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It [Eso]

by Stephen King, Edith Zilli (Translator)

4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 · rating details · 182,181 ratings · 4,534 reviews

¿Quién o qué mutila y mata a los niños de un pequeño pueblo norteamericano? ¿Por qué llega cíclicamente el horror a Derry en forma de un payaso siniestro que va sembrando la destrucción a su paso? Esto es lo que se proponen averiguar los protagonistas de esta novela. Tras veintisiete años de tranquilidad y lejanía una antigua promesa infantil les hace volver al lugar en el...more

Paperback, 1504 pages

Published September 28th 2005 by Debolsillo (first published 1986)

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Jan 12, 2011 Maciek rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-books, horror, favorites, coming-of-age, own-in-paperback, own-in-hardcover, big-tomes, reviewed, classic-horror

The most important things are the hardest things to say, because words diminish them...

Some time ago the wise bald (or white) heads stationed at various universities came to an agreement that a literary form, commonly known as the novel, is dead - fewer and fewer works of any significance are written each year. Of course, one must understand the requirements the wise gentlemen expect of a novel of worth: it would be good if the writer would include some "aesthetic dignity" by including as much a...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity by: Wendy F

Shelves: adult

Okay, so I now know what Beep, Beep Richie! means. All of you King fans got this stuck in my head. Be happy that I left the clown pics out of my review. If you want to catch a glimpse of the super-sexy Pennywise the clown, you can check out my friends' additions in the comments section.

This GINORMOUS book of MAMMOTH proportions (seriously, I'm thinking this is longer than Outlander but I could be wrong) took me forever to get to the halfway mark. My buddy reading partner Katy...poor girl, she's...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Monk rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: King Fans, people not scared shitless of clowns

Shelves: macabre

Holy crap this book was scary. I've always been a fan of horror novels, but very few have ever actually scared me. This book did the trick.

It's the story of a group of friends who as children did a very, very brave and noble thing. A supernatural force lives under their hometown of Derry, Maine. This force hibernates in thirty year cycles and comes to the surface to feast upon its prey - human children. It thrives on their fear as well as their flesh, and typically disguises itself as the demoni...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Too long and too episodic, but nonetheless one of King's powerhouse novels, possessed as it is with a palpable feel for the creepiness that can both inhere and nestle within the historic dermal layers of any midsize city. While all of that business about the Turtle and cosmic spider-bearing meteors eventually proves an eminently discardable distraction, the core narrative setting the Derry Loser's Club against the Dead Lights of the World's Most Malignant Clown, particularly when the former were...more Too long and too episodic, but nonetheless one of King's powerhouse novels, possessed as it is with a palpable feel for the creepiness that can both inhere and nestle within the historic dermal layers of any midsize city. While all of that business about the Turtle and cosmic spider-bearing meteors eventually proves an eminently discardable distraction, the core narrative setting the Derry Loser's Club against the Dead Lights of the World's Most Malignant Clown, particularly when the former were children amidst a world of wonders and terrors, flows with a mesmerizing pace and packs a wallop of storytelling punch. While there is much throughout that stands out in my memory, one particular highlight is when the Michael Landonesque werewolf came down the cellar stairs and knocked poor old Richie for a loop: suffice it to say—and notwithstanding the inherent silliness of a furry Riverdale High killer with an underbite—I nearly shit my pants. For such is King's primary strength as a penner of horror fiction: within a kaleidoscopic (but, alas, not limitless) imagination lies a core understanding of what disturbs us, what frightens us, birthed from the primordial, nurtured within the umbral unconscious, and garbed to snare the modern eye. In particular, King is adept at matching that understanding of base terror to the mental configuration of children, who are so much more attuned to their own vulnerability and contingency within a world whose belly ever rumbles its hunger—including the reasonableness immanent within a tender gang-bang when the wickedly eight-legged, batshit insane spider-thingy has (seemingly) been dusted. And so it is that the parts of It that involve the adult incarnations of the Loser's Club loses some of the magnetism and magic engendered by the earlier, almost nostalgic fifties trip through Derry's murderous nooks, homicidal crannies, and concrete abattoirs with Pennywise serving as the lunatic tour guide; though happily not enough to prevent the reader from flipping the pages right unto the apocalyptic end. We all float down here!(less)

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Dec 06, 2012 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: any SK fan or someone who wants a scary novel.

Shelves: own, favorites, horror-read, stephen-king-read, 2012-read

It's 2:39 AM, and I finished IT about four or five minutes ago. As I try to think of the right words to formulate this review...I'm left with a feeling of, "Wow...."

IT is a story which is not just based on the story, but it's characters. And honestly, I think they made the story so much more. When I think of their story, and the time I invested with them, reading their journey, I feel like I kind of became apart of them. I feel like I took the journey with them. It's amazing what King can do to...more It's 2:39 AM, and I finished IT about four or five minutes ago. As I try to think of the right words to formulate this review...I'm left with a feeling of, "Wow...."

IT is a story which is not just based on the story, but it's characters. And honestly, I think they made the story so much more. When I think of their story, and the time I invested with them, reading their journey, I feel like I kind of became apart of them. I feel like I took the journey with them. It's amazing what King can do to the reader in regards to emotion, and evoking a sense of the same feelings the Losers felt in everything they went through. I felt like I had known versions of them in my life, and in some cases, I still do. Bill, Eddie, Beverly, Mike, Stan, Richie, and Ben were some of the most realistic characters I've ever read. I felt like I could picture them, their behaviors, and actions in my head with every page.

The descriptions of the times which take place in IT, were also so very realistic. A few times, I had to remind myself it is 2012. Not 1958. King did something special with IT, and I'm not sure exactly what it is....It might just be the sum of the entire equation which makes IT such a fantastic novel.

If you are thinking of reading IT, it is definitely worth the investment. I'm glad I took the time to read it, and not rush through it. This was my first read of IT, and I'm sure, in the future, I'll want to re-visit the Losers and Pennywise again.

Some of you who are reading this, might be wondering, "So....did it scare her?" I've been, I guess, complaining or at least mentioning, I haven't read a book which really scared me. The Shining, also by King, had a few moments. But IT definitely surpassed The Shining on the scary factor. So, I guess you could say...it's official. IT is the scariest book I've ever read. Is the entire thing scary?...No. I actually thought it was going to be going into it, but I'm actually glad it wasn't. However, there are several very creepy and some pretty scary parts. And...some disturbing parts as well...heh.

I think it is safe to say, I will never, EVER, look at a clown the same way again. (less)

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May 14, 2012 Mike (the Paladin) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

This book has a couple of big failings (for me) but it's one of Kings better stories. I try to avoid spoilers (except under warnings of course) unless I think a review demands it so I won't hit any details. This is another book that tangentially touches the Dark Tower books. It exhibits one of Mr. Kings signature...what (?)..."glitches" or "idiosyncrasies" I suppose. It (the idiosyncrasy I spoke of) has to do with his cast of main characters and their method of bonding. There is a lot of deep sa...more This book has a couple of big failings (for me) but it's one of Kings better stories. I try to avoid spoilers (except under warnings of course) unless I think a review demands it so I won't hit any details. This is another book that tangentially touches the Dark Tower books. It exhibits one of Mr. Kings signature...what (?)..."glitches" or "idiosyncrasies" I suppose. It (the idiosyncrasy I spoke of) has to do with his cast of main characters and their method of bonding. There is a lot of deep sadness here and an ending that while not bad might have gone better.

Yeah, I know anyone can be a critic. It's a good story in it's way just very flawed (for me). I like the idea and I am impressed with the way Mr. King has tied in the stories in his novels to the multiverse he's built.

Mr. King is an excellent writer so far as readability and creativity goes. He can take an idea and run with it. He can make the scary and the horrible touching and he can take the touching and make it part of a nightmare. I've stated before, I'm not what you would call a "King fan". While I think his writing can approach the inspired I don't think it's consistently so. And for me, repeat "for me" worse is that he carries with him what I see as an inability to conceive "actual" good. Ideals or aspersions to actual goodness don't seem to exist for him. Innocence must be shattered, goodness proven to be false. I find that sad.

Still I rate the book as a good one and think many will like it far more than I do.

Also come on I mean, clowns are just plain scary. 3 stars and it's one I'd say is 3.5 if we could go there.

Major Spoiler Below:

(view spoiler)(less)

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Oct 27, 2012 Janie Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: stephen-king

When I decided I would do the group read on this I was actually very excited even though this would be the third time for me reading it. It certainly does deserve the previous 5 stars that I originally gave it.

I always look forward to doing rereads on Kings books simply because I know so much more is going to come to the surface and I get to experience all those same familiar feelings, and once again become consumed by the contents written there. IT is no different than any of the others I have...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: stephen-king

I loved this book. Stephen King rocks!

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Aug 17, 2008 Stephen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, ebooks, award-nominee-british-fantasy, award-winner-british-fantasy, multiple-award-nominee, award-nominee-world-fantasy, to-re-read, audiobook, on-deck-next, award-nominee-locus, 1980-1989

3.5 stars. Clowns are friggin scary and Stephen King writing about murderous, supernatural clowns is just plain wrong!!!! I read this when this first came out as a teenager and the image of Pennywise stayed with me for a while (I also Tim Curry doing a great job looking the part in the mini-series based on this... thanks Tim!!). I am planning on revisiting the story to see how well it has held up in the 20+ years since I first read it. I have a feeling Clowns are still going to be scary.

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Sep 23, 2007 Chammy added it · review of another edition

I really hate clowns.. never finished the book

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Apr 27, 2012 Stefan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This is my second time through It and I must say that I found as much joy the second time around as the first. It is, in my opinion, King's most complete novel to date. He has created and fleshed out some of the best characters in all of his works and draws the reader into their lives almost completely. They, as both children and adults, are all compelling each in their own way.

Even with the length of the novel, which is considerable, King has done such a nice job of interspersing back-story and...more

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Nov 18, 2008 Henrik rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone enjoying Stephen King, horror with kids & real-life + unnamable horrors

Shelves: horror, magic-realism

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. NOVEMBER 17:

Now finished reading it. Would give it 4½ stars, except GoodReads doesn't allow ½ star ratings.

This is one of the best modern horror books ever with kids as main characters; and Pennywise the Clown is one of the most scary characters ever.

I could write a lot about why I think this lengthy novel is so extremely good, but let me instead mention why I don't go all the way and give it 5 stars:

There is an underlying--the reader slowly learns--Lovecraftian theme hiding somewhere in the bac...more NOVEMBER 17:

Now finished reading it. Would give it 4½ stars, except GoodReads doesn't allow ½ star ratings.

This is one of the best modern horror books ever with kids as main characters; and Pennywise the Clown is one of the most scary characters ever.

I could write a lot about why I think this lengthy novel is so extremely good, but let me instead mention why I don't go all the way and give it 5 stars:

There is an underlying--the reader slowly learns--Lovecraftian theme hiding somewhere in the background of the story. This is cool enough, and for the most time is done well and in tune with the characters (which we follow 50% of the time when they are children), but there is a jarring moment where Stephen King tries to go into a "Lovecraftian writing mode" in describing the whole "Horrible Cosmos" element--and it fails badly! Okay, I suppose it is written the way it is written because King tries to tell it the way a child would tell it... And I can follow the idea and reason for it--after all it is the strongly rational kid who has this "revelation" (hence we have a kind of kid parallel to a Lovecraftian type of protagonist, hehe). But it just doesn't ring true! There's been no events up till then that, IMO, should give Stan the kid a reason to begin thinking those extreme, metaphysical thoughts, and since it is done in a manner that doesn't even really hit the mark (sounds more like another misunderstanding of Lovecraft's ideas, and another of the poor Mythos pastiche), that part was an annoying read. (See p. 411 for this scene; you may disagree.)

I greatly enjoy the whole "turtle, Chüd, Other" scenes where we get amazing, fantastic across-the-universe-nearing-damning-Other-Universe/World" scenes. But why, o why does the Turtle has to sound like some laid-back, cool rockish person--with "son" thrown in for good measures, when talking to Bill? And, later, the "good Power (God?)" uses the same phrase. Breaks the magic, in my opinion, that such a creature should talk like that.

The other frustrating element is that too much of what the kids do (also as grownups) sounds too much like "chess pieces put into play". As if they don't ever really have a choice in the matter. A critique e.g. John Irving has often had thrown his way. Now, I could live with that--if it wasn't for King's jarring, too freqent mentioning of it. Argh. Quite frequently he has one of the characters get the feeling that there really wasn't a choice, and that someone/-thing higher was making it all happen. Irving at least doesn't spell it out to the reader.

Since this, crucial, element isn't really explained in the end--in any way--it ended up being a kind of "easy way out" in terms of having this-and-this happen at that-and-that precise moment, for everything to fall (more or less) neatly into place. Frustrating.

Even so, as you can imagine from the 4½ stars, this is a great, great novel; and most of the time it works wonders. If you like detailed, believable stories evolving around childhood, kids & unnamable horrors set in a (initially, at least) realistic, day-to-day environment--this is the book! This is how kids are at that age.(less)

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Apr 30, 2008 Joe rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: stephen-king, 5-worst

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Before I start...I know everyone will be upset to see me rate it so low. And some will be even more furious with the reasons that I give. Still, I'd appriciate it if you'd wait, and try to see that I'm not giving it one star for its content. (I give The Stand four stars, and its content could be argued to be just as bad.)

It is certainly a horror novel. However, I found only a couple parts of it that were at all scary. The rest of it was more like the drama in "The Body". For me, these two aspect...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Gavin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror-thriller, sci-fi

I read this many moons ago and still think about it now and then. It's that kind of story.

Sure clowns are friggin crapyourpantsandrun scary, but what's scarier about this book is that the monster can be anything it wants to be.

Clowns don't scare you, no problem--how about a werewolf?

Not scared of werewolves--how about an angry, roaming hands father...or a dead father...or a clan of psychiotics that would love nothing more than to see your blood spill on the ground...or a hairy spider with "dea...more

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Feb 23, 2013 David Green rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, 2013-reads, read-by-kindlelight, dude-thats-messed-up

Much like the titular monster that lurks within its pages, this book is many things. It's terrifying, it's sweet, it's disturbing, it's sad. But most of all, It is amazing!

The town of Derry is haunted by an evil with thousands of faces. With the entire town caught in the horrible creature's grasp, some of the residents are forced to confront their greatest nightmares, while others are forced to become the nightmares! Many years ago, a group of seven outcast children believed they had discovered...more

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Dec 06, 2008 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Those who like a scary story

Recommended to Jennifer by: myself

Shelves: also-saw-the-movie

"It" takes place in Derry , Maine where 7 indiviuals come together to fight an evil presence that lives and feeds off of mostly young children in this small town. These wonderful charaters confront "It" not once, but twice, first as children and again as adults.
I went into this book thinking "It" was a clown, when really "It" was much more than that...he took on many forms and "It" was creepy as hell.
This book was great! I have been a Stephen King fan for a long time and I am now kicking myself...more

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Aug 06, 2008 Jamie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually read It by Stephen King once before, when I was around 15 years old and it first came out. Back then I thought that it was one of the best King books I had read mainly because the book had so many powerful (and icky) images and the heroes were a bunch of misfit kids trying to stop a child-murdering monster that prowled their home town below the sight line of most adults. Now, 20 years later, I've re-read the book and once again think it's one of the highlights of King's career, but fo...more I actually read It by Stephen King once before, when I was around 15 years old and it first came out. Back then I thought that it was one of the best King books I had read mainly because the book had so many powerful (and icky) images and the heroes were a bunch of misfit kids trying to stop a child-murdering monster that prowled their home town below the sight line of most adults. Now, 20 years later, I've re-read the book and once again think it's one of the highlights of King's career, but for additional reasons.

What King really, really nails here is what it's like to be a kid. Most of the book is set in 1958 where a group of 11-year old kids become the only ones to realize that a rash of killings in their small town is being caused by a shape shifting monster they simply call "It." The titular monster preys on children because they have such imaginative and elastic minds, but it turns out that these same qualities are also what saves these self-proclaimed members of the "Losers' Club." As with the first reading when I was a teenager, I'm impressed by the accuracy with which King portrays what it's like to be a kid in the world of adults. Parents and other elders simply look past you most of the time, not taking you too seriously and not putting much stock in what you say or do, nor the very real dangers of school bullies. All you've got are your friends, who know what it's like and who know how to stick up for each other.

Now compound all that with a monster who eats kids after taking on the shape of their worst fears --from giant, blood sucking bugs to werewolves to a psychotic clown-- and you've got a recipe for a horror book that should resonate with most people who can remember what childhood was all about. I mean, just think about how frightening it would be if everything you were ever scared of turned real and none of the adults around you could not (or, worse, would not) help. That's powerful stuff that King hits squarely on the head.

It is also impressive from a structural standpoint. King interweaves the story of The Losers' Club with the story of the same kids as adults, coming back to town to face old fears and finish It off for good. And even then, King breaks up those two main threads into strands for each character, deftly manipulating and pulling on each until the cohesive whole comes together in the last few hundred pages. It's the kind of stuff that I like to point at when people scoff at King and suggest that he's a no-talent hack.

Even still, my good will towards the whole book is almost completely undone by a disturbing scene late in the book where Beverly, the only female member of the pre-pubescent crew, resorts to some cringe-inducing acts to calm down the other Losers. I don't want to go into too much detail for fear of Google's automated indexing of certain undesirable words with this site, but suffice to say that that scene is amongst the most reviled by Stephen King fans, more so for its complete absurdity and unnecessary nature.

Still, really good book. It's among the first that I'll recommend for anyone looking to dabble into Stephen King, even though it's one of his longest at 1,100+ pages.(less)

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Dec 14, 2007 Takeerah Arnold rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: movie-books, my-favorites

This was the first novel that I ever read voluntarily. I was eight years old and had seen the movie. I went to a garage sale with my grandmother and noticed the book was there for ten cents. I asked my grandmother if she could buy it for me and she did. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship for Stephen King and I. That was the point that I would read with dictionaries handy and noone around to interrupt me. I would purposely go to garage sales with my grandmother from now on in search...more

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Jan 23, 2008 Hunter rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, horror

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 03, 2007 Shanti rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Yes

Fabulous!

In "It," King does what King does so well: Transports us back to childhood when nothing seems impossible and bonds tie us together. Is it "horror," yes ... there is that. But beyond that is a story about human relationship and how our longest bonds call us back ... and you step back into those relationships as if the pendulum has stopped, but once together again, it picks up seemlessly.

While he maintains detail in everyway, in no way are you left skimming forward or feeling as if thin...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Philip rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, audio-book, public-library, mystery

This was so close to being another amazing book by King, but it got really weird and wildly inappropriate at the end and just really messed up my ability to enjoy the characters I had learned so much about. This must be a prime example of one of King's famous bad endings. I don't regret listening to the audiobook, but will probably not re-read it. Steven Weber's narration was outstanding, one of the best performances I've heard lately.

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Dec 16, 2012 Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A little back story – I bought Stephen King’s It at the age of twelve, when it was published in 1986. My wife, a library expert, says kids are actually amazingly good at self-censoring, so I guess I censored myself. I put it down after the first 100 pages or so. Way too gruesome for me then. It scared me.

However, with the rumors of a new film adaption being in the works, I picked up my original 1986 hardcover of the novel that has sat on my bookshelf awaiting me for so many years. Once I opened...more A little back story – I bought Stephen King’s It at the age of twelve, when it was published in 1986. My wife, a library expert, says kids are actually amazingly good at self-censoring, so I guess I censored myself. I put it down after the first 100 pages or so. Way too gruesome for me then. It scared me.

However, with the rumors of a new film adaption being in the works, I picked up my original 1986 hardcover of the novel that has sat on my bookshelf awaiting me for so many years. Once I opened the novel, I could hardly put it down.

Although 1000+ pages can be intimidating, if you’re a Stephen King fan, you’ve got to make the time to read this novel. I believe It is considered one of two of Stephen King’s masterpieces with good reason. The novel is epic in that it spans the lives of seven childhood friends as they journey to adulthood and then back to the horror that they could not escape: It.

Each character, from the wisecracking Richie to the sickly Eddie, is very well developed. The dynamic within “The Losers’ Club” is reminiscent of real childhood relationships, and is easy to believe, which allows the reader to get lost in the story. I think of It as the story of a town, it’s history, it’s secrets, it’s imperfections, and a closer look at the lives of the innocent that grew up within it. Of course, the horror is compelling. The childhood nightmare lives within each crevice of the town, is familiar, deadly, and inescapable.

The seven friends eventually leave the town to lead very different lives, and, as adults, they forget that they once united long ago to fight an evil incarnate. They even forget having known one another. The now grown-up children begin to remember their history and accept what they have to do again, and the story of It unfolds. This novel is definitely a page-turner, but be forewarned – this is horror in the purest sense of the word. The gruesome depictions of It and what It compels occupants of the town to do and become may stick in your throat for awhile, and will churn your stomach, just not enough to make you want to stop reading. Leave all the lights on in the house after reading It. And don’t stare too long down into your sink drain. The dead lights may be staring back at you.
(less)

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Mar 20, 2007 Courtney rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: horror, fiction

The power of friendship, a horrible monster, a battle (internal and external) across decades, and a really messed up clown. I also read this when I was a kid, and it scared the crap out of me. I just found a copy in my parents' basement and am going to re-read it. Pennywise is one of the most horrible monsters I've ever read.

My parents' basement is also really scary - someone should write a horror novel about it.

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Dec 11, 2011 Mel (who is deeply in love with Hal) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

Something is rotten in the state of Derry, Maine...
~Shakespeare (kind of)~

{REVIEW STILL IN PROGRESS...HERE'S SOME PARTS OF IT...}

Here's a confession. Clowns REALLYREALLYREALLY freak me out. REALLY.

description

And scariest of all....

description

!!!

Here's another confession: I LOVE GETTING FREAKED OUT. LOVE IT!

description

Which leads me to IT.

Before there was anything, there was IT.

I remember watching the TV series with my family and getting creeped out by Pennywise the Dancing Clown. I remember loving the whole idea of this ski...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Tom Pappalardo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I haven't revisited this book in maybe ten years. This is probably the fourth time I've read it, maybe? It still holds up as being interesting, though as I get older (and get more critical of my own writing) I found myself getting a little more annoyed and impatient with King than I used to. Some random thoughts:

* There were numerous instances where he would use the same word within one or two sentences of each other, (A made-up example: "Bev let out a blood-curdling scream. In the other room, h...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Luis rated it 1 of 5 stars

Este libro es un buen pisapapeles.

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Dec 03, 2007 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ohthehumanitythehorror

So far so good, but come on, this is Stephen King and it's one of his classic pieces. Pennywise is just pure evil excellence, possibly one of the greatest villains of all time.

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Feb 25, 2011 Bridget rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 501-must-read-books

I have found a common theme running through the prior 4 classic [read: not Richard Bachman] Stephen King books I've read. (Misery, The Shining, Carrie, and Salem's Lot). There is a lot of character development. And I mean, A LOT. For example...

This book had 7 main characters and then at least 3 or 4 additional characters you learned about and beacuse it takes place back and forth between 1958 and 1985, there are 7 backstories for 1958 and 7 backstories for 1985 to get through before you even sta...more I have found a common theme running through the prior 4 classic [read: not Richard Bachman] Stephen King books I've read. (Misery, The Shining, Carrie, and Salem's Lot). There is a lot of character development. And I mean, A LOT. For example...

This book had 7 main characters and then at least 3 or 4 additional characters you learned about and beacuse it takes place back and forth between 1958 and 1985, there are 7 backstories for 1958 and 7 backstories for 1985 to get through before you even start to see how it all pulls together. Don't get me wrong: I was both interested in the characters and totally freaked out by the story, but it was also SO much detail that about halfway through I found myself thinking, "wait, who's that person again?" and "what was that guy's story - which one was he?" In a way you almost forgot halfway through the book and had to relearn the chracters again. Which brings me to my next point...

One of the major storylines/themes through the book (and this really isn't a spoiler because you learn this REALLY soon into the book, but you've been warned...) is that the 7 main characters, the Losers Club, forget their childhoods and their friends when they leave Derry and become adults. Like, never speak of you, can't remember you, forgetfulness. And so I wonder, maybe the process of reading the book: the being scared, and then being lulled by so much detail, and then forgetting characters, and then in a scary moment, remember them all over again - was part of Stephen King's plan. Maybe it was a plan to make you go through some of the same emotions of the characters. And if so, well then...a tip of the hat to you Stephen King.

Or, maybe the dude just likes to write really freaking long books. I guess I'll never know.

Oh, as an aside, there is one really controversial scene at the end of the book, that I really need more clarification on from someone else that has read the book. (view spoiler)(less)

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Feb 22, 2009 Drake rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It’s strangely ironic to me that all the characters in Stephen King’s IT live in a world of a forgotten childhood, since this book is a from my own disappearing adolescent memories. And similar to my own rosy memories, IT appears a lot more grandiose than its actual reality. For one thing, IT is not King’s masterpiece as some claim, but it is a good book, although not my favorite.

No other author can transport one back to those free days of early adolescence better than Stephen King. But likewis...more It’s strangely ironic to me that all the characters in Stephen King’s IT live in a world of a forgotten childhood, since this book is a from my own disappearing adolescent memories. And similar to my own rosy memories, IT appears a lot more grandiose than its actual reality. For one thing, IT is not King’s masterpiece as some claim, but it is a good book, although not my favorite.

No other author can transport one back to those free days of early adolescence better than Stephen King. But likewise, these traits that define adolescence, the lack of subtly, fascination with extreme gore, and long-winded rants, are the same ones that carried to an extreme throughout the book. At times, it works unbelievably well, and other times, dulls the book to a cartoonish pace, both too quick and yet too base to hold interest. IT is absolutely perfect for the adolescent seeking escapist pulp entertainment, but as an adult trying to regress backwards, I found it comforting and disappointing, in the same way one feels when they visit their old elementary school. Perhaps that was King’s intent.

Overall, the characters were most outstanding part of the story. King, usually weak on developing three-dimensional characters, draws both terrific adolescents along with the adults who they eventually become. Even the town of Derry is given its own character, expansive and terrifying. However, the plot is the major weak point of the tale, dragging on throughout the final third of the novel. And the end was highly unsatisfying, the overt sexuality of the teens was crude and the final battle with the monster did not deliver to the thousand-page lead in. It almost felt like King just wanted to destroy everything so that he could finally finish the book. But don’t get me wrong; IT was a terrific experience, even including the crassness and over-the-top ending. The visions are sparkling throughout, the memories vast, and the totality of this imaginary world was incredible. IT is not King’s best work, but it is a must read for any fan.(less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own

Some parts were truly creepy at first and initially, as often happens with King, I couldn't put it down. But then, as often happens with King, it hits a brick wall and becomes so over-long and has so many unnecessary elements that get in the way of the main story that it becomes a bloated, endless chore to finish. People often say they hate the ending of this book...I did not hate it or love it. I had checked out at that point and simply wanted it to be over no matter who lived or died or whethe...more

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Need horror recommendations	56	232	May 24, 2013 01:28pm
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About Stephen King

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family...more Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family was at the time, and in Stratford, Connecticut. When Stephen was eleven, his mother brought her children back to Durham, Maine, for good. Her parents, Guy and Nellie Pillsbury, had become incapacitated with old age, and Ruth King was persuaded by her sisters to take over the physical care of the elderly couple. Other family members provided a small house in Durham and financial support. After Stephen's grandparents passed away, Mrs. King found work in the kitchens of Pineland, a nearby residential facility for the mentally challenged.

Stephen attended the grammar school in Durham and then Lisbon Falls High School, graduating in 1966. From his sophomore year at the University of Maine at Orono, he wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper, THE MAINE CAMPUS. He was also active in student politics, serving as a member of the Student Senate. He came to support the anti-war movement on the Orono campus, arriving at his stance from a conservative view that the war in Vietnam was unconstitutional. He graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1970, with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level. A draft board examination immediately post-graduation found him 4-F on grounds of high blood pressure, limited vision, flat feet, and punctured eardrums.

He and Tabitha Spruce married in January of 1971. He met Tabitha in the stacks of the Fogler Library at the University of Maine at Orono, where they both worked as students. As Stephen was unable to find placement as a teacher immediately, the Kings lived on his earnings as a laborer at an industrial laundry, and her student loan and savings, with an occasional boost from a short story sale to men's magazines.

Stephen made his first professional short story sale ("The Glass Floor") to Startling Mystery Stories in 1967. Throughout the early years of his marriage, he continued to sell stories to men's magazines. Many of these were later gathered into the Night Shift collection or appeared in other anthologies.

In the fall of 1971, Stephen began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy, the public high school in Hampden, Maine. Writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and to work on novels.(less)

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