It discussion

With each character being so realistic and flawed int heir own ways, which one takes the cake for you? That includes the characters who weren't in the losers club.

Tough call. Maybe Ben for me. The lover of libraries, fat kid who knows more than the others, stuck in a family situation in which he is powerless. Yeah. Ben.

Really a tie between Ben, Mike, Bill and Bev. I related to Ben's love of the library and daydreams, Bill's frustration with writing teachers (I'm also a writer.) Mike's love of research, and Bev's growing up with abuse and poverty.

Ben Hanscom was my favorite character. Maybe it's because I can relate to being the fat kid in class.

I'm kind of partial to the Librarian that was so nice to Ben.

Damn, it's been too long since I've read it. Maybe I should....

I think Richie was very relatable. I enjoyed the way he harnessed humor and used it as a weapon against such a serious and powerful villain.

I think the huge cast of relatable characters is a major part of why this is such a great book.

...and now that I think about it, Stan's wife, Patricia really struck a chord with me as well. She was another "loser" who could have easily been in the club if she had met the others.

I related with 'IT'..........couldn't finish the book first time cos of the clown/creature......and there is no one like him in the whole book! literally, figuratively, exponentially! And he scares the you-know-what out of people. And he wears makeup! Yup, that's me! :)

I love Mike... in fact sometimes I think I'm *in love* with Mike, lol. I can totally relate to his love of research and his desire to know all the untold stories of the town (although of course his reasons for this are dark and terrible).

Also, there's the fact that he stayed in Derry and lived a very modest, useful life. In some ways I think he's the real hero of the story (don't hit me, lol!). He was the keeper of the lighthouse. He's the one who brought them all back together, he's the one who remained up close and personal with evil for a quarter century, while the others went off and lived their successful - though by no means perfect - lives. And he had to make all those phone calls...

What a great book! I want to read it again right now, lol!

Pennywise was pure genius as a Stephen King monster. Take something that is common and "likeable" from parties, circus, children's books, TV (Bozo) and turn it upside down into a horrific creature. For all of you that watch American Horror Story, the clown in the show IS Pennywise to a tee. I wonder what SK thought about it when the clown was first introduced. Terrifying....

Oh, to answer the question...Definitely Mike. His curiosity with the unexplainable.

Richie because I'm the kid who make people laugh and sometimes I do stupid voices

Kevin wrote: "Oh, to answer the question...Definitely Mike. His curiosity with the unexplainable."

After watching the updated movie, I was blown away by the casting. Of particular interest to me was Beverly. The visual reminded me of the girls in my life at that age who captivated me with their spirit and bravado. There was always an expectation with my male friends at that age, but the girls who started to introduce themselves to our group was a surprise. Beverly's character captures this aspect for me.

Billy is honestly the most relatable due to the fact of his determination to find his little brother Georgie, he is by far the more interesting and determined character in the whole book

Richie 'trash mouth' Tozier for me.

I got identified by some kids, but with the most are Mike and Ben. Mike, since he was the curious guy and he always wanted to explain everything or at least to find logical solutions, exceptions and explanations to every non sense of what was happening. And Ben, well I was fat as a kid...

Every character is flawed in their own way but definitely Beverly. Her character is a strong, powerful, interesting woman and she was able to overcome many of the obstacles she did at the beginning and end of the book.

Ben or Mike, but the character I most wanted to talk to was Bill. As a parent I just wanted to give him a hug and say, "Bill, your parents would have felt the same way if you would have been taken and Georgie had survived."

every character its a world in that fantastic book, but i think the most interesting characters were Beverly Mars and Penywise, they both are(for me) two of the greatest characters of the literature.

Tough call. I saw parts of myself in both Ben and Richie. I suppose Ben because he's the average kid: quiet, self-conscious, very gifted in one or two areas, aching over a classmate and living for her every breath. He was a real sweetheart.

Definitely Richie for me. I was always the one who wanted to be the class clown but mostly just ended up in trouble because the jokes fell flat.

Even though he is forgotten all the time, I think Stan Uris is the most realistic and relatable character portrayal in such a horrifying situation like this. He's trying to avoid the social abandonment because he is just a child. So he still spends time with his friends but he is scared to death. ALSO because he is a child. So i think the realest struggle and fear was his.

I'm between Stan and Richie but I'll give it to Richie, very royal character and friend.

In IT I probably relate too Richie the most but if we’re including other books I relate to Arnie Cunningham from Christine or Mark Petrie in Salem’s Lot

It would be Bill Denbrough because he was very relatable for me. I have the same problem with communication as him and it was very interesting and important for me.

I also can relate to Ben because of the libraries. I go to the library a lot just like Ben and I am a nerd as well.

All the loser club character's are all unique and dynamic in their own way. But if I have to go for a pick, I'd go with Ben the nerd and fat kid of the class. I love his passion for books and I can relate to him because at the early age of my life, books where my getaway route from my family issues, torture and all the physical abuse I suffered. With my books, I'm drawn into a total new world where everything is perfect.
Been stuck and surrounded with so much family issue is difficult, so yea; Ben is my pick.

Though i loved just about every character in this book, i honestly think my favorites were Eddie and Richie. I loved the fact that even though Eddie was the smallest and weakest (besides Stan) he always seemed to find the courage he needed when his friends were in need. I can probably relate to "Trashmouth" the most because i too could never keep my mouth shut, even when it got me into trouble.

Nicholas wrote: "Though i loved just about every character in this book, i honestly think my favorites were Eddie and Richie. I loved the fact that even though Eddie was the smallest and weakest (besides Stan) he a..."

I also loved Richie and Eddie as well too. Richie was so awesome and so was Eddie. I also got to say Ben because he goes to the library like I do and he is a nerd like I am as well

MJE wrote: "In IT I probably relate too Richie the most but if we’re including other books I relate to Arnie Cunningham from Christine or Mark Petrie in Salem’s Lot"

I remember reading the Salem's lot. It was so Horror as well but it was a great book. I do remember Mark Petrie from Salem's Lot. I also can relate with Ellie from Pet Sematary because she is concerned about her cat Church and always with Church just like I am concerned and always with my dog Snickers as well too.

Stan the man or boy I guess......

Yea

Honestly...Bill with how much he's had to go through with his family and all

For me, I think it's between Richie and Stan.

Richie because I can relate to him a lot, we've the same kind of humour and way of coping with stresful and frighting situations (really, laughing and smiiling when I'm scared to death? thought I was the only idiot who did that) He also kind of grows on you and If I'm not mistaken, although all of the losers were incredibly caring for each other, I think 'Trashmouth' was the softest of them all - when he is the only one reluctant to leave Eddie's body down in the sewers, kissing him on the cheek before leaving, while the other ones sadly accept that it had to be done if they wanted to escape. Anyway, he's an adorable flawed character who also, like me, can't keep quiet to save his life. Also, because he does this kind of unnecesary and over the top stuff, like couting how many times the word 'fuck' was used on Bill's last book (206, by the way)

Then, Stan, although most people just kind of forgets about him because he misses all the action back in 1985, was my favourie from the moment I started reading about him. He was described by his wife as a sweet man who never did anything to harm her and during his childhood, it can also be appreciated that he's very delicate towards all the other losers, offering his ice cream to Eddie when Richie joked he wouldn't share his. He's, despite what people may think of him, very brave; remember that as a kid, he was the only one from all the losers to realize It was a female and would, at some point, have offspring, which meant that it wasn't over, instead of keeping it for himself and pretend as if It was actually dead and they could all go back to living normal lives, instead, despite being 'the weakest' of them all, he made everyone make a promise to come back and finish it if It decided to come back. Also, he fought a bunch of dead killer children by screaming out birds names. Also made jokes like 'Kookie kookie, lend me your bones' how is that not akwarkdly adorable? aaaand that deal about not minding the fear so much but he hated being dirty? I can relate to Stan the man.

That being said, they were all adorable and loveable characters that I enjoyed to read very much.

99% Ben, the closed off kid, looking down upon himself and not knowing his worth, only having a handful of friends, although he is on top of his class, and highly intelligent. Also, his love for libraries and how he spends all of his free time there just reminds me of myself. I never leave home except if I am going to the library or to school or else I am being dragged out of my bed, and out of my books' safety.

Also the fact that he didn't get to love his crush freely, and he didn't even give himself the chance to, because he was being realistic with himself really hit home, because this is exactly how I look at myself, and this is how I have stopped crushing on anyone for the past 4 years. Even if I did have a crush, I wouldn't have noticed because..... I am just that far off gone with my feelings.

On top of all of that, I found this book and read after getting out of my recent ' friends group ' or whatever y'all call it, and I was so so so so alone, and I spent about 2 years like that, until I found solace in my solitude and started enjoying it. I forgot what it means to feel lonely, because it didn't feel that bad after all of this time. So, when reading about how Ben was so lonely before meeting ' The losers ', I just cried, because I had only just realized how lonely I was, how I had missed being with friends, being able to share my happiness with someone else, or my sadness, or my favorite books and movies. It still hits so strongly everytime I read about Ben. I literally love him so much, because he reminds me so much of myself.....I really do love him, because he was one of my truest friends, he was and maybe he still is.

The other 1% is surprisingly Stan with how people think he is strange and they can't really understand his sense of humor, and they way he also keeps his expressions in check, he almost seems as cold and distant on the outside as I do,but he is such a gem when you manage to crack him up.

I really got so attached to all of the characters, and they're all amazing in their own ways and characters, and even their flaws manage to add to them somehow..... I just love them all. I still feel so betrayed knowing that they've all forgotten about each other and themselves after leaving Derry, which means that they've also forgotten about me. Me ; that considers them such close friends to myself. It probably doesn't make sense. But it does hurt so deeply, I literally am so wounded. Stephen King sure did a good job in this one. I even found myself liking It herself, which is quite concerning.

For me, it's kind of a tie between Ritchie and Ben. When among my friends and peers, I was the obnoxious one who was always trying to get a laugh out of people. However, when on my own I was quiet, studious and always had my nose in a book. Those were the two sides to my personality growing up.

Richie Tozier, of course. I loved his jokes and personality. In a novel like It, I needed some humor in all that darkness. I loved Bill as well.

When I picked this book up, it was after I had seen the movie [IT Chapter 1]. In the movie, I was absolutely impressed by Bill and was completely hooked. His demons are so true and relatable. I loved him so much that I had to pick up the book and it was the best decision I ever made because Bill is literally THAT guy. The one who stays quiet, observes, struggles and when the time comes, he proves himself to be the bravest. I myself could relate to his feelings very much although I doubt I would have been as brave as him if I was battling Pennywise but he is absolutely fantastic!

You know, I didn't identify particularly with any one of the Loser's Club but at the same time I identified with all of them. Everyone feels like an outsider and a potential member of the LC at times I guess. For me I got picked on at school for being square and getting good grades. The upside of that form of social exclusion is you leave school and shrug it off. Some of the LC did the same, some had to keep walking with their difference.

I remind myself as Richie from It because I read a lot. I also remind myself as Leland Gaunt from Needful Things because he own the store Needful things and I work at Target. I also remind myself as Wendy from The Shining because I get worried a lot because with anxiety too

I really enjoyed scenes with Victor Criss. Deplorable as part of Henry's gang, but he was actually a nice guy who struggled with his group's torment of the Losers and felt sympathetic toward them. He warned them that Henry was losing it, urged them to avoid him at all costs - and that was kind of him to do. Plus, his death is one of my favorites in the whole book (probably because Frankenstein is my favorite classic monster). I was so disappointed that he wasn't in the new films very much - I really wanted to see him get his head torn off. lol

Richie. When I was a kid, I had a friend just like him. However, I did not like IT for many reasons. It's not even in my top 20.

Richie is my favourite but I love all the characters really :) Pennywise is pretty fun, too.

I'm not sure about the most compelling character, however the least was the girl, she was brought along for no discernible reason other, as Stephen King finally gets to, to screw all of the boys in some kind of effort to re-unify everyone after It was vanquished.

It was poorly-thought-out and a rather, well, stupid excuse for including the girl in the group of It fighters. Her character added nothing other than to be a means to include her father who was motivated by the effects of It, as were most or many of the people in town.

Fredric wrote: "I'm not sure about the most compelling character, however the least was the girl, she was brought along for no discernible reason other, as Stephen King finally gets to, to screw all of the boys in..."

She was the best shot with the Slingshot and saved Bens life, she also gave insight into the poor white people in town of which none of the boys could relate. And finally she helped Ben be brave and assertive because of his love for her. I wont disagree about the sewer scene but she served a purpose in the story.

Ah, you are right, she was a supporting character in all those respects. Her father was also under the IT influence and she could have been murdered as well

I guess I find the most interesting character to be Mike, he lived through it but didn't get to go on and be famous and successful on the outside. He lived through it and instead had to stay and summon all of his old friends to possibly die, he thought he was losing his mind or delusional and the only way he got to experience the final battle was in a vague awareness. Mike got the short end of the stick every step along the way and yet he was the most important member of the group, ready to illuminate the lighthouse when it was finally time for the end.

YEs Bevs role was wayyyy wack there at the end, justifiable because the monster messes with kids mainly and they had to kick some of that childishness🤷🏻‍♀️ I think it was another angle of the story to make it more diverse 😂 Richie for sure <3

The best character is IT of the clown garb. Who is he? Why is he? What is he? Where does he hail from? Why appear every two++ decades? Where dows he go? Why does he go? Why remain in in Derry? It/He has the entire sewage network at his fisposal so why not travel to other towns, cities, states? NB: I refer to Tim Curry's portrayal in original and best film of the 1970's!

If I'd written this comment the first few times I read the book (starting at age 14) I would have said Big Bill, without hesitation.i identified with his role as a big brother because I saw my little sister in King's line about how Georgie would tip his eyes up confidently at Bill, certain that Bill would have whatever answers were required. And I identified with his being the "idea man," the "one who remembered games the others had forgotten, " because I played that role in my own friendships. And moat of all, maybe, because Bill seemed like the one I'd want for a boyfriend.

These days, and for the past 10 years or so, I'd choose Richie. Others in the thread have pointed out some of his good qualities, but what stands out for me is his long, serious talk with Bill about whether they're up against a monster or not, and his trip with Bill to Niebolt Street when it's just the two of them. Funny, often misunderstood, and bedrock loyal.