I'll Tell Them I Remember You

by William Peter Blatty

This is Blatty's story of his youth in Manhattan, and of his Lebanese mother who became a single parent with five children in the 1930s. 2 cassettes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

173 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

William Peter Blatty was an American writer and filmmaker. He wrote the novel The Exorcist (1971) and the subsequent screenplay version for which he won an Academy Award. Born and raised in New York City, Blatty received his bachelor's degree in English from the Georgetown University in 1950, and his master's degree in English literature from the George Washington University in 1954. He also wrote and directed the sequel "The Exorcist III". Some of his other notable works are the novels Elsewhere (2009), Dimiter (2010) and Crazy (2010).
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Reviews

[itchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

eponymous sentence:
p39: I'll tell them I remember you...

It got spooky at the last third there.

[Maurita · Rating 5 out of 5]

i picked this off the bookshelf at the shore because Grandmom's name was written inside with the date she must've bought it (1973). i started it on a whim, mostly because i was so bored with the other two books i had recently started and hadn't finished (which i almost never do!). it turned out to be one of the best books i read all summer - certainly the funniest. it's autobiographical - about the author's growing up in new york city circa 1930s-1950s, but its mostly about his mother. she's a fantastic character and he's a very quick, very witty writer. i wish it had been longer.

[Steve Wiggins · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Peter Blatty, the author of The Exorcist, wrote this short autobiography after that book and its movie propelled him to fame. As I noted elsewhere (Sects and Violence in the Ancient World) it’s largely the account of his mother’s influence on him. She died shortly before he wrote his most famous novel, but not before Blatty had found enough fame to have met people like Cary Grant and Danny Kaye. The real star of the show, however, is his mother. The title of the book is based on the only song he remembers her singing.

The Blattys were immigrants from Lebanon. This book recounts, often in humorous tone, the struggles they had trying to make a living in New York City. Evicted many times, the single mother and her children got by on her wits. Reading this very short account—mainly to remember his mother but also to tell how he came to write The Exorcist—is to get a glimpse into a boy’s connection to his mother. Memoirs tend to be focused on the author, but this one directs the gaze elsewhere. It also serves as a reminder of how fiercely mother’s protect their children. It makes you want to call home.

Blatty’s autobiography is set up to try to ensure the reader that there is life after death. Ironically, even when he’s telling you that he’s trying to establish credibility with you, the reader, Blatty exaggerates and uses the comic tropes for which he had a natural talent. It does make you wonder what to take seriously and what to consider story-telling. Still, by the time of the final chapter, after his mother has died and he has had the dream that made its way into Fr. Karras’ mind in The Exorcist, you believe he’s on the level. It’s an interesting story. Not exactly what a reader might expect of an autobiography, but then again, there’s no correct way to write one.

[Ruben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este es un libro que nos relata la vida de William Peter Blatty, desde su niñez hasta unos pocos años después de publicar su libro del exorcista.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny and heartfelt. Very similar in tone and premise to Angela's Ashes. Should be of particular interest to fans of the Exorcist, aspiring writers, and those interested in religion/spirituality. The book's final third is particularly good in dealing with grief and ultimately affirming of a higher power.

[Diego · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro tierno dónde el autor de El Exorcista describe su infancia y su relación con su madre. Tiene pasajes divertidos pero las anecdotas terminan siendo inconexas y faltas de relevancia en algunos casos.

[Paula]

Moving story. Mom had character unlike anyone I have known. Both funny and sad

[Caralyn Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another reread. Colin loves this book and we always quote it. Really inspired by his mother and the way he sees her as an unstoppable force.

[Hala · Rating 1 out of 5]

William Peter Blatty is the author and screenplay writer of The Exorcist and his family, originally from Lebanon, immigrated to the US. This book is a memoir of his family's earlier days in New York and a few sporadic incidents that took place afterwards. I personally found it to be the most irksome book I've read in a while. It's extremely short, but it took me months to finish it. Most of the book is a series of random childhood anecdotes that completely failed to come across as funny, charming, amusing or, frankly, significant. The last few chapters fast forward to Blatty's life as a screenplay writer, his mother's death and some allegedly supernatural events that took place. His narrative voice is extremely dull, describing mundane events with a documentary-like monotony. It was the worst thing a piece of writing could come across as: boring.

[Amal Albaqshi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was interesting in a way that it explores the hidden side of the hard times of diaspora, especially for a single mother. I know that the book is supposed to be funny but I see it more like the dark/ sarcastic comic tone. I was actually not amused but rather sad when I was reading the book. I liked the writing style though it is very simple and amusing in general.

[theri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked everything but the last two chapters. It was a little weird to switch into the occult at the end, but it was also somewhat gracefully done.

The style is brilliantly irreverent. I got through it in about 3 hours. :)

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. To learn about an all time favorite author of mine, and his love of his mama and how he grew up in America as a Lebanese/American in the days of FDR... Super hart warming and an all around wonderful read!

[Yahya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The autobiography of the genius behind "The Exorcist". Arab-American William Peter Blatty tells his life story through the story of his mother. Sadly, there aren't many copies of this book online. If you could find one though, BUY IT! It is a must read.

[Geekdina]

this book is funny and amazing with a sad undertone. it talks of the author's experiences that lead him to believe in the occult and inspired the exorcist.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's memories of his Jewish mother and his conviction that she lives after death.

[Cathy Houston · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting memoir