Reviews

It by Stephen King

jessica_reading_writing's review against another edition

3.0

"We all float down here..."

Before I start, I'd just like to say that this book is a classic and I can see why it's one of King's most popular books. I also love the story itself. The friendships. The pyschological side of this thriller/horror is amazing and extremely complex.

My favourite Loser was Richie followed closely by Ben. I enjoyed the dynamics between the group of Losers and how their friendship developed over the course of the book. Love the films too.

Okay, so why the 3 star rating? Well...it's too f**king long! At over 1,000 pages, I feel it's far too long winded in places. At one point, there wasn't a new paragraph for almost 6 pages! The random side characters were pointless. Who cares about Mr so-and-so down the road who had nothing to do with the plot? But I had to read about him for almost 50 pages and I don't even remember his name...

The writing style is mental. Not only are the paragraphs pages long, but what's with the random parentheses? Okay, granted, King is a hugely talented writer, there's no doubt about that but I do find his books hard to digest, hence why I took almost 2 months to read this book.

Lastly, the ending...let's just say I'm glad they left one part out of the films and I'm glad they changed the ending because the book actually left me feeling a little sad. And after all the Losers had been through, they deserved a happy ending!

readsbyella's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Review: It by Stephen King

Plot Summary:
It follows the Losers Club across two timelines: as children and later as adults, focusing on their mission to defeat the entity known as “IT,” which is terrorizing their town and murdering children. The dual timelines switching between past and present added depth to the story, though at times, it was slightly confusing. Still, it enhanced the overall experience.

Reading Formats:
I initially started with the audiobook but then switched to the physical book, and finally settled on the ebook version. This constant change of format might have affected my overall enjoyment, particularly with the audiobook. I often found myself putting the audiobook on but not fully listening to or focusing on the novel. I felt the most hooked with the ebook version—it was easier to hold than the thick physical book, which made reading more comfortable. The ebook also allowed me to read more in single sittings and kept me more engaged than the other formats.

Character Development:
The characters in It were well-developed, especially Bill and Mike, who showed significant growth from childhood to adulthood. While I didn’t feel a strong connection to any one character, the group dynamic was compelling, and their adult versions felt authentic and real. Their bond, particularly how they became wiser and braver, was one of the strengths of the novel. I also appreciated how the story emphasized that “IT” preyed on fear, which was stronger in the children’s imaginations compared to the adults.

Horror Elements:
While It is classified as horror, I didn’t find it particularly scary. There were some gross moments that were difficult to read through, but nothing that frightened me. Pennywise as a villain was more tense than terrifying, and I believe the visual adaptation might bring out more of the fear factor than the book. The mix of supernatural horror and real-life issues like bullying was well-handled, particularly when IT took control of Henry Bowers to hunt down the Losers.

Writing Style:
Stephen King’s writing was descriptive and helped me visualize the scenes vividly. However, some of the interlude sections dragged, and the long chapters made the reading experience feel heavy at times. While I appreciated King’s craft, certain parts could have been cut down to improve the flow. The novel’s atmosphere was immersive, especially when the Losers were battling IT, but I wasn’t as invested during the slower sections.

Themes:
The themes of friendship and love stood out the most to me. The bond between the Losers Club was integral to their fight against IT. The idea that their connection made them stronger was touching, even though they began to forget each other at the end. This amnesia felt fitting, allowing them to move on with their lives. Though these themes didn’t impact me personally, they added depth to the story.

Pacing and Structure:
The pacing was inconsistent. At times, it was thrilling, especially during intense scenes, but the interludes slowed the momentum. The length of the book was intimidating, and it took me several months to get through it. If it hadn’t been a buddy read, I may have put it down earlier, but I’m glad I finished. The ending was satisfying and tied everything together well, but I wish the middle had been more engaging.

Emotional Impact and Overall Enjoyment:
While I didn’t feel strongly attached to the book emotionally, I did enjoy bits and pieces of it, particularly the ending. The importance of friendship during crises is a lasting impression I took away. However, the constant change in reading format also impacted my enjoyment. Switching between audiobook, physical book, and ebook might have created a disconnect at times. In particular, I felt the most immersed in the story while reading the ebook version, as it was easier to hold and allowed me to stay hooked for longer periods. I wouldn’t recommend It unless someone is specifically looking for a long horror novel and is familiar with King’s work. For newcomers, I’d give a warning about the chapter length and pacing.

Star Rating: 3.5/5

It had its moments, but the slow pacing, lengthy chapters, and occasional lack of engagement made it less enjoyable for me overall. The format shifts also contributed to this feeling. Still, the strong character development and descriptive writing deserve praise, and I’m glad I finished it. If you’re a fan of King’s writing or looking for an atmospheric horror novel, this might be for you, but it’s not without its challenges.

michaila3's review against another edition

4.0

it was good I only didn’t finish because I didn’t want to read ~that~ scene and I know I was getting near it

cupcates's review against another edition

1.0

this was one of the worst things i've ever read in my life

thecrookedspine's review against another edition

5.0

After reading IT and loving it madly, I felt compelled to return to Goodreads to find out how anyone could possibly give this book a 1* review. I read many of those reviews and have come to the determination it is possible to not really understand this book. I can see how you could miss it, theoretically depending on what you value. I think for a person who values their inner child and has fought to remember them into adulthood, as well as valuing creativity, IT centers around a deeply touching and personal topic. So while I think this book was freaking outstanding, I don't think the 1* reviewers are cray-cray. I think the overarching message just doesn't resonate with everyone.

I would recommend reading this book if:
You like Stephen King, obviously
You value your inner child and creativity
You're interested to read a book where what is horrific changes constantly depending on who it's happening to (a really unique and fascinating devise used in IT).

Also read if you liked the TV mini-series. I saw the mini-series about a bazillion times as a kid and it was rewarding to learn much more about the story, characters, and town reading the book. Previous mini-series experience not required though.

Lastly, I like many readers never actually feel scared by reading horror books but this one came the closest in an oh-god-please-no-that's-so-gross kind of way. Images from IT are now in my mind which will never leave me. So if you embark, be prepared to think ew a lot. It's a fun ride.

campbellclan's review against another edition

1.0

DNF. spent months agonizing over reading this book. I’m trying to get through all of kings books and honestly I can’t suffer through this one anymore. Supposed to be one his best and you know what, maybe with out all the extra shit in the book i would be able to get through it but there is a ton of rambling in the book that is not necessary. Literally this book could have and probably should have been 300 pages at the most, not 1200. I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t get through it but I will continue to keep it on my TBR list as I do one day want to read it.

poutchyka's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

3.75

pleasereadittome's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

kitkatsbookden's review against another edition

3.5

3.5/5

This was really disappointing. I kept this in my TBR since I got a collector’s edition at the the beginning of this year and was expecting it to live up to the hype as I know many people who say this is King’s best book.

We all know King is wordy and a lot of people complain he needs an editor. I’ve always loved the wordiness and it kept me captivated- until IT. I felt my eyes blurring multiple times during the almost 1,200 pages of this book. And some of the more controversial bits (child orgy, racism, etc) was not essential to the plot. 

Overall, glad I finished it and eager to move onto the next one.

miaxeliz's review against another edition

4.0

if it wasn’t for the child orgy it might have been 5 stars