Stephen King Fans discussion

Post your initial thoughts about IT here.

Remember: No spoilers in this thread!

This is the first time I have read - It and the first time I've participated in a group read. I've only seen parts of the movie so I am definitely a first timer. Thanks for letting me be a part of your group.

Awesome... Welcome Staci! IT is a long book, but I think it's worth the time and effort. :)

OK... so who is reading IT this month? I know you're out there, because you voted and IT won... Come out, come out, wherever you are! ;)

Me, me me!! Not quite half-way through. This is my second read. First time was when the book was first published. I remember the general story, but that's about it.

I think I'm gonna go for IT. Just need to locate my copy and finish the book I'm reading now.

I've seen the movie once and never again. I was pretty young, too. I'm terrified of clowns therefore this is probably the only Stephen King book I cannot read. :/ I wish I could, but they're way too terrifying.

This is my first time reading IT and I'm about 200 pages in. I'm at the beginning of the first flashback section. While I'm enjoying the book so far, I haven't read anything that has terrified me yet. I'm still waiting to be scared out of my mind.

Reading IT now, first time reading and have not seen the movie.

The book is better, much better. I don't think anyone can do justice to Stephen King books, unless they are a drama; i.e. Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile. I hope you enjoy this classic, Chris. :)

Chris wrote: "Reading IT now, first time reading and have not seen the movie."

The movie was horrible. I have heard rumors that someone was trying to do a remake but I have not heard anything about that for awhile.

The movie was OK for what could be done on network Tv in the 80s. Tim Curry is unarguably the best thing in it.

I love SK and I even love the movies; BUT and this is a big one. I don't think anyone can capture the essence of a King book. Am I wrong?? Even when they do a good job and SK says he thinks they did.... did they?? For those who really love his novels; can the movies ever do them justice. I personally don't think so... I could always go to sleep quite well after watching the movies; but never after reading the books. I read IT as a young girl and believe me; I did NOT sleep well. Please tell me your thoughts...

Alondra wrote: "I love SK and I even love the movies; BUT and this is a big one. I don't think anyone can capture the essence of a King book. Am I wrong?? Even when they do a good job and SK says he thinks they di..."

I'm about 35% of the way through IT so far and... I don't know. I love SK. He's a huge literary influence. But this book is cracking me up. Anyone else laughing instead of getting scared?

I did find myself grinning in some places :)

Ania said, "But this book is cracking me up. Anyone else laughing instead of getting scared?"

His humor is throughout all of his books, and it always seems so inappropriate; but that only makes me giggle harder. I think that is his way of setting you up. :D

Pennywise has all the best lines.

I am going to move this up on my TBR list. I am in the middle of another book I got at the library but it is not that great. Not much has happened, it's kinda boring. I liked the movie but saw it years ago. I do want to see it again but after I read the book.

1152 pages....what are the odds it's a happy ending.

What a great book so far - I've had less reading time - my high school students are back and I'm busy busy busy. I stay up late because this book is soooo good. King does an amazing job as always with character development. My students ask me at least a few times a week - what happened in the book and they want details. It's the best way to turn more students into readers. Thanks King!!!

Staci wrote, "King does an amazing job as always with character development. My students ask me at least a few times a week - what happened in the book and they want details. It's the best way to turn more students into readers. Thanks King!!!

Wow, sharing with your students; you must be a real teacher!! Kudos to you! I loved this book; makes you laugh, cry and get angry.

Staci wrote: "King does an amazing job as always with character development."

IT was my first SK, and honestly, I was a bit disappointed... And one of the things I was disappointed about was exactly the aspect of character development.

One of the paradoxical things about this book is that nearly every person, even the ones that are only slightly related to the main story, gets a proper and quite elaborate introduction so that they become this 'real person' with a 'real past', however, the main characters in the book remain so…predictable. Predictable in their thoughts and their role within the group…at no point was I surprised by any of the main characters.

So I started IT the other night after all your help, so far I am loving it and so happy this was the next one I tried!

I like how visual this novel is. I feel like I'm there watching everything unfold. I'm only a little bit past the first chapter, but there is already a dark sense about the story. It's almost like you can tell a lot of unpleasant things are going to happen.

I'm currently on page 172. This is the third or fourth time I've attempted to read "It." The last time I tried - about two years ago - I got about halfway through it. The reason I've given up on it so many times isn't because I don't like it. I just have a problem with really long books (I've also attempted "The Stand" and "Under the Dome," but I will eventually retry both of those). After a while, I just want to read something new, with new characters.

I am dead set on finishing "It," not just because it's good, but because my friend Kevin, who first got me on Stephen King back in 2005 (and is probably the world's biggest King fan), considers it his favorite. He's read it TWELVE TIMES. Seriously.

I love the depth and the layers of this book. I love how it goes from flashbacks to present day so effortlessly. I love the long, leisurely introductions to the main characters. I love so much about this book.

The book was so awesome in its terror and detailed with the fact that it had over 1,000 pages it's no wonder. The Movie was Aight but did no Justice to the book.Agree?

I read this book earlier in the year, I was kind of obsessed with it and was reading a few pages during an advert/commercial break on a tv show, looking up briefly to see whether the show had resumed, I nearly dropped the book in blind terror...

As Ronald McDonald smiled back at me.

One of the scariest books I've ever read.

Loved it.

I want to let Chris know you need to finish it this time. It is well worth reading a very good novel. I know a lot of his books are long right now I am trying to read 11/22/63 and he gets so long winded. Its not that the books are not good he is an awesome writer.

Ericka wrote: "I want to let Chris know you need to finish it this time. It is well worth reading a very good novel. I know a lot of his books are long right now I am trying to read 11/22/63 and he gets so long ..."

I finished it last night and just posted a review.

I'm afraid of clowns because of the movie but even though I know this book will scare the crap out of me I'm going to power through it!!! I tried to read it years ago but never finished it!

I'm listening to the audiobook right now, and I'd really recommend it. It's very well done. :)

I've just started IT after many years of putting it off..The mini-series? poor georgie dying as he does? or just an irrational fear of clowns? The reasons why after many many years of reading Mr King's books this has never been on my night stand ...
Oh well here goes!!

Best Stephen King book EVER in my very biased opinion. No horror character is scarier than Pennywise .

Joe wrote: "Best Stephen King book EVER in my very biased opinion. No horror character is scarier than Pennywise ."

I can agree with that.

I've just started reading "It" today.

Penny wise is definitely one of the most horrifying characters of all of Stephen kings novels ! This book is one of the only Stephen King books that made me lose sleep (out of fear)

I'm doing a leisurely re-read of it. Read it years ago and didn't review it. With my memory I also forgot a lot of it. I'm at the part where Richie is the POV and they just came back from escaping the bullies and watching the double flick were feature at the cinema.

I think that It was one of his better novels had me in tears by the end of the book.

I am 3 quarters through IT and at times it has been a hard slog. But I like the sense of doom and ethereal evil King presents in this book, and he does so with only a sprinkling of scenes that involve "It". Hoping the end is good.

Like most of his books I only get a true sense after reading it completely. The Tommyknockers is one that leaves a big impression for me. I think IT will too.

"It" is definitely an up hill climb, but the ride down the other side of the hill makes the climb so worth it. Keep truckin'!

Ania wrote: "I'm about 35% of the way through IT so far and... I don't know. I love SK. He's a huge literary influence. But this book is cracking me up. Anyone else laughing instead of getting scared?"

I don't really know if you mean you're laughing at it in that you think the book is bad or laughing at it like you think King was being intentionally funny, but I found a lot of the book funny, in that I think Pennywise has a sense of humour and enjoys mocking his victims.

I thought it was a funny book, but I think that it was funny on purpose.

I really never found IT scary, but it is one of my favourite King novels, mostly because I like Pennywise's attitude.

I just reached about 82% in this morning. I would say to stick with it because at the point I'm at it has really picked up and I don't really want to put it down.

Jason wrote: "I've just reached Derry The Second Interlude of IT. While it's been exciting at parts I'm still waiting for it to really grab me. Hoping it does soon, I'm getting a little restless."

I am about 130 pages from the end and IT has picked up a lot and is starting to freak me out. Things are moving faster and things are getting more creepy.

It has been years since I read it, but I remember that when I first started it, I felt that is was so much different than his other works. So much MEATIER (if that makes sense). In fact, it was almost overwhelming because so much is coming your way, and it is freaky, and there are lots of characters, and then . . . you look and there are still 900 pages to go!

It is the most fulfilling novel I've ever read by Stephen King. Trust me, I had difficulty get through the early novel as well, and I think pages 300-350 were very difficult for me and I did put it down for a year and read other stuff. But I picked it back up last week and I absolutely could not stop. The "Grownups" and "Ritual of Chud" parts of the novel are absolutely thrilling and so much fun to read.

Just starting looking forward to reading IT. I have heard many good things about it and as with any Stephen King book I'm sure I'll find it hard to put down.

It is taking longer than usual to get through this book but I'm loving every minute of it. It is a rather long book as well.

Read it when I was 10 and am still afraid of clowns to this day. One of my favorite SK books of all time.

Doreen- just want to say that I love your icon. I'm out of Boston area, too. I live in Ashland, which is near Framingham-Natick, part of Metro-west area. IT is a long book, but it's a great story. One of the best!

Just started reading it. Can't wait for the next...1300 pages to come. But seriously, it's so...... long o.O