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Stephen King: It

SFG75

SFG75

Well-Known Member
O.K., I've heard enough about It, so I thought that I would give It a try. You might not like It, but I will definitely open It up and see howthings go. Have you read It?

:D

Pithy summary of IT.
 
Yep, and it's one of my favourite books. The detail with which the town is described and the jumping between time periods are both great. Not one of King's scariest novels, but definitely one the best. Read it and then tell me you're not terrified of clowns, I dare you!

Oh, and It is where my signature comes from, for those who care.
 
Deffinatly a creepy novel. Watching the movie as a child I was terrified to death of clowns. Reading the book as an adult I am now just creeped out.
 
Pearl said:
Deffinatly a creepy novel. Watching the movie as a child I was terrified to death of clowns. Reading the book as an adult I am now just creeped out.
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Currently around page 235. Reading about Ben's hazing from the three bullies and how he got the "H" on his stomach was very gripping-I just couldn't put the book down. Hope to get another 100 pages read today, though it will probably be more as I am hooked. You also have to love the physical ailments of Eddie, not to mention the neurosis of his mother-in-his-wife. "Don't go, pllllleeeeeeeeeasse!":D I wonder if DeNiro yells at limo drivers?:D :D
 
SFG75 said:
Reading about Ben's hazing from the three bullies and how he got the "H" on his stomach was very gripping-I just couldn't put the book down. Hope to get another 100 pages read today, though it will probably be more as I am hooked. You also have to love the physical ailments of Eddie, not to mention the neurosis of his mother-in-his-wife. "Don't go, pllllleeeeeeeeeasse!":D I wonder if DeNiro yells at limo drivers?:D :D
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Henry Bowers is one of the scariest characters I have ever come across in a novel. So very intimidating - and he only gets worse :eek:

Reading any conversation that Eddie has with his mother gives me the shivers. Her 'voice' has the same effect as fingernails down a blackboard for me.

I always forget about the very start of the book (having been warped by the movie) where
Pennywise/Bob Gray/It is under the bridge
- nightmares! And poor little Georgie:

"They float....and when you're down here with me, you'll float too"

I still give drains a wide berth when walking down the street.
 
Excellent King, right up there with The Dark Tower series and The Stand as one of his best. I've got the old paperback from the 80's with the sewer drain on the cover. It is one of the few King books that I've read twice. Critics always complained that it needed a good editing, but I thought it was just fine as is. I also like The Dark Tower connection as well.
 
Just hit page 430. Bev and the bathroom thing was weird. Blood everywhere and the parents can't see it....the voices....the measuring tape in the drain moving on it's own.....:eek:

Don't we all know a guy like Eddie? A walking medicine chest and who suffers from all medical maladies, both real and fictitious?:D
 
I didn't think It was among King's VERY best, but then again, I'm a huge fan of all of his work, so that's not saying too much. That being said, I thought that most of the book was very well-written, and the story of how he got the H on his chest was indeed very gripping. Also, the beginning of the book is probably the best, and also the most terrifying introduction I've ever read. "We all float..... down here!"
 
Also, the beginning of the book is probably the best, and also the most terrifying introduction I've ever read. "We all float..... down here!"
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The hair stood up on the back of my neck while reading that. Talk about "hooking" the reader in.:eek: Speaking of, I have never seen the movie version, but I cheated and did a youtube search. The movie beginning with Georgie by the drain is just as attention grabbing!.


I'm now on page 700. The gang is all assembled, each one of them relived their own nightmare experiences regarding pennywise and now a grand plan is emerging. The rock fight scene between the "losers" and Henry and his gang was really something else. The flashback scenes are well written and are very interesting. Will definitely be reading late tonight!.

Oh yeah, went for a walk today and the melting snow created a big river of sorts heading for the drains. I asked the wife if she saw a clown and some balloons in the grate, though she just smiled and nudged me in the ribs.:D
 
kbmusiclover said:
I didn't think It was among King's VERY best, but then again, I'm a huge fan of all of his work, so that's not saying too much.
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A common thing that I've heard is that his earlier work is superior to the more recent stuff. I did like Cell and found it to be just as engaging as It is so far. I will have to read more of his pre-1990 stuff.
 
SFG75 said:
Speaking of, I have never seen the movie version, but I cheated and did a youtube search. The movie beginning with Georgie by the drain is just as attention grabbing!
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Don't waste your time with that movie. It was SOOOOOO badly done; it actually kind of ruined the greatness of the book for me. The child acting in the first half is sooooo painfully bad. Not to mention that the pure terror, Tim Curry or not, is just not attainable. Look for The Stand instead; now THERE'S a Stephen King book well-done on film.
 
Holy cow-read through the part last night where one of Henry's friends somthered a baby brother and who keeps dead animals in an abandoned fridge-what a freak!. The attack on Eddie was very disheartening to read about. Henry being audacious and chasing away adults is something new. He also did this when Bev was in trouble and surrounded by the boys.

I'm on page 900 and hope to finish it tonight, if not, I'll be happy to leave the last 80 pages until tomorrow. I'm also to the surprising part about Bev and Bill hooking up. I'm expecting her creep of an abuser to show up and throttle both of them, though perhaps he'll take Bill's famous wife, just some theorizing until I actually read what happens next. This has been a good treat. I've enjoyed reading It thoroughly and can definitely say that this one is excellent.
 
kbmusiclover said:
Look for The Stand instead; now THERE'S a Stephen King book well-done on film.
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That's funny, I couldn't stand that film (no pun intended). :rolleyes: I think King's short stories (Rita Hayworth..., The Body, Apt Pupil, etc.) make the best films.

Way too much goes on in both It & The Stand... there are too many characters, each with many stories that tie in to the overall plot that can't all be expressed even in a 6(? 4?) hour TV movie.

Anyway, It is my very favorite (that is, #1) favorite Stephen King book. I didn't find it very scary, but what I loved about it the most was the friendships that developed in the novel (think Stand By Me - not The Body, afterall, the friendships aren't as strong in the story as they were in the Reiner film.)

I've read this book more times that I've read any other book. It's a beautiful story. Stephen King really knows how to write about the love and power of friendships.

Oh, on the It film... I watched it when I was little, probably more than a decade before I read the book... so I actually like the movie a lot. It's no where near as beautiful as the book, but it's a fun movie to watch.
 
Done!

Libra-The friendship aspect of it was a definite strength. I wasn't certain of what it reminded me of compared to other books or movies, but Stand by Me is a good comparison. It was great to see how they became friends through the hazing of Henry and his friends. I especially found the rock throwing episode a delicious revenge of sorts. Their distinctive personalities remained consistent. Eddie's health, Bev's smart-alecky nature, and Ben's hesitation to be a leader were all items that remained throughout the work, though later on, each improves in their own way. Eddie gives It the aspirator treatment, Bev continues to be herself, and Ben is definitely the leader when it comes to fighting It.

I've just finished the book, I have to say that I really enjoyed it and that it was definitely a good page turner. I liked how past and present were presetned and how he took the time to develop the characters and their respective traits. Each event that occured between It and the characters was elaborated on in great length and it's effect was also presented. The first fifty pages were perhaps the scariest, a good "hook" if there ever was one for a book like this.
 
Have any of you guys read "Summer of Night" by Dan Simmons?
Kind of a similar vibe to "It" and a very good, creepy novel.
 
From Library Journal
A monstrous, timeless entity is devouring children. Adults either refuse to understand what is happening, or are themselves agents for the monster. A group of young boys, in uneasy partnership with an outcast girl, realize they must kill the creature before it devours them all. Simmons ( The Fall of Hyperion, LJ 3/15/90), winner of several prestigious awards for science fiction and horror (most recently a Hugo Award for Hyperion , Doubleday, 1989) ranks with the best the genre has to offer. In outline, this novel resembles Stephen King's It ( LJ 8/86). The children are well drawn and affecting in their bravery. This book should be in most horror fiction collections. BOMC alternate.
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Weird. It sounds exactly like It. :confused:
 
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