowledgeable with regards to the Middle East, and the religions that originate there, as well as the languages.
It is sad that Blatty died 2yrs ago at 89yrs old, an extremely accomplished individual who came from absolutely nothing, had absolutely nothing other than determination and ambition. I plan to read more of his works.
I learnt of the existence of Peduncular hallucinosis, a rare and bizarre neurological condition in which people who were totally sane saw small and familiar cartoon characters like Porky Pig or Daffy Duck dressed in military uniform, frequently that of the Nazi S.S.
This book is unputdownable, filled with intrigue at every turn of the page, and completely unpredictable. Blatty is a master storyteller. I am glad I picked this book up (it has only been on my To Be Read shelf for 7yrs, lol).
Words: bessa, raki, mem (#13 in Hebrew)
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up in a library sale purely because of the author and after the brilliance of the exorcist. This is a little more disjointed but nevertheless an interesting read touching onnthe nature of evil and religion in a more down to earth portrayal.
The opening is dramatic as a unknown man is tortured in Albanian police cells. Move forward to 70s Jerusalem and a police officer investigates a body found in the sacred crypt. The story involves the American secret service , friendships, the shadow of the holocaust experience, and religion.
While a lot of interview explaining the plot I found it engaging, albeit not quite as good as his masterwork.
The opening is dramatic as a unknown man is tortured in Albanian police cells. Move forward to 70s Jerusalem and a police officer investigates a body found in the sacred crypt. The story involves the American secret service , friendships, the shadow of the holocaust experience, and religion.
While a lot of interview explaining the plot I found it engaging, albeit not quite as good as his masterwork.
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
1.0
I was expecting something more inexplicably creepy, considering how they splashed The Exorcist all over the promotions. Instead, I was just confused.
Non-sequiters. Rapidly changing POVs. No background to said POVs. New characters showing up out of nowhere and vanishing into thin air. And a body count that had the same person dying three times? Or was it twice? I couldn't help wishing it had been sooner. It would have saved me some confusion.
Non-sequiters. Rapidly changing POVs. No background to said POVs. New characters showing up out of nowhere and vanishing into thin air. And a body count that had the same person dying three times? Or was it twice? I couldn't help wishing it had been sooner. It would have saved me some confusion.