Currently, I am 655 pages into It by Stephen King (#ITalong, as hosted by Fizzy Thoughts and Reading Thru the Night). This means I am about to start Part 4 in my copy and am a bit more than halfway. This is my second time reading it, the first time I flew through it, so this time I am taking a bit more time to absorb it. It just so happened that Stephen King’s IT popped up in my Netflix cue (truly a coincidence), so I am watching that as well. It’s decent, better than The Stand miniseries (having heard they potentially doing a remake, I created my very own fantasy cast), and it nicely reinforces the creepiness of clowns. Apparently the same director who just redid Jane Eyre has signed on to remake IT.
Now to the story, I think in IT, more so than in any other of his novels, Stephen King writes wonderful backstories for his characters, for both the children and the adults. The Loser’s Club is by far my favorite group of characters King has created. They are warm, funny, and brave, but no one around them can see that. Personally, Ben Hanscom is my favorite and I consider Patrick Hockstetter to be one King’s most evil creations. Each member of the Loser’s Club must face what they fear the most, whether it’s a werewolf or a giant bird. When each triumphs, they eventually come together a form a quasi-family in the barrens.
So far IT is equals parts creepy and suspenseful*. I am looking forward to finishing the novel and writing a coherent review, I find that I’m not feeling particularly eloquent or insightful today. It’s the end of a rough week (I also find it a bit sad how guilty I feel when I post sub-par material). Despite my lackluster #ITalong check-in, I’m thoroughly enjoying my reread. Here’s to the next 500 pages (and a better week)!
*Of note, I think you can consider your novel successfully scary if, upon reading, a balloon becomes deeply menacing.
flannel and folklore 
Hah! Yes, excellent point about the balloon. Also…fortune cookies. I may never eat another one ever again.
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To true about the fortune cookies, I’d forgotten about that! I didn’t include clowns because they are creepy without IT.
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I haven’t seen the TV-version of IT, but I have watched The Stand, and oy, anything has to be better than that! I also did a fantasy cast of The Stand as well, since I so don’t want Ben Affleck to mess that up!
I’ve been listening to the audio version of IT and enjoying it so much; I just cannot get enough of Stephen King, hence The Stephen King Project! Keeps me motivated to read more and more and more… 🙂
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I’m beginning to have a little more faith in Mr. Affleck, we’ll see how Argo is. I just can’t get over Molly Ringwald as Frannie, just no. I was so happy to find the Stephen King project, it gave me an excuse to keep reading more of his books.
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I hope this week is better for you–and no worries–we’re all informal in this crowd. Except when we have on our fancy hats and noses. 😉
My husband made me buy him IT after he found out I was reading it–and after he went on and on one night about how it was the only movie that scared him as a child. I refuse to watch it with him. At least with the reading I can skim over the truly terrifying parts (or at least brace myself).
Glad you’re enjoying your second reading of it!
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We’re watching it currently (it’s long), but I’ve been covering my eyes when the clown scenes come on. My imagination is active enough without seeing a visual (very adult, I know). The week has been better so far – it started with a day off!
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Oh Rory–I hear you. I’ll even close my eyes during movie previews. PREVIEWS!! 😉 I don’t think I’ll ever be too old to do that.
Glad the week’s been better…
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