It (Signet Books) by Stephen King

"The terror, which would not end for another twenty-eight years--if it ever did end--began, so far as I can tell, with a boat made from a sheet of newspaper floating down a gutter swollen with rain."This is the first line of "It," the beginning to one of Stephen King's masterpieces, and probably the most incredible story I've ever read. Those who complain about it's length... they need patience. Those who complain about its characters... they... need to look around at themselves and others. Those who complain about it being vulgar, vile, or horrific... that's part of the story, and not to embrace it means you miss out on something extraordinary.In the summer of 1958, seven friends encountered something horrible in their town of Derry, Maine. This something fed on children, hunting them, preying on them, and devouring them. It could shape itself in any way It liked, whatever their nightmares suited, but always with one trademark: the semblance of a clown. The seven friends all had something in common: They had all escaped It at some point. And in that summer, they learned about It, confronted It, and killed It... or so they thought.28 years later... A boy named Adrian Mellon is apparently thrown off a bridge by two other boys for his sexuality. It seems like an open-and-shut case, but the boys claim that there was something down below... a clown and a cloud of balloons.Soon the friends are being called back to Derry, told that It is back. They made a vow, sealed in blood, to return if It wasn't dead. Each of them is now very successful, and the thought of returning to Derry, of going back to the horror that they'd all forgotten, is more than they can bear, but they had made a promise."It" is two stories being told at once. One is the story of their childhood, of their first encounter with Pennywise the Clown, their troubles with the local bullies, the impact of It upon their lives, their own personal struggles, and the eventual defeat of It. This is told from the beginning of the book to the near end of it. At the same time, the story of the return to Derry, of the research done to see what It was, the memories that were now urging to return, and subsequent events that followed which I won't spoil here. Both timelines alternate in their tellings to fit one another perfectly, even if not in perfect chronological order, and they're even further juiced with quick points of time long before their own, dipping into what else It has been up to. This construction is utterly beautiful in how it's placed, and completely builds the story up for all its plot points and climax. "It" also easily avoids a problem with many long Stephen King books: Plot threads that go nowhere. The characters are completely immersive and none are the all-too-well-known cliches. Bill Denbrough is the leader of the group, with a bone to pick with It, and his own problem of stuttering. Richie Tozier has a smart mouth and a big ego, one that hides things from the others that he's ashamed of, even in denial of. Eddie Kaspbrak is asmathic and weak, but he has courage within him to help his friends. Stan Uris is a sensible and supportive friend, who helps bring understanding of things. Ben Hanscom is an overweight and loving boy who brings his own ingenuity to the group. Beverly Marsh is a tough, yet sweet girl, whose own problems at home help prepare her for what she must face with the others. And Mike Hanlon, a boy chased by the bullies for the color of his skin, who comes across the group with a desire to help, and also leading to one of the more emotional parts of the story, the Great Rock Fight. These are the seven friends whose unity and circumstances held them together against It, and who vowed to return. It isn't long before they feel familiar, as if you've known them all your life, as well as the troubles they've faced, especially those of punk and bully Henry Bowers, whose endless torment drives them into the very heart of It's lair."It" is a story that does take some patience to get into after the initial hook, but afterward, you'll have trouble putting it down. The night I finished it for the first time, I was 200 pages from the end and it was already midnight, but I just had to keep going. I couldn't wait until morning. I had to read, see, feel... I had to know. Everything builds and builds, as well as giving off the love, excitement, and horror that abounds, and it doesn't let down. Every single event, be it touching, scary, or vulgar, is necessary to form the complete picture of what may be one of the greatest books you will ever read.-Escushion more

I was 12 years old when I was reading this book and, having a vivid imagination, it scared the hell out of me. I slept for weeks with lights on in my room and I always had a slightly bad feeling while going to the toilet (read the book to know why)...I guess why this book captivated me so much is that the heroes are children, young and not among the most popular, smartest or strongest. Young boys and a girl you could yourself identify with.... They arent the most popular, strongest or smartest kids... All are haunted because of their bad family situation, rough pupils, health problems... And its those loners, finding together and finally confronting a century-old evil force living in the Derry canalisation... An evil force, IT, that the adults of Derry dont want to realize it exists...The books is cleverly made, offering insight in the life of the main charcters both as youngsters and adults, confronted again 20 years later by the evil they thought they had destroyed in a memorable fight a long time ago...This is the best Stephen King ever achieved. more

After finishing IT for only the second time, I feel I must add my comments to those listed below. I found this book to be one of the greatest fiction books I have ever had the pleasure of curling up with for several weeks and reading (any book that can have me go through the full range of emotions over and over again and then get me to spend weeks reflecting on thoughts from the last two paragraphs has to rank up there). SK has managed to... write the scariest novel I have ever read but also weave in multiple underlying themes (Good vs Evil, racial discrimination, the reality of childhood as seen through the eyes of a child - who can forget the schoolyard bullies?) that kept me thinking the whole way through the book. Rather than bore you with a long review - just read the book you'll be glad you did (although due to the mature and sometimes inappropriate content of a number of scenes, I don't recommend this book for anyone under 13/14). As a parting comment, the book is best summed up by my dilema - Which is scarier: Pennywise or the reality of what happens to us as we grow up and leave childhood behind? more

I feel that it is fair to warn anyone that is planning to invest their time in a book of this scope and magnitude that you may not be happy in the end. I have never written an online review before because usually when I read a great book most people already feel that its great and the existing reviews speak for themselves. However, as I was reading through these reviews, I could not believe how many 5 star ratings people gave. This is not nearly... the masterpiece that it could have been and I think people deserve fair warning and a review that is more than: greatest book ever man! First off let me say this, I love horror stories, I am not easily offended, and I have read and enjoyed many other King books in the past. With that in mind, I started reading IT and was immediately absorbed into the tale. SO FIRST THE GOOD (EVEN GREAT): 1) great buildup, some genuinely scary and disturbing scenes 2) realistic character development and compelling characters in general 3) IT is a very original, strange and frightening creature...most of the way through 4) childhood events, friendships, conflicts, and experiences are realistically portrayed and sometimes even more frightening and tense than the encounters with the supernatural. 5) Despite other peoples complaints with the length, I feel that it flowed nicely and the way the novel slowly revealed events of the past while building suspense in the present time was wonderfully done. SO WHY DID I GIVE THE BOOK 2 STARS? -- This book COMPLETELY falls apart in the last 100 pages or so. So much so that I had to shake my head and wonder if I was even reading the same book. I knew the ending would never live up to the buildup and I was willing to accept that, but what King came up with could not have been written any worse. When IT is revealed, the revelation is anti-climactic to say the least. Even then however, I still would have given the book 5 stars. What angered me to no end was the direction the book went from here. What was a scary foray into a world of creatures, nightmares, and psychological intrigue became a laughably bad mystical and celestial mess that changed the tone of the entire novel. Be warned, the final conflict and resolution is completely ridiculous and ruins what was a masterpiece of horror. PARTIAL SPOILERS (though they dont give away anything major, heres a little of what you are in for) 1) a turtle god that barfed up our universe 2) floating disembodied tongue the someone bites into 3) the deadlights (dont ask, it won't matter) 4) a weak and pitiful IT that can simply not be the same cunning and dastardly creature from the first 3/4s of the novel (yet is) 5)unsatisfying and weak explanation as to how IT is hurt (I understand what King was trying to do, but it doesnt come across well in the end) LASTLY: IF NONE OF THAT TURNED YOU OFF, PICTURE THIS: A group of six 11 year olds (yes, thats right 11!--all boys, 1 girl) are running around lost in some tunnels. And what is their solution for finding their why out?? Why, a group orgy of course. Im sorry, but even if it had something to do with the story line (which it doesn't) a scene like that is sick and uncalled for on so many levels. Beyond that, it makes no sense and is completely unrealistic after all the previous wonderful character development. Further, the scene is not even merely alluded to, it is specific and explicit bordering on child porn. Why that was included, I cannot begin to guess. It does make good evidence for my theory though: King HAD to have been on something when he wrote in the whole ending. Read if you must, but realize, I am not making any of this up. I sit here stunned and in disbelief as to how such a great novel could turn into such a train wreck. In an epic of this depth, a complete, sloppy letdown in the end is simply inexcusable. more

I really enjoyed this book and have re read it over and over again despite it's lengths. I agree with many of the reviews in that it does get boring in the middle where King spends endless time talking about this and that about Derry which really makes you want to skip it and get back to the characters, who I thought were all interesting and well developed.This book really scared me, but I have cat's whiskers for nerves and I can't think of one... King book that didn't scare me so perhaps I am not the most discriminating when it comes to what is scary?But my MAIN problem with this story was *SPOILER SPOILER* the last part of the book with the sex scene between the 11 year old children. And it wasn't even just regular sex, it was a gang bang with one girl having sex with 6 boys. How can an 11 year old girl take 6 boys on at once? I don't know grown women who can do that, and more to the point WHY DID STEPHEN KING PUT THAT IN THERE? It was justified as a way to bring everyone back together, but I honestly believe that there must have been some other way and I found myself feeling as though I was being molested by this scene because of the age of the children, and I am not shy about sexuality in literature. It just had no place.Also what was up with Bill getting to have his way with Bev when they became adults too? All the boys loved her, why was Bill chosen (and he already had a wife) and then RIGHT after Bev has sex with Bill she walks off with Ben...it just was tasteless.*end spoiler*Also there was never a real explanation of what It was or how the kids managed to hurt It. Everything just was. Nothing was explained as good as it should've been in the end.Other than that, the book was very good, like I said very well developed and even if you don't find it scary (which is hard for me to imagine) the story of friendship and childhood to adulthood will at least be interesting and intriguing and the book is hard to put down. I found myself in a lounge chair on hot summer days reading it for hours on end till the sun went down.An enjoyable read, just a lot of questions and questionable activities that never seeemed justified. more