I finished IT last night!

[vivazebool]

I just finished reading IT. This took me about a month. To close the cover on the last page felt like saying goodbye to a bunch of good friends. What I love so much about King's books are the characters he creates---you get so emotionally involved because he creates characters that feel so real. Even though I read The Stand last winter, Frannie and Stu don't seem like imaginary people to me. They're in my memory as though they were real. It's amazing how King does that!

I wasn't as sad about Eddie's death as I was by everyone forgetting one another after they defeated It. What a beautiful bond between people. Someone told me they thought Stephen King is twisted...I replied by telling them that yes, there are monsters and death and creepy feelings, but there is also love, friendship, camaraderie, and thoughtful insights into human nature.

Though King is a world famous writer, he is also a very underappreciated writer by the majority. He's written off as a horror writer with nothing to offer in a literary sense. It reminds me of a song by Dick Gaughan (a Scottish singer), who said about Scotland, ''You hide your beauty behind your thunder.'' The beauty of King's writing hides behind his thunder (all his monsters and other horror elements).

If you have seen the movie, and are tentative about reading the novel, worrying that you already know the plot, don't worry---the book is an entirely different story. The movie is very loosely based on the novel. So go ahead, invest the time. You won't regret IT.

[BDenbrough]

I just recently finished IT myself....after trying to read it since I was younger. Finally I picked it up a couple of weeks ago, and read it in 2 and a half. I know what you mean about you know who's death.....and I know what you mean about the forgetting. I had the same feeling.

The movie left a hell of a lot out....which is the what I grew up watching. So reading the book was a whole different experience. A Better one.

I am still kind of confused about the turtle though....

[vivazebool]

I am still kind of confused about the turtle though....

About the Turtle...The Dark Tower series will explain all of that.

[Bryan James]

About the Turtle...The Dark Tower series will explain all of that.

Wiki or Google 'Native American Folklore Turtle Bear' or something like that. I think there's a Hindu turtle god that brings even more to the table...Karma, or Kurma...

Those who dig deep into King's books hit both rocks and golden boulders.

BJS

[Robert Gray]

Heh. I don't think the Dark Tower series explains the Turtle from "It." The series allows you to come up with lots of theories but none of them seem to fit exactly. The entity encountered in "It" is a cosmic being of such vast power and scope that trying to fit it into the confines of the one referenced in the Dark Tower series is comical at best. It would be more accurate to say that the references to the turtle in the Dark Tower books are failing echoes of such a being, and the being behind it as well.

All that being said, I do not claim to be the source of knowledge on this subject. I am curious to hear your interpretation of the Turtle that you gleaned from the Dark Tower books. You could post it here with the important stuff protected as "spoilers." This seems an interesting topic to me at least.

[SixPins]

Beautiful post for a beautiful book. I absolutely love IT. That novel is one of them most powerful pieces of literature I have ever read. I hold it on the same level as The Grapes of Wrath.

[JRLauer]

It's been a while since I read this book. It's among my favorite books of all time, I'm going to have to go back and re-read it.

[JSinn1018]

It is one of my favorites. It's just a masterpeice of horror! Took me a week to finish but back then I didn't have a job so it was easy. I remember reading until I'd doze off. Saying it is just good or great or whatever just kind of undermines it. It's a work of art, disgustingly beautiful.

The chapter about Ricky Hockenstetter(I know I spelled that wrong) is just disturbing filled with lighted farts,animal mutilations,and young gay expeirinmentation. Probably the sickest of all the chapters in my opinion I'll never forget that. I know alot of readers were saying "eww" to themselves as they read that one :biggrin2:

[michal]

If you've finished It last night, I'm guessing you'll be do quite a lot of dreaming in the nights to follow... :)

[~Ally~]

Well done on finishing It, i am currently re-reading this (again)!!

I am sure you will find yourself drawn back to the story over the coming years, I know I always am..each time i truly do feel like I am viewing it for the first time again, definitely an amazing story.

[Sundrop]

Congrats, vivazebool! I haven't read IT yet, so I didn't read the spoilers. Glad you enjoyed your read. :)

[vivazebool]

If you've finished It last night, I'm guessing you'll be do quite a lot of dreaming in the nights to follow... :)

Read what? Hmmm....now that I'm finished, I'm starting to forget things. I read a book called ''the'' .... no wait, the book was called something else.

Who wrote it? Wasn't it Stanley King? Hmmm....I'm forgetting things.

[mstay]

Read what? Hmmm....now that I'm finished, I'm starting to forget things. I read a book called ''the'' .... no wait, the book was called something else.

Who wrote it? Wasn't it Stanley King? Hmmm....I'm forgetting things.

:biggrin2:

[Jasonbobdude]

I think it's sad how the movie makes everyone think that the story is all about a killer clown. It was so much better than that. I agree with everyone who says that this book is great literature. Some people may laugh at us saying that, but those are the people who haven't read the book. And they all need to.

[BlueSmurf721]

Congrats on finishing IT! I read it for the first time years ago and have re-read about 6(ish) times since then. I always find something new to enjoy on each re-read!

[Teddy Duchamp]

Though King is a world famous writer, he is also a very underappreciated writer by the majority. He's written off as a horror writer with nothing to offer in a literary sense. It reminds me of a song by Dick Gaughan (a Scottish singer), who said about Scotland, ''You hide your beauty behind your thunder.'' The beauty of King's writing hides behind his thunder (all his monsters and other horror elements).

What a fantastic post that was - and what a beautiful quote from Dick Gaughan's song. (can you guess my family are all Scottish!):biggrin2:

[Mr. Jingles]

I am roughly on page 400.....totally into it. Loving it, so far. Really sorry that I never read this one before, but also glad I saved it, cuz I have read almost everything else!

[Srbo]

Superb book, no question about it.

So many times I had this crazy idea of thinking how cool it would be if the kids from The Losers Club had the chance to meet the kids from The Body ( Stand by me ).
That would be one unbelievable read...I know they have nothing incommon, but still...it would be crazy good, IMO.

[pagantallie]

yeah me too - never understood what the turtle had to do with it but loved it just the same, in fact, i'd say it was a fave.

[mrsbreece]

I loved the book It. The movie followed along quite well also. Could be the source of many a nightmare.

[Ralph]

Ok since you are all finishing it could you post the Derry Hotel phone number? Beverly dials it when she's an adult and decides to return back to Derry. Anyone?

[MatthewAdam]

I just finished "It" this last weekend, I read it when i was younger, and was amazed how much more meaning it has now that i'm grown...I watched the movie today and can't believe how soap opera they made the book seem...it's an amazing book

[thymeoperator]

what happened to the social group for this? it seems like conversation just sort of fizzled out...

[dumakeykate]

I was reading it on the plane coming back from a trip with my bestfriend when I started crying, (not too OTT though, silently to the other passengers benefit) and I just sat back looked out of the window and down on the world and just thought "wow." IT really is fantastic and the explanation I gave to my bestfriend, well there is none but "Read IT"
Beep Beep
DKK

[Mr. Jingles]

Well, I am about 12 pages away from finishing this book. I don't want to, because I have had it with me for so long, I don't want to let it go. :sad:

I think I started reading "It" in early Spring. It took a few pages to get immersed, but holy cow! Quickly became one of my faves, if not may fave book he has ever done.

There is so much to say about this novel, I don't even know where to start and where to end. I can see Beverley's tattered clothes and smell the garbage reek when her dad is chasing her, I can taste the medicine from Eddie's aspirator, I can picture Mike sitting in the library writing the nights away as an adult, I can hear Big Bill stuttering, everything is just SO REAL and SO BRIGHT. It's blowing my mind off the map. And I finally know what Chud is! Lol.....I was not cheating and looking up what it meant before I read about it in the book, that's no fun.

There are not many books that move me as much as this one has. The movie didn't do the book justice, and I am so happy I read the book also.

Ms. Mod, please send hearty thanks to Stephen King for writing this. I shake my head in amazement of his talent.

[OneEyedNick]

I have been reading IT for awhile now, though I'm almost done. I've been taking my time sipping it like age old wine, cause in truth this is vintage King.