Hi all!
Welcome back to the bookclub! In January, we read The Exorcist’s House by Nick Roberts for The You’ll Read Too Bookclub! If you wish to access all of the latest updates/information, click here. Spoilers ahead!
Quick Reminder: This month we are reading ‘A History of Fear’ by Luke Dumas!
Today I’m going to discuss the book in the same way I normally do my Instagram videos. You can find the recorded talk on my bookclub Instagram page. I’ll give a quick plot summary plus my overall star/scare-factor ratings. Then I will share the discussion topics and trivia questions. Please include all of your answers and opinions down below. I want to know exactly what you thought. I’ll also leave the answers to the trivia questions at the very bottom of the post, so if you wish to guess without being spoiled, do not scroll to the end until you’re ready. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
THE EXORCIST’S HOUSE BY NICK ROBERTS – JANUARY 2023
PLOT SUMMARY
OVERALL STAR RATING
I gave this book 5/5 stars. It had everything I wanted in a horror novel and more. It gave me Pet Sematary meets The Exorcist vibes. There was a deeply poignant backstory, a chilling ending and plenty of scares along the way. I couldn’t fault it! It also had some twists I never saw coming.
OVERALL SCARE-FACTOR RATING
I also gave this book a scare-factor rating of 5/5! It was a deeply disturbing story. The opening sequence was terrifying, the well in the basement gave me shivers and the scenes where the characters became possessed had me gripping the pages in fear. It’s been a while since a novel was able to evoke such dread in me. Bravo!
DISCUSSION TOPICS
1.) Does the ending suggest a sequel is in the works? Would you like that?
I would say a demon-infested baby certainly leaves the story open for a sequel. However, it is also plausible the author wanted to fill us with lingering fear and no closure. That is the nature of a lot of horror novels. I would absolutely pick up a second book. I am such a fan of Nick’s after reading this one.
2.) Do you think Nora’s infidelity added much to the overall plot?
It felt more like a means to an end. I would say that the story could have easily existed without that sub-plot. I guess she was lured into the basement by the demon masking as her former lover, but this could have been achieved in other ways. I’m still not entirely sure if I liked this added indiscretion.
3.) Do you like happy endings in horror novels or ones filled with dread, like this one?
I’m somewhere in the middle. Sometimes a horror novel deserves a happy ending, other times it doesn’t. Typically, an unhappy conclusion suggests future works and if you’re heavily invested in the story, this could be a positive.
TRIVIA QUESTIONS
Easy: What is the irony behind Merle’s surname?
Medium: What year does the story take place?
Hard: Which classic does the demon reference?
I hope you enjoyed the book club discussion in this post and on Instagram. As mentioned above, share all of your thoughts in the comments below! If you have any feedback/suggestions to improve the bookclub, please let me know. I look forward to talking to you all next month! Thanks for reading!
Peace & Love xoxo
TRIVIA ANSWERS: Easy: William Peter Blatty wrote the Exorcist. Medium: 1994. Hard: Paradise Lost.