Book Reviews: Three Last Things and Diary of an American Exorcist

My Review of Three Last Things by Corinna Turner
 
I absolutely loved this short story. At just 50 pages, it is a quick read, but full of deep meaning. The writing from the perspective of Carl, a convicted serial killer, came across as realistic, and his thoughts on the meaning of life, not understanding/believing in love, and whether God is real were all clearly portrayed through his thoughts and his conversations with a priest who has been visiting him faithfully for a few years. The priest's unconditional love is obvious to the reader even if not at first to Carl, and his last moments as he is prepared for his lethal injection bring all his buried doubts to the forefront of his mind, shocking him with their power when he'd been so sure for years that death would be a welcome escape from a pointless existence.
 
The author wove in the truths of Catholicism without it being a lesson or essay. Carl's urgency was apparent and real, and the possible mistakes and callousness that can occur with administering the death penalty should give any reader pause, if they have not already thought much about it. Turner has done her research on the method of administration, and that comes through in the details of her writing.
 
I was rooting for Carl the whole time, which may sound strange since he's introduced as an unrepentant convicted murderer. Turner sheds light on his and all sinners' raw humanity, their fears and longings, showing that what we all seek ultimately is God. The contrasting personalities of the two prison guards brought even more depth to the story. Even a few somewhat unlikely circumstances (warning - spoiler alert!!) such as the priest getting into the death chamber were completely believable as I read because of the writing style--my reaction was, "How could it have happened any other way? Of *course* he got in!" It's rare that I have no complaints at all about a story, but there was nothing lacking or that could benefit from improvement in this gripping, fast tale. I am excited to read the sequel!
 
My Review of Diary of an American Exorcist by Stephen J. Rossetti
 
This book was written just as its title suggests: diary-style. Short, varied entries made this a quick read even though it was over 200 pages long. The author is a priest with much experience in conducting exorcisms, and I learned many new things. First, an exorcist usually relies on an entire team, which includes laypeople who sometimes have special gifts with sensing he supernatural.
 
The main takeaway from this book for me was that demons are real and can weak havoc in the world, but the calm and steady belief that Christ has already prevailed and conquered Satan is what keeps an exorcist strong and able to continue his job. Arguing with the demons, who are already damned and cannot choose good, is foolish, and it instead brings out failings in the exorcist himself. Relying on the name of Jesus and in holy objects that represent him and the saints who were faithful to his teachings—instead of thinking it is his own doing—brings the exorcist eventual success in banishing demons from a possessed person. It is God and not the human instrument of the priest who accomplishes this good. God merely uses the priest as his instrument through which he chooses to work. This of course echoes all Church teaching on the role of the priesthood. The priest is Christ’s representative here on earth and has no power of his own, only that which is granted to him by God—it is the action of God and not man that is effecting any good change in the world.
 
The “spiritually sensitive” people who were brought in for exorcisms were of special interest to me. They can often see or hear the demons or pick up on things the exorcist might not. It is seen as a kind of charism or spiritual gift that has been granted them for unknown reasons. I did not have a word for this kind of person, but I have been writing a fictional book character who is granted the ability to sense the presence of demons and angels in the world, although he doesn’t fully understand what it is for awhile. Knowing this is a real gift people have gives me confidence to write this character in an even stronger and truer way.
 
The evidence given by the author is compelling for those who may think it’s all made up. Some of the interference from the demons, the pain they bring a possessed person when confronted with holy words and objects, and the visible and verified reactions that are not human coming from those who are possessed lets the reader know this is real, and evil is powerful if you allow it into your life. It was very telling how many of the possessed had either dabbled in the occult and played around with curses (or had family members who did), or who had participated in grave evil or harmful behaviors to themselves and others such as murder, abortion, drug abuse, and sexual depravity. This should serve as a warning to the faithful not to mess around with any of these things lest they open the door to evil.