desertcart.com: It: A Novel: 9781982127794: King, Stephen: Books Review: A Love Story Disguised as a Horror Novel - I've read a number of Stephen King's books over the past 15 years, and had also read a number of his short stories prior to that period. King has always genuinely impressed me with his incredible eye for detail, his sense of place, and his ability to steadily pay out the rope line of a story's plot. Additionally, of course, he's the Jedi Master of creepiness. Although I was familiar with the premise of IT --- indeed, I watched the ABC miniseries back when it first aired in 1990 --- , I had never taken on this massive work as a reading challenge. With the recent release of the big-screen adaptation of King's story, I felt that it was time to shift this novel to the top of my bucket list. Now, having reached the conclusion of this tale, I stand entertained, inspired, and deeply moved. You see, to me, IT is not simply an epic horror tale; I feel that is also a powerful odyssey of friendship, belonging, coming of age...and love. From the late 1950s to the mid-1980s, the narrative chronicles the lives and times of a group of young pre-teens growing up in the small town of Derry, Maine. These young people are brought together by fate and circumstance to forge a fundamental bond, upon which is built not only all of their intense and complicated interpersonal relationships but, ultimately, their shared commitment to confront an unearthly monster that has, for generations, stalked and murdered Derry's residents --- especially children. As the members of the "Losers' Club" grow to know one another, become playmates, and evolve the fierce and pure loyalty and protectiveness towards each other that are so characteristic of young kids, their showdown with It looms closer and closer. Of course, the story’s titular antagonist is, ultimately, the most frightening of the Losers’ Club’s foes. However, what childhood would be complete without the unwanted attentions of schoolyard bullies? Led by Henry Bowers, a seething, dangerously angry son of a poor local farmer, a group of boys a couple of years older and bigger than our young heroes is an all-too-familiar presence in Derry, and it repeatedly attempts to corner the “Losers” when they’re alone, or at least outnumbered. Under the mostly unspoken leadership of “Stuttering” Bill Denbrough, the Losers’ Club’s lovable misfits navigate their way through a strange 1958 summer, a season of weird and frightening revelations, discovering more and more about Derry’s many hidden secrets even as they reveal more and more of themselves, their foibles, and their fears to one another. Bill is clearly the linchpin of the group, made all the more so by his anger, terror, and guilt over the awful death of his younger brother Georgie, another of It’s victims. With Bill often taking point, the Losers’ Club manages to (mostly) stay out of the clutches of Bowers and his group of thuggish louts. These “lost” children create their own tribe of sorts, a surrogate family that provides companionship, love and support when most of the adults around them are too wrapped up in themselves and their own private hells to be much help. Beverly Marsh, the sole girl in this society of seven, is sort of a tomboy, whose generally greater maturity and budding sexuality throw an understandable monkey wrench into the group’s dynamics. Stan Uris, one of the few Jews in Derry, is quiet, bookish, and sensible; Richie Tozier is the wise-cracking obnoxious kid with a heart of gold. Ben Hanscomb is the gentle and whip-smart fat kid who is brave beyond his years. Eddie Kaspbrak, smothered by his hyper-protective mother and suffering from crippling hypochondria, is imaginative and inventive and loyal to a fault. This septet is rounded out by Mike Hanlon, only child of one of the only African-American farmers in the area; Hanlon is, from the start, the group’s scribe, in fact carrying on in this role into the Losers’ adulthood...he is the only one of the seven who will stay in Derry through the seasons, years, and decades, until, in 1985, the horrifying disappearances and murders which seem to plague the town every 27 years or so begin again. Hanlon has watched and waited, like a sentry, wondering if he will ever have to contact his friends from so long ago, friends who have moved on to a wide range of professionally successful but sometimes personally haphazard lives. Moreover, he is unsure not only if the grownups sprung from those children of 1958 will adhere to the promise they all made to return to Derry to confront It if It should resurface, but if they will remember that era of their existence at all. As with the greater community of Derry, individuals there often seem to lose connections with their pasts, as if afflicted with some kind of metaphysical amnesia. By turns eerie and cheerful, terrifying and ridiculously funny, IT takes us on a tour of what it was --- and is --- to be a kid. You dream big dreams. You skin your knees. You find puppy love. You make friends. You suffer setbacks and even full-blown tragedies. If you are one of those folks to have had the good fortune of having a few really close partners-in-crime with whom to spend the lazy days of summer, then King’s novel will, I think, deeply resonate. The exquisite use of detail to accomplish painstakingly complex world-building, of which King is truly a master, breathes real life --- and death --- into Derry, Maine. The movement of the narrative back and forth in time is achieved quite seamlessly, and the author’s attention to what I’d call the continuity of experience helps readers to much better comprehend the twisted and disturbing history of the town, and to appreciate the raw passage of years, both during the lives of the main and supporting characters and in the time periods of some of the narrative flashbacks that provide the audience with a rich backstory. The intrepid heroes of this very long and sophisticated novel love each other. They stay loyal to each other, even when, sometimes, their hearts are breaking and they are losing faith in everything around them. They have, in the modern vernacular, each other’s backs. The innocence of much of their summer shenanigans is counterpointed powerfully by moments when each of them faces unpleasant truths about their families, as well as by the crucial points in the story at which the lurking, quintessential evil of It shows itself, however fleetingly. As Bill and the rest move inexorably toward their encounter with Derry’s awful monster, they are, in many ways, simultaneously leaving their true childhoods further and further behind, just as, in the intervening generation or so between their various departures from the town and their perhaps foreordained return to it, their memories of that time and place fade like a mostly-forgotten nightmare. I could not recommend this novel more strongly. As a thrilling and thoughtful example of the best that the horror genre has to offer, IT is superb. However, as I said before, I believe that, when you take the journey to this haunted New England town, and face down monsters both human and inhuman, right alongside some of the most genuinely childlike characters to have ever graced the pages of a literary work, you will remember what it’s like to dream, imagine, dare, and love, all over again. Review: Cosmic horror at Its finest! - I am a very slow reader and my capacity to read books over 400 pages does not exist; however, I recently found out about the bluetooth feature on kindle and learned it can read the book to you! For me, this was a game changer and I took the opportunity to try and read a book (this book!) that I have always wanted to read, have attempted to read, but was never able to get more than 50 pages through. With the assistance of the Kindle keeping up a good reading pace and helping me focus, I pushed myself past my reading comfort zone and this book was beyond what I was expecting. I have watched the TV mini-series as well as the 2 feature films and the book takes you to a whole different dimension! This story pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the club tasked with confronting evil in its purest form. I am glad I challenged myself to finish this book and I cannot recommend it enough!
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,367 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Werewolf & Shifter Thrillers #17 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #39 in Suspense Thrillers |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (51,956) |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 2.5 x 8.38 inches |
| Edition | Media Tie-In |
| ISBN-10 | 1982127791 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1982127794 |
| Item Weight | 2.3 pounds |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 1168 pages |
| Publication date | July 30, 2019 |
| Publisher | Scribner |
A**L
A Love Story Disguised as a Horror Novel
I've read a number of Stephen King's books over the past 15 years, and had also read a number of his short stories prior to that period. King has always genuinely impressed me with his incredible eye for detail, his sense of place, and his ability to steadily pay out the rope line of a story's plot. Additionally, of course, he's the Jedi Master of creepiness. Although I was familiar with the premise of IT --- indeed, I watched the ABC miniseries back when it first aired in 1990 --- , I had never taken on this massive work as a reading challenge. With the recent release of the big-screen adaptation of King's story, I felt that it was time to shift this novel to the top of my bucket list. Now, having reached the conclusion of this tale, I stand entertained, inspired, and deeply moved. You see, to me, IT is not simply an epic horror tale; I feel that is also a powerful odyssey of friendship, belonging, coming of age...and love. From the late 1950s to the mid-1980s, the narrative chronicles the lives and times of a group of young pre-teens growing up in the small town of Derry, Maine. These young people are brought together by fate and circumstance to forge a fundamental bond, upon which is built not only all of their intense and complicated interpersonal relationships but, ultimately, their shared commitment to confront an unearthly monster that has, for generations, stalked and murdered Derry's residents --- especially children. As the members of the "Losers' Club" grow to know one another, become playmates, and evolve the fierce and pure loyalty and protectiveness towards each other that are so characteristic of young kids, their showdown with It looms closer and closer. Of course, the story’s titular antagonist is, ultimately, the most frightening of the Losers’ Club’s foes. However, what childhood would be complete without the unwanted attentions of schoolyard bullies? Led by Henry Bowers, a seething, dangerously angry son of a poor local farmer, a group of boys a couple of years older and bigger than our young heroes is an all-too-familiar presence in Derry, and it repeatedly attempts to corner the “Losers” when they’re alone, or at least outnumbered. Under the mostly unspoken leadership of “Stuttering” Bill Denbrough, the Losers’ Club’s lovable misfits navigate their way through a strange 1958 summer, a season of weird and frightening revelations, discovering more and more about Derry’s many hidden secrets even as they reveal more and more of themselves, their foibles, and their fears to one another. Bill is clearly the linchpin of the group, made all the more so by his anger, terror, and guilt over the awful death of his younger brother Georgie, another of It’s victims. With Bill often taking point, the Losers’ Club manages to (mostly) stay out of the clutches of Bowers and his group of thuggish louts. These “lost” children create their own tribe of sorts, a surrogate family that provides companionship, love and support when most of the adults around them are too wrapped up in themselves and their own private hells to be much help. Beverly Marsh, the sole girl in this society of seven, is sort of a tomboy, whose generally greater maturity and budding sexuality throw an understandable monkey wrench into the group’s dynamics. Stan Uris, one of the few Jews in Derry, is quiet, bookish, and sensible; Richie Tozier is the wise-cracking obnoxious kid with a heart of gold. Ben Hanscomb is the gentle and whip-smart fat kid who is brave beyond his years. Eddie Kaspbrak, smothered by his hyper-protective mother and suffering from crippling hypochondria, is imaginative and inventive and loyal to a fault. This septet is rounded out by Mike Hanlon, only child of one of the only African-American farmers in the area; Hanlon is, from the start, the group’s scribe, in fact carrying on in this role into the Losers’ adulthood...he is the only one of the seven who will stay in Derry through the seasons, years, and decades, until, in 1985, the horrifying disappearances and murders which seem to plague the town every 27 years or so begin again. Hanlon has watched and waited, like a sentry, wondering if he will ever have to contact his friends from so long ago, friends who have moved on to a wide range of professionally successful but sometimes personally haphazard lives. Moreover, he is unsure not only if the grownups sprung from those children of 1958 will adhere to the promise they all made to return to Derry to confront It if It should resurface, but if they will remember that era of their existence at all. As with the greater community of Derry, individuals there often seem to lose connections with their pasts, as if afflicted with some kind of metaphysical amnesia. By turns eerie and cheerful, terrifying and ridiculously funny, IT takes us on a tour of what it was --- and is --- to be a kid. You dream big dreams. You skin your knees. You find puppy love. You make friends. You suffer setbacks and even full-blown tragedies. If you are one of those folks to have had the good fortune of having a few really close partners-in-crime with whom to spend the lazy days of summer, then King’s novel will, I think, deeply resonate. The exquisite use of detail to accomplish painstakingly complex world-building, of which King is truly a master, breathes real life --- and death --- into Derry, Maine. The movement of the narrative back and forth in time is achieved quite seamlessly, and the author’s attention to what I’d call the continuity of experience helps readers to much better comprehend the twisted and disturbing history of the town, and to appreciate the raw passage of years, both during the lives of the main and supporting characters and in the time periods of some of the narrative flashbacks that provide the audience with a rich backstory. The intrepid heroes of this very long and sophisticated novel love each other. They stay loyal to each other, even when, sometimes, their hearts are breaking and they are losing faith in everything around them. They have, in the modern vernacular, each other’s backs. The innocence of much of their summer shenanigans is counterpointed powerfully by moments when each of them faces unpleasant truths about their families, as well as by the crucial points in the story at which the lurking, quintessential evil of It shows itself, however fleetingly. As Bill and the rest move inexorably toward their encounter with Derry’s awful monster, they are, in many ways, simultaneously leaving their true childhoods further and further behind, just as, in the intervening generation or so between their various departures from the town and their perhaps foreordained return to it, their memories of that time and place fade like a mostly-forgotten nightmare. I could not recommend this novel more strongly. As a thrilling and thoughtful example of the best that the horror genre has to offer, IT is superb. However, as I said before, I believe that, when you take the journey to this haunted New England town, and face down monsters both human and inhuman, right alongside some of the most genuinely childlike characters to have ever graced the pages of a literary work, you will remember what it’s like to dream, imagine, dare, and love, all over again.
D**A
Cosmic horror at Its finest!
I am a very slow reader and my capacity to read books over 400 pages does not exist; however, I recently found out about the bluetooth feature on kindle and learned it can read the book to you! For me, this was a game changer and I took the opportunity to try and read a book (this book!) that I have always wanted to read, have attempted to read, but was never able to get more than 50 pages through. With the assistance of the Kindle keeping up a good reading pace and helping me focus, I pushed myself past my reading comfort zone and this book was beyond what I was expecting. I have watched the TV mini-series as well as the 2 feature films and the book takes you to a whole different dimension! This story pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the club tasked with confronting evil in its purest form. I am glad I challenged myself to finish this book and I cannot recommend it enough!
A**.
Creepy, a bit boggy, definitely avoid if you’re a more sensitive reader
I knew the story, more or less, going into this one. Specifics were a surprise, especially as I didn’t remember the movie that much. I didn’t really *love* It as a movie, and didn’t really expect to love the book. I didn’t expect what was actually in the book – which at times made me want to burn it, and at times made me question ever reading Stephen King again. The scary and suspenseful elements around the antagonist were well done. I loved – as always – the descriptions, the deep look into character, the development of the town as an antagonist. King has a way to draw in the reader with concepts and ideas that you want to dig into, but his books are more person focused and, unfortunately sometimes, terribly intimately detailed. King doesn’t really have villains, or heroes. There are people who do heroic things, and people who do terrible things, and they all have reasons, and that’s part of what’s so terrifying about King’s work, maybe. That said, there were some really evil, monstrous people in this book. The story itself wasn’t bad. It was a bit overlong, and some detail wasn’t strictly necessary, I don’t think. Some elements seemed to be really hyped up, then sort of fell away, as well. The biggest problems I had with the book were the sexual content, and Beverly. Beverly really got shafted in this book, and the fact that what happened to her was described so explicitly, that the things that she did and that happened to her were just accepted, glossed over, even encouraged as normal and natural, was stomach churning to me. There was also a lot of racist language, which bothered me, as I don’t think as much of it as was in the book was necessary. I didn’t feel that the infamous orgy scene was at all necessary, and nearly tossed the book entirely when I got to that point, but powered through as I was reading It for a discussion group. I really enjoy King’s writing, his skill at storytelling, but the sexual abuse of children and the flagrant racism – in some cases very casual – makes me uncomfortable. So… for It itself, if you enjoyed the movie, you may want to pick up the book. I do think the book – as usual – was better than the movie. That said, if you’re a sensitive reader, I’d encourage you to stay far, far away from this one.
S**A
Mesmerizing and outstanding book. Stephen king is really master really really great writing master.what a writing style and way of story telling.. He is just amazing describe each and every situation shows in front of our eyes. 😘😘😘😘😘😘😘.i never tried a huge book like this one before. But swear me it is worthy damn worthy. He is unique writer and story teller. But at the beginning I feel so frustrated when I read it after more pages turned starts to fell deep inside still can't come out. Always think is it possible to someone wrote a book like this? Stephen king is legend. I'm can't stop myself fall on his writing. IT is basically supernatural story, comes every 24 years once, sry can't sure years. Very interesting, eagering plot. My opinion at the starting I felt little bit bored. Mid of the section it's starts to fire 😍😍.afterthat u never stop reading ur minds always thinks what will happen next next.. Such a pager turner. All credits goes to legend Stephen king. He is writing king too. He had spent 5 years for this book. Obviously it's worth it. Meantime he describe frndsp love care everything so beautifully. Esp frndsp when I read about frnds gathering scene OMG no words. At the end you know I never want to finish it. Bcz I live with it and forgot real life. At the last para read my chest started to pain my stomach crunching my eyes filled with tear. Can't explain that feeling 😖😖😖 after 1month effort of that books never goes away even still now when I talk about this book my heart feel something heavy. Sry forgot to tell this one. I love the poem that Ben wrote for Bravely. OMG,Amazing.unforgettable lines. 😘😘.finally my suggestion is u must must must must read this book. I'll never regret of it. It's takes time to finish but worth it. So don't miss precious book for your life. Now I'm big fan of Stephen 👑
H**L
Super produit! De bonne qualité à un prix plus qu'abordable. Les 2 volumes réuni en un seul livre. ATTENTION cependant cette édition est en anglais, exactement se que je chercher mais après avoir vue certains commentaires de personnes qui ne lise pas le descriptif il me paraissait important de le rappeler. En bref un très bon produit!
E**L
This was a lovely story where a lot of growth is taking place from both main characters. The book is absolutely massive (1200 pages), but its bulk is used to accomplish all its greatness.
F**Z
Aight so this might be the best book ive ever read, the quality is like perfect and its so well written! Ive watched the movie (chapter 1 & 2) 4 like a million timez :') but like broo book bev.. Yeah.. No. But richie slayz yk <3
O**H
The book came with some wrinkles in the corner and slight stains. I cannot say that it came in excellent condition but it is acceptable, I also really recommend the book, great plot and entertaining, a masterpiece, definitely the best book I have read. I really recommend buying it, it has an affordable price and as I said, the book is really great. But if you want a book in perfect condition, I don't recommend you buy it.
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منذ أسبوعين
