It

Rating:
Summary: Chilling, Gripping, Insightful
Review: I adored this book from cover to cover. The complex psychological satire that surrounded the power of confrontation and united individuality against cowardice and society. A beautifully sculpted story that follows a group of children in Derry, Maine. Each an outcast in his (or her) own right, they come together against what could be described as simply, Evil Personnified. This evil, takes the shape of Pennywise the clown, which reflcts the inner-personal-fear of each person. He targets children in particular as their fears tend to be less complex... vampires, corpses etc. The tale revolves around the loveable and 'real' characters, and follows their battle with the creature both as children, and as adults. I did find that 'Michaels' sections were often dreary and windingly long, but I was always glad when I stuck with it, as the final lines would really sock a punch. Also, the final pages maybe left a little bit to be desired... but the reader was given the artistic lisence to paint in (to a degree) what they wanted. Besides, the journey itself was really what the book was all about (and an amazing journey at that), not so much the conculsion.

A gripping tale, which reflects upon fear, innocence, love and friendship, and deals with the very real power of confrontation. A magical read that had me spellbound. I highly recommend it to everyone. You'll get as much out of it as you put in!!!

Enjoy! :)

Rating:
Summary: Another great Stephen King Novel....
Review: Ignore any bad reviews you read on this website. IT is a masterful tale, although long: the paperback is 1,080 pages long, with the hardcover 1,138 pages long.
The book starts out with the death of Georgie Denbrough, the little brother of one of the hero's in this long but great tale.
Bill Denbrough, Beverly Marsh, Mike, Richie, Stan Uris, and Ben all experience with this ancient evil that has been haunting their town called Derry. The thing about it, the people who live in this town try to ignore it like it goes not exist at ALL!
The townspeople are scared of what lurkes in their sewers.
The story takes place in two times: Derry 1958 and Derry 1985.
Mr. King goes through both times very easly, and most of the times when u r reading this novel, you dont notice it.
Then in 1958, they go down in the sewer, all experiecing with IT: who calls himself Pennywise, and they destroy IT; or so they think.
Mike, the only kid who stays in Derry, see's a number of murders of small children happening again like it did back in 1958. So he calls all his friends, and back in 1958 they all made a promise that they will come back to fight IT again.
So they come back (minus Stan because he slits his wrists in the bathtub while spelling IT in his own blood and his wife discover's his corpse.) and recollect the memories of that summer.
I dont want to give away the ending because that would just destroy the book, but read it nontheless. GREAT NOVEL.

Rating:
Summary: It is, well, It!.
Review: The story starts in 1958 Derry, Maine, where children are being killed by a demonic spirit that can assume any shape, especially that of which they fear most, but usually is a clown (which is scariest of all, isn't it?). Only seven misfits are brave enough to stand up to it. Now in 1985, they are all grown up and are succesful in the world, but the clown has returned and is murdering kids again.
Of course this only scratches the surface of the book. Most people will be intimidated by it's size (over 1050 pages long), but it is positively the scariest book you'll ever read. The villin is Pennywise the clown, and a more purely evil charactor has not been created yet (Anyone who guessed John Wayne Gacy as the insperation please raise their hand). The book also has seven good guys, who all have equal attention. They are all as different as possable so as to cover all demographics; the intellegent kid with a stutter who grows up to be a writter, the fat kid who grows up lean and handsome (he was my favorite charactor); the scared little girl with the abusive father and eventually abusive husband; the kid with small sick kid who has a very dominering mother; the black kid who grew up to be the watcher; the motor mouth who grew up to be a DJ; and the Jewish kid with the stricly rational mind who grew up to be an accountant (come on King, couldn't come up with something a little less sterotypical?).
The book goes back and forth between '58 and '85 seemlessly, so that both story lines are happeneing concurrently. It would be easy for a reader to get lost from that techneque, but it works well. This is a must for anyone who claims to be a horror fan. Also, the TV mini-series was pretty good too.

Rating:
Summary: This is It
Review: "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

Rating:
Summary: IT is GREAT!
Review: My friend gave me the orginal hardcover of IT when I turned 18, and once I read IT, I could not put it down. Yes IT is long; in hardcover 1,138 pages LONG, in paperback; IT is 1,080 pages.
Now the story is GREAT! This is horror at it's BEST!
The story takes place in a Maine town in 1958 and 1985, and it takes you through their adventures during 1958 and 1985, and it just keeps you glued to the story, and IT's long, but I was NEVER bored with it non what so EVER!
The charatchers are great, and the whole adventure to find this ancient evil lurking in the sewers is amazing, and to add, this is not a book to be missed.
A lot of critics dont like this novel because it is too long, but dont listen to them, in order for you to understand IT, you have to buy IT, and be prepared to be scared!

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Novel
Review: The first thing I realised after I finished reading IT was that it seemed almost less of a novel, and more of a playground where the reader can explore King's mind at work. The topics of childhood, sexuality (to a minor extent), fear, bullying, love, strength, and human nature are explored in the 1000 or so pages.

Tackling the novel seemed to scare me a little at first because of the size, but I also enjoy being involved in a lengthy novel too. King's IT didn't deliver exactly what I expected, but it was interesting altogether. I had assumed it would be a horror/terror novel but it wasn't that at all. It didn't keep me awake at night or scare the bejesus out of me in the least, so if you are looking for a similar kick you may well be disappointed. I think that impression came from seeing the movie some years back.

IT revolves around a group of friends who have uncovered something frighteningly unusual in the town of Derry. Children seem to go missing in alarming, unusual ways and the place seems oblivious to the strange happenings. When this group of friends, particularly 'Big Bill', go through a series of awkward, nightmarish events, they realise that they must combine together to stop the awful creature which seems to be everywhere.

I would agree that IT needs some editing, for while it's an interesting read, it's not exactly a page turner. The anecdotes told at times seemed off topic and rather out of place. While they were well told and so realistic, they were often boring. We want an interesting story Mr King, not a documentary. The themes of bullying with the stereotypical Henry and his clan seemed overly emphasised and for a while took centre stage. You would think the bullies were as much if not more of a threat then IT itself, which doesn't seem plausible for children who were 11 year olds. There are other times when you think is an 11 year old capable of this? Regardless, the recreation of childhood is very well done, particularly the character Ben and the issues he faces.

Another critisism would be that the novel seems to shift perceptions. During the first half, IT is terrifying, while closer to the end, this doesn't really seem to be the case. IT seems more of a dormant nuisance later on. Some concepts are not fully explained and I found it rather irritating that after such a lengthy novel, humour and ridicule was used in several places when it really should have been quite serious.

There seemed to be a lack of character development. Richie was funny and comical but he never stopped being so. Ben was quiet and reserved and kind. Sexual nuances and undertones always surrounded Beverly's character. Eddie was a little too unrealistic and often annoying. Bill himself never developed at all, always maintaning the die-hard hero type of stance. This made the novel feel a little dull and boring, as you never really question their capability of dealing with the monster that is IT.

Personally I liked the ending but thought it seemed a little dissapointing. Let's just say you might have expected more from IT and IT's powers, especially after reading about IT's previous capabilities.

The story is written with ease and flow that really makes you raise your eyebrows. King is very talented. He meld's the story, combining both past and present without any effort and it's easy to follow and understand, while the concepts are still enigmatic.

Overall I thought IT was an entertaining read, though it did get boring in some places. It's worth it for a well told story however. The effort put in is incredible, and will raise the bar of expectation for future novels you read.

On a side note, I wasn't impressed when I picked up King's DREAMCATCHER and skimmed through the blurb. Another story of a group of friends who tackle something strange in Derry? How many of these does he write?!

Rating:
Summary: Stephen King Raised the Bar With This One
Review: 'It' terrifies, touches, tickles the funny bone, and in every way, transcends its categorization as a horror novel. 'It' does indeed contain scenes that are best read in the light of day (although the reader will be hard-pressed to put the book down and climb into bed), but King also manages to get to the heart of what it means to be a child in a world where adults rarely look down to notice you, as well as what it means to become the adult that each child holds inside. This is a wonderful work by a writer often stereotyped as 'The Modern Master of Horror,' and it shows that Stephen King just might be The Modern Master Chronicler of the Human Condition. Frightening? Yes. Spellbinding? Yes. Thoughtful? Very. Poetic? Indeed. The denouement is elegant and heartbreaking. 'It' is, at varying times, the intimate tale of each of the individual characters, a group of friends, a monster, and a town; and Stephen King brings each entity to magnificent life. Buy this book! Don't be put off by the size of the tome. The 1100+ pages skip by with practically a life of their own. You won't be disappointed.

Also recommended: "Hearts in Atlantis," "The Dark Tower Series," "On Writing," "Different Seasons."

Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Ever Read
Review: Easily my favorite story in 25 years of reading, IT is the penultimate moment where childhood and adulthood diverge. The story explores the difference between kid-beliefs and grown up-beliefs, and the advantages and disadvantages of each, all set within a terrorized town.

I found the seven main characters to be nearly alive, and I missed knowing them when the tale was told. At a thousand pages, it is hardly a light read, but once you look into the face of IT - of Pennywise - you will not want to close the book.

IT is an experience in terror I have never come across again. It remains the sole novel able to make me laugh aloud, cry, cheer. Even now as I think about it, I have the urge to look behind me to see if the clown is there.

I've read IT five times.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books ever written
Review: Yes, you read that correctly. Don't say that I have read only horror and fantasy - I have read Remarque, Asimov, Vidal etc. These authors are also great but in most books I have read something's missing. For example the feeling of reality, the atmosphere of the book, the sense that you are there. I feel as if I have been in Derry(the city where the action of "It" takes place), I have walked on its streets and seen its creepy canals... The people who say that the book is too long should consider the fact that this is the only way to create realistic scenery for the haunting activities described in the book.

Stephen King is known for his incredible, living characters and in this book he shows that even more than usual. There is not a poorly done character in the whole cast, all seem real and I feel them as if they are my friends or enemies. Even the minor characters are magnificently incorporated into the big picture and seem exactly where they should be.
The book seems to be slow paced at first but after we get to Ben's memories from childhood it picks up and never stop up to the grand finale which in stark contrast with other King books is really well-done. The book is also packed with great emotins- every time I read some scenes, especially the end I nearly cry and I have never cried to any book.
This is not your usual horror book - I don't think it is horror book at all. It is about lost childhood, bravery, loyality and most importantly - friendship. But you should see that yourself when you read "It".
On the negative side - thre's only the infamous sex-scene at the end but if you aren't too big of a puritan I don't think that would be such a big deal.

Rating:
Summary: An epic....
Review: In my personal opinion, It is better than any other American work of fiction. It has terror, some (weird) humor, action, and enough BULK to keep your attention for quite a long time.

Like with most books, you cannot simply read a review and make a judgement. You have to pick it up and read a few pages.

Overall, I would say it is right up there with "The Stand" as King's best work.