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Matthew's Reviews > It
It
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Matthew's review
bookshelves: own, monsters, horror, stephen-king, coming-of-age, 2017, audio, library, supernatural, read-more-than-once
Jan 08, 2013
bookshelves: own, monsters, horror, stephen-king, coming-of-age, 2017, audio, library, supernatural, read-more-than-once
Re-read update - April 2017:
"He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts"
I find it appropriate that I first read this between the ages of 12 and 15 and now I re-read at 39. This is pretty close to the ages of the characters past and present in this book. That was not intentional, but pretty cool!
I didn't remember much more than the basics after all these years, but even with that, my original review below stands.
What I will add is that this book is much more dark, twisted, and disturbing than I remember. Pure evil like puss oozes out from between the words. Stephen King'King's mind - truly scary and Derry - not somewhere I am ever going on vacation!
Original review:
This is one of the essential King reads - it is quite a big one, though!
I once heard that Stephen King felt he shoved so much into it he should have called it "shIT" - (can't remember where I read that and I cannot find the reference at the moment, so maybe this is just a really cool myth)
I read this book years ago - I was in my early teens - so I was not much older than the main characters. Because of that, I think the terror was more real.
I also remember that this book had some of the most terrifying and heart-wrenching scenes I have ever read. (view spoiler)
I will say that the one element of it that struck me as odd and that I still scratch my head at today is the (view spoiler). It was a bit uncomfortable and gratuitous.
I may not recommend that you start with this book if you are interested in King. But, if you believe you have reached the point of becoming a King fan and have not read this yet - you really should!
"He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts"
I find it appropriate that I first read this between the ages of 12 and 15 and now I re-read at 39. This is pretty close to the ages of the characters past and present in this book. That was not intentional, but pretty cool!
I didn't remember much more than the basics after all these years, but even with that, my original review below stands.
What I will add is that this book is much more dark, twisted, and disturbing than I remember. Pure evil like puss oozes out from between the words. Stephen King'King's mind - truly scary and Derry - not somewhere I am ever going on vacation!
Original review:
This is one of the essential King reads - it is quite a big one, though!
I once heard that Stephen King felt he shoved so much into it he should have called it "shIT" - (can't remember where I read that and I cannot find the reference at the moment, so maybe this is just a really cool myth)
I read this book years ago - I was in my early teens - so I was not much older than the main characters. Because of that, I think the terror was more real.
I also remember that this book had some of the most terrifying and heart-wrenching scenes I have ever read. (view spoiler)
I will say that the one element of it that struck me as odd and that I still scratch my head at today is the (view spoiler). It was a bit uncomfortable and gratuitous.
I may not recommend that you start with this book if you are interested in King. But, if you believe you have reached the point of becoming a King fan and have not read this yet - you really should!
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Reading Progress
January 8, 2013
– Shelved
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
own
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
monsters
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
horror
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
stephen-king
March 6, 2014
– Shelved as:
coming-of-age
April 11, 2017
–
Started Reading
April 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
2017
April 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
audio
April 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
library
April 11, 2017
– Shelved as:
supernatural
April 11, 2017
–
0%
"Rereading! Audio this time - 44 hours unabridged. Listening double-time, so only 22 hours. LETS ROCK!"
April 11, 2017
–
0%
"Pretty sure that is not the "Under the Bridge" the Chili Peppers were singing about . . ."
April 23, 2017
– Shelved as:
read-more-than-once
April 23, 2017
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 56 (56 new)
message 1:
by
Dan
(new)
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rated it 4 stars
Jun 03, 2016 10:36AM
They are re-making the film and Alexander Skarsgård's son is playing Pennywise.
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Great review Matthew! You are the second person whose review on ŷ suggested reading King's book only if you are well versed in Stephen King and ready for it! :) I've read many Stephen King books, but not this one. It seems particularly disturbing and I'm not sure I'm prepared for it yet.
Amy wrote: "Great review Matthew! You are the second person whose review on ŷ suggested reading King's book only if you are well versed in Stephen King and ready for it!"Yeah - I think this would be a bit heavy to start with and might scare some people away!
Salem's Lot and The Dead Zone would probably be my recommended starter pack!
Dan wrote: "They are re-making the film and Alexander Skarsgård's son is playing Pennywise."Sigh - so many remakes of things lately . . . hopefully it will be good!
Matthew wrote: "Amy wrote: "Great review Matthew! You are the second person whose review on ŷ suggested reading King's book only if you are well versed in Stephen King and ready for it!"Yeah - I think th..."
Both of those I've read and really enjoyed! Salem's Lot I read years ago. I kept my bedroom light on for several sleepless nights!
I agree about the (view spoiler). And I'm hoping they won't ruin the re-making of the movie!Nice review, Matthew :)
I'd never seen that s#@t quote, but love it!
A balanced review and I learned something new. :)
I found the quote! It is on page 239 of The Stephen King Companion in response to the criticism that it is "two tons of crap in a five ton crate":"King, in a Penthouse interview, offered his own tongue-in-check assessment: 'I thought it would be a good one to go out with. Called It. I should call it Shit.'"
Dustin - Yes, but it still is one of the more controversial and questioned things he wrote. And, because of that, perhaps it has served it's purpose.
They're making a remake of It that comes out in October or around there this year! I'm excited!
I too have not read this since I was much younger. What made you re-read it with only four stars? Not that I've given much thought to books I hope to re-read, but I would likely never make it through the five star reviewed books. Or did you remember it as five stars as a teen, then at 39 come to the conclusion it wasn't perfect after all. It's the same all over Mat. Nothing is as good at 39 or older as it was when you were 15.
Alisi � wants to read too many books � wrote: "They're making a remake of It that comes out in October or around there this year! I'm excited!"I saw that - I hope it is good!
Peter wrote: "I too have not read this since I was much younger. What made you re-read it with only four stars? Not that I've given much thought to books I hope to re-read, but I would likely never make it throu..."4 stars both times. I kinda just wanted to see if I had a different impression of it as an adult. Also, it is easy to forget a lot in 25 years. From what I remembered, I enjoyed it about the same each time, but when I compare it to other King books I have given 5 stars, it remains a 4.
This is one of my favourite Stephen King books - always has been! *:D
Hopefully, the movie will be good. I'm not optimistic. The director is a horror director. One would have hoped they'd give the book to someone who would bring more to it than just the straight horror cut.
Peter wrote: "Hopefully, the movie will be good. I'm not optimistic. The director is a horror director. One would have hoped they'd give the book to someone who would bring more to it than just the straight horr..."I heard the guys that did Stranger Things wanted to do an It remake, but were denied (probably because the It remake was already in the works. So, they did Stranger Things instead.
Matthew wrote: "I saw that - I hope it ..."Oh, I didn't notice someone else had commented on the movie. Sorry! :)
Peter wrote: "Hopefully, the movie will be good. I'm not optimistic. The director is a horror director. One would have hoped they'd give the book to someone who would bring more to it than just the straight horr..."
I'm not going to hold my breath but I still hope it'll be decent.
This is a great review! Stephen King is an outstanding unfortunately I can't recall whether I've read one of his books or not 😅
Ashley wrote: "This is a great review! Stephen King is an outstanding unfortunately I can't recall whether I've read one of his books or not 😅"Thanks, Ashley! You should give King a try!
Alisi � wants to read too many books � wrote: "Oh, I didn't notice someone else had commented on the movie. Sorry! :)..."No need to apologize - enthusiasm is always appreciated! :)
Not only that it`s on my to read list, it`s also on my to purchase soon list. Hope to read this before the movie comes out.
Anatoly wrote: "Not only that it`s on my to read list, it`s also on my to purchase soon list. Hope to read this before the movie comes out."Enjoy!
Your comment, Matthew, that it's easy to forget a lot in 25 years, is an accurate summary of one of this lengthy novel's themes
Abram wrote: "Your comment, Matthew, that it's easy to forget a lot in 25 years, is an accurate summary of one of this lengthy novel's themes"Yes, very true indeed! At least I didn't have supernatural forces contributing to my forgetting . . . Or, did I!?
Zachary wrote: "You finished it!"Yes! Twice now . . . I think my re-reads of this are done! :)
I was just now looking at this one on my book shelf -- I hope to get to 'it' this year! Yes, that was a pun;) (Couldn't pass it up!)
Terris wrote: "I was just now looking at this one on my book shelf -- I hope to get to 'it' this year! Yes, that was a pun;) (Couldn't pass it up!)"Nice!
Morgannah wrote: "That is super creepy that your age is mirroring that of the kids/adults in the book! I am reading IT now for the first time in anticipation of the new movie."Like I needed something else to make this creepier! 😉
The hype for the new movie inspired me to re-read, but I should go back and watch the old movie, too!
Nice review Matthew! Funny I read it at 13 and re-read it again around the age of 41. So fabulous!! Did you read 11/22/63? If not you should.. I don't want to spoil it but...it's kind of a MUST. Just saying. :)
I have not read 11/22/63 yet. I own it and keep meaning to, but other books are getting in the way!
Great review. I also read this as a kid/teen and now am rereading as an adult.
ashley wrote: "Great review. I also read this as a kid/teen and now am rereading as an adult."Thanks, Ashley! It will be interesting to see your new perspective.
I am on a rereading quest and I'm going through quite a few I enjoyed as a kid/teenager. I keep laughing at the complexities I missed the first time around due to a lack of life experience
ashley wrote: "I am on a rereading quest and I'm going through quite a few I enjoyed as a kid/teenager. I keep laughing at the complexities I missed the first time around due to a lack of life experience"Oh, yeah! So many things I am sure I didn't know what they were the first time around. Also, I think books change in my perspective the way other things do - i.e. I remember that building being bigger, that movie was awesome when I was a kid (and now it sucks), etc.
Great review, Matthew!
Nenia *The Flagrant Liberal* wrote: "Great review, Matthew!"Thanks, Nenia! 😁
He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts"What did that sentence mean? It totally went over my head..
ṣadé ọm� Agbaje wrote: "He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts"What did that sentence mean? It totally went over my head.."
Mainly just a mantra to help with the stuttering. I get the impession that it might be a common shouted therapy phrase. But, since it becomes so much more to Bill, it serves in the battle against It.
Matthew wrote: "ṣadé ọm� Agbaje wrote: "He thrusts his fists against the posts and still insists he sees the ghosts"What did that sentence mean? It totally went over my head.."
Mainly just a mantra to help with ..."
Ahhh I see.. I was so stumped when he kept repeating it at the end
It's from a movie called Donovan's Brain from 1942. It's also mentioned by King in Danse Macabre. "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts, With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fists against the posts, And still insists he sees the ghosts." The phrase shows up in pop culture a couple of other places too. I think it might be used as a vocal warm up.
ashley wrote: "It's from a movie called Donovan's Brain from 1942. It's also mentioned by King in Danse Macabre. "Amidst the mists and fiercest frosts, With barest wrists, and stoutest boasts, He thrusts his fist..."Awesome, Ashley! Thanks for the knowledge drop!
Great review, Matthew!
Michelle wrote: "Great review, Matthew!"Thanks, Michelle!
My sentiments exactly. The book is really, really darker now than when i first read it. I read it back in 1987 when I was in my 20s - and I've just re-read it now. I saw the old movie. I have yet to see the new one. But, yeah, King has a dark mind, very dark. There are many parts which could have been cut out without spoiling the story. It seems like a lot of padding - which makes the book unnecessarily long. I dare say, he could have cut at least 200 pages without cheating us readers out of enjoyment. But King is king. It scared the hell out of me - but i enjoyed the journey. There are many moral, socio-political, cultural questions and issues cleverly embroidered into this beautiful yarn without making it sound too "preachy" - there are so many beautiful parts that I (a lowly novelist unknown outside my native South Africa) wish i had written... King is an artist. Hands down
Khumalof wrote: "My sentiments exactly. The book is really, really darker now than when i first read it. I read it back in 1987 when I was in my 20s - and I've just re-read it now. I saw the old movie. I have yet t..."Thanks for taking the time to read my review and give a great and well said reply! I think this book will continue to lead to a lot of discussion for years to come. With the new movie out and the sequel coming soon - the discussion is stronger than ever!
Have you seen It: Chapter 2 yet? It is phenomenal!
Tucker wrote: "Have you seen It: Chapter 2 yet? It is phenomenal!"I have not - I waited for DVD release last time. Good to know it is so good!
