IT by Stephen King Is A Brilliant Coming of Age Horror Story

In this episode of Mike's Book Reviews, he talks about Stephen King's 1985 horror classic, IT. See the time stamps below to skip to a specific portion of the review and avoid potential spoilers if you've not read IT.
04:15 Non-Spoiler Talk
14:00 Spoiler Talk
32:29 Thoughts On The Adaptations
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#StephenKing #IT #MikesBookReviews

[@jeanerasmus7]

King's ability to build history in a fictional town such as Derry still blows me away. The short stories, interludes, etc. all of them were brilliant. I also love how he takes his time on drawing you inside a palpable sense of dread and before you knew it, you kinda feel trapped. He does it a lot in The Shining.

[@mikesbookreviews]

So much this. King is the damn master of it.

[@joronah8650]

This is too fucking accurate. Jesus.

[@Chewbury]

Absolutely - it has (for me) the same hook as 'Salem's Lot - reading the book is like wallowing in Americana. I could happily have had the book double the size it is, with even more meanderings into the history of the town.

[@andreavanhoof6047]

@@Chewbury It does not make sense that they would forget what they battled and each other after that they have gone their separate ways

[@johngalt6838]

Salems Lot.....in the book and 70's mini series.....pure dread.

[@bottle1211]

Audio book is 55 hours long, and the narrator is fantastic.

[@drewgold1]

Best narrator. Ruined audiobooks for me because I just want him to do them all 😭

[@johngalt6838]

@@drewgold1 who is it?

[@TOM-os9rk]

@@johngalt6838Steven Webber. You can tell the book means a lot to him. He portrays so much emotion. It’s amazing and I had goosebumps so many times.

[@techyougo]

​@@TOM-os9rkdude from 97 shining?

[@RoxZombie]

I'm dyslexic but I love reading. Audio books is really the only way I can enjoy reading. Kings audio books almost always have a fantastic narrator and makes the experience amazing for me. IT has been my favourite read/listen and the narrator definitely played a hand in making the experience just that much better

[@UnknownUnknown-mo7zg]

When Mike was a baby in a basket, a crow pecked at him. His mother chased the crow off. Pennywise was preying on his young young memories, and then he was watching a japanese movie about a giant evil bird.

[@erikinhd13]

Also didn’t Mikes Father see the giant bird too when the incident happened at the Black Spot?

[@shininggyrados9311]

@@erikinhd13 Yes

[@EndlessLaymon]

Also wasn't the Bird Rodan? Didn't Mike see it on TV and it scared him?

[@UnknownUnknown-mo7zg]

@@EndlessLaymon I think so.

[@MuertaNox]

I was just coming down here to say this whole thread, I just wanted to make sure no one else had said it first. Rhodan + Baby Mike Trauma = rich field for the clown to harvest from.@@EndlessLaymon

[@MilesWilliams88]

SPOILERS Yeah dude, the Losers forgetting eachother completely broke me! I just finished this book a couple days ago. It's absolutely brilliant!

[@MilesWilliams88]

@Mr. Observer Yeah, it's a fantastic book! The best I've read by King, hands down.

[@Awall79]

The most horrifying part of the book for me. It still haunts me that they had that magnificent connection only to lose it in the end. WHY!!!! lol, its horrible.

[@dancegregorydance6933]

Yeah it was a heartbreaker when Mike calls Richie and he almost doesn’t pick up because he doesn’t recognize Mike’s name for a second.

[@MilesWilliams88]

@@dancegregorydance6933 Definitely! It's such a great book with greatly realized characters. It's one of my favorites for sure!

[@faithmedley8234]

It really ruined the book for me like why couldn't they had just forgotten pennywise and not eachother :(

[@thomaswilliams1533]

As a new(ish) father, the whole Patrick Hofstetter(sp) arc absolutely horrified me. The way he murdered his baby brother almost broke me. Such a great book.

[@Skrubybrother]

Yeah same here horrifying by the dump and the leeches and I always see people complaining about that scene but what about the scene with bowers and Patrick, yuck. 😂 or when Eddie needs his aspirator or Ben gets stuck… lovely story really. All from part 4.

[@i_unfriend_u]

I felt exactly the same. My wife and I have our first child on the way (a son), and this part freaked me the fuck out, seeing as how real-life serial killers start off with similar behavior.

[@WoodsboroLibrary]

I started the book 2 days ago and I had been putting it off for the longest time because of the size of the book. But when I heard you say to just accept that it's gonna be a journey and to enjoy it instead of wondering when you'll be done with it. I gotta say that I've gone in with that mindset and I'm enjoying the book so much!

[@mikesbookreviews]

This and The Stand have to be approached that way. If you start it thinking OMG IT'S SO LONG you're never going to allow yourself to enjoy it.

[@thepunisher1125]

I just finished it a day ago, defiantly didn’t regret a thing, hope u did to

[@divad44]

I feel you Austyn. I actually DNF’d this book a few years ago about 300 pages in my first attempt because I had that same mindset, it was too big a task. Just finished reading It and I am so glad I went back to it once I was mentally ready. It’s my 20th book I’ve read from King and without question vaulted to me new favorite-my previous favorite was Pet Sematary :)

[@vincentlorusso689]

-The Apocalyptic Rock Fight -Bill declaring war in the halestorm -Another One of the Missing -The Claude Heraux massacre -Henry in the asylum -The Fire at the Black Spot I know more about Derry than any town I've ever lived in. It's such an arresting and incredible book.

[@leowise206]

I absolutely relate, to me Derry is more real then almost any place in the world. Certainly more then Castle Rock. Wow, I would love to go back to Derry again.

[@plumbersteve]

“That scene” def surprised me. But it’s pretty clear what it’s about. They said “we need something that we won’t forget” (I don’t know if they said that or if it was the gist of what King was getting at). Point is…no one will ever forget their first “encounter”. It doesn’t remain just as a memory of events, but as a feeling. An awakening. A touchstone moment in a person’s life. A clear before and after. And for the losers club, they all share that moment. It’s weird fo sho. But the point is this…they didn’t leave Derry and experience that elsewhere on their own. They experienced it together. In Derry. In the sewer(~~shudder~~). And when they return to Derry, it comes back. Their bond. Their commitment to each other. Their desire to go back and relive that “first time”. It bonded then in such a way that “no man can put asunder”.

[@plumbersteve]

@Brendan Anthony I don't disagree with the sentiment, although I don't think it's out of line given the psychological depths of human development that are being explored. It doesn't seem to me that it would have been effectual to have them all hit up the Derry Walmart or kill a hobo together. What is it that we all experience that marks the distinction between childhood and...something beyond childhood (perhaps not adulthood, but a state that lacks the innocence of youth)? I think, as King does, it is sexual awakening. Most of us experience that either completely alone or with one other person in an intimate, awkward place. He chose to have all of these kids experience it together which bonds them emotionally, chemically, spiritually. Is it more ruinous to the story than a spectral encounter with a giant space turtle?

[@johngalt6838]

@brendan_anthony It was ridiculous and unrealistic.

[@lobojoe6351]

Stan's Standpipe encounter is far and away the scariest one.

[@MrTofy1974]

I've said this many times... It is a toss-up between The Stand and It as my favorite Stephen King books...if one of them is number one the other is number two

[@mikesbookreviews]

I would fully agree.

[@turtleanton6539]

But Darktower rules all

[@mikesbookreviews]

@@turtleanton6539 I'll agree on the first 3 DT books.

[@MrTofy1974]

@@turtleanton6539 I I seem to enjoy them more and more as I reread them

[@villavelli]

My favorite book. Everything about it is amazing to me. Its so much to it than just the story most people know. Tom’s character was crazy, too. All the characters are fleshed out well.

[@Th3Downz]

Have you read any of his other stuff? I've just been getting into King again. Only read a handful of his books

[@bl.gabe-]

I've watched both movies and really wanted to start reading the book.. do you think it's still worth it even when I already know the ending (of the movie at least)

[@drewgold1]

@@bl.gabe- yes. The endings are played out differently in the book and there is so much you don’t get to see in the films. So much. Way darker way scarier

[@mrwhale7351]

It is my favorite book of all time, all the characters are amazing and have beautiful arcs. Plus it's the best coming of age book I've ever read. Im planning to read it again soon. All the commentary on childhood and the way the children is written is both touching, heartwarming, sad and nostalgic.

[@separator94]

Ben was also my favorite and most relatable character. Mostly because of his mentality. Him being a dreamer and a romantic. Someone who often gets caught up in his own thoughts and sees the world from an emotional and artistic point of view. Also, it was very smart of Stephen King to make the true form of It a giant alien spider as there are certain spiders in nature that possess the ability to literally hypnotize their prey with their minds to lure them into their webs. I've seen documentaries about them and I'm sure they'd be easy to find on youtube. And if a regular sized spider can do that just imagine what a giant one from space could do.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I thought it was good when I read it because I'm freaking terrified of spiders. But you make a great point in reference to the deadlights.

[@fullmoonC]

love this channel! thanks for all the vid recommendations.

[@jamesbusch948]

Love your reviews! Havent been a follower of yours for very long, but of course this review led me to you since IT is my FAV book of all time! You have great content and I appreciate all the love for all the Constant Readers out there! 👍👍

[@timkirsten6184]

Great video. I loved the coming of age theme. My favourite part though was the interludes, and the deep history of IT and Derry. I love how the time comes to life.

[@srivatsansrikanth8207]

Mike, for the effort you put into your videos, the in depth knowledge you have about the books you're talking about as well as the sheer passion you have deserves a much much much larger viewership than this. I hope you get that soon, please keep this going ❤️

[@karopi]

I love your channel! I actually found it when I was searching reviews for the Kindle but I enjoy so much your books review!!! Keep it the good work!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks!

[@justineharper3346]

I don't mind the spider like everyone else. I absolutely hate that they forget each other again though. I was so angry because I was so invested in their friendship. For me, It might be the best King book but has the worst ending out of all of them

[@mikesbookreviews]

That was soul crushing.

[@SugarGliderTribe]

Richie Tozier also saw a werewolf running behind his bike. He chases him through a park.

[@kirstencosta8010]

His books aren’t just scary they have a great story behind them! Like you said it’s like the body with a scary monster. coming of age story with scariness!! I think that’s what makes his books so special! His scary makes sense!

[@alphashaitan65]

I think John Wayne Gacy in 1979 got us looking at clowns sideways, but Bob Gray (aka Pennywise) put the last nails in the clown costume.

[@TheDarkchum1]

Soooo goood! I burned through this book in under a week when I was 14. My gateway to Kings stuff as well! Can’t wait to reread this next year! Also, I want to thank you and this channel for getting me to start salems lot! I did not like the movie so I never read the book but I’m so glad to have started it last night!

[@briangallagher3106]

I was 5 when I first saw Tim Curry as IT, it definitely left an imprint on me, I read this book also before the new film was released and to be fair I think they did a very good job on it. The book was crazy intense in parts and never felt dragged out. I loved every page of it. I’m binging on your videos today, I’m at home packing to move and I need something to listen to other than audiobooks so you’ve helped me out big time. Great channel thanks a million

[@briangallagher3106]

Oh, and that scene at the end of the 50’s caught me way off guard. I’d never heard that happened so it was a complete surprise and I laughed my ass off. Disturbing to say the least

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for watching. I thought the new movies were fine, I just had a hard time getting over changing the time period. I felt like Stranger Things copied King, King adaptations shouldn't be copying Stranger Things. So that was tough to get past.

[@oasis6342]

Thank you for the review man, just finished the book and needed this badly, i love the story, atmosphere and characters, every one of the loser's club will always have a special spot in my heart. That ending was so sad. 😭💔

[@karinakassim]

I cried at the end

[@lilmoe4364]

I love that book.. what stands out in my memory about it is the endless labyrinth of dark underground/dark basement type places and images, as well as the town itself. Almost like with dreams, sometimes the thing that stands out most is the setting.. but anyway, the book is like an endless volcanic eruption of horror. Sometime I'd like to read it again, but in the meantime there are too many other Stephen King books to read!

[@gregkral4467]

I love how almost all of Stephen King's stories melt together in the Dark tower ... wow. My mom bought the gunslinger book for me on holiday once.... I was mad, cause Stephen King doesn't write Westerns..... I don't like Westerns... at the time..... but then.... wow, was just on pins and needles until next book, and damn, the wait between was torture, then so many so quick, I think after his being runover, he felt compelled to finish this Magnus Opus.... and sure am glad he did. Even talked like calla folk with my friend.... back and forth, we got so hooked.

[@witokia]

Great video! IT is my favorite book. :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

witokia Beep, Beep, Witokoa!

[@Jaze1618]

Before Berserk, IT (the novel) was my favorite story across any medium. Awesome review!

[@RendersFX.]

Finished this amazing book for the first time today Mike, had to then go back and watch this video. For anyone where that have only seen the films/earlier mini series, do yourself a favor and pick up the book, it will introduce you to things still not see in film and allows you to spend so much more time with these characters. This may be a yearly read for me for now on, like "Dune"!

[@beLIEver31415]

I enjoyed the latest movies a lot but really loved the back and forth of the book. Chapter 19 was one of my favorite chapters of all time with the jumps mid sentence between character POVs and timelines! Just so incredible :)

[@drewgold1]

That’s my favorite chapter !

[@fictionalreality1010]

LOVE 💘 your intros...mad props

[@Michael_L_Morrison]

Epic King book. Also read twice, when it came out and about 7 or 8 years ago. Great story! Oh, shout out to Cypress, TX, my current domicile for the past 9 years. Originally from Louisiana.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Cypress is the best. I love it here.

[@billv9012]

For me, "That scene" , with Bev and the Losers Club, was her only way to reunite the "Ka tet". You'll notice that Eddie's direction sense, Bill's solid leadership failed. Defeating IT completed the Tet's purpose and the magic was broken. She realized that one thing could forever bond them back. After Eddie's direction abilities return right after as well as Bill unwavering leadership. It was done out of love for them all and as a survival necessity. At least that's how I took it at 15 years old LOL

[@sonyalynn96]

I loved your IT book review. I've read the book and listened to the audiobook. I've seen the 80's tv version, and own the new movies on DVD. I think your review was very interesting and informative! I agree with all your view points. By the way your son prolly loves it when you call him hay stack! Lol

[@Ludacrystal43]

Oh this book terrified me when I read it several years ago. I’ve been meaning to read it again.

[@robpaul7544]

It's been a long time since I read It, but I remember loving it. And the old movie as well. Haven't seen the new one yet, but I might actually dive into King's works again with you doing the whole multiverse thing 😎👍

[@mikesbookreviews]

IT is so wonderful in so many ways. Most just take away that it's scary, but there are so many other important coming of age lessons in it. Powerful stuff.

[@matthias5048]

I enjoy your videos Mike. I can relate to IT as being your gateway to Stephen King. Funny, I also grew up in a strict religious household (Jehovah’s Witness) so these were definitely taboo. I remember hiding this book in my school bag and being all clandestine with my reading of it lol. I’m also working my way through WoT (currently on book 2). Keep the great videos coming 👍

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks a ton for watching and commenting. I hid the paperback in a box in my closet underneath old NES games that summer while keeping it a secret from my mom. Crazy times.

[@ChadQuick270W]

This is one of his best for sure. He writes “coming of age” stories better than anybody. I relate mostly to Ben as well having been picked on for being fat (and a computer geek as well) and always reading something. I really enjoy your channel and your great reviews of books. I know you also enjoy fantasy. Have you read any of Dragonlance series? The two original trilogies are the best.

[@connersutton1458]

Just finished reading It for the first time, and I loved it! Just wanted to say this was an incredible review and commentary. The only thing that I thought was missed was that Mike was scared of birds because one pecked at him and drew blood while he was a baby. Also, complete agree about the Stan scene with the bird names. It sounds dumb but actually reading it is terrifying! New subscriber :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

I hear so many list Stan's haunting as weak and I'm like "did you read the same book I did?" It was terrifying.

[@gregkral4467]

oooooooh the talisman and black house..... gotta check if you read them.... wow. Fits right in to dark tower too.

[@demidrek-heyward]

I am reading this thanks to you Mike! Enjoying it so far... Also enjoying hows 100 pages king takes me less time to read then 10 pages of just about anything else I read lolol

[@FrontDeskMatt]

Favorite book of all time. Read it cause I saw the miniseries. It was the first book (real book) I ever read. Sucker for coming of age stories. Sucker for stories about groups of childhood friends going on an adventure. I also read it at age 12 and again at age 39. Same reaction. My favorite was Eddie. King ALWAYS kills my favorite character. Every time. I haven't seen part 2 of the new movies yet, which I should watch, I know. I WANT a movie cut together like the book is. I doubt we'll ever get that. I love the ending as well. The spider never bothered me. But the last section of the book. The very last page... breaks me. Every time. Listening to your thoughts was kind of nostalgic to me. lol

[@edwinlopez-bellido1628]

My first king book what a way to start. it was amazing. I can’t wait for the Salem lot movie remake.

[@VaskoBuk]

IT is a great novel indeed. The most terrifying IT-manifestation to me was Mike's giant black bird. There was something unsettling about this bizarre concept, described in minute realistic detail (down to the dusty feathers falling off of the damn bird) by King. BTW, the background to this manifestation is explained later in the book (can't remember which chapter exactly): when Mike was a baby, his mom used to take him with her to the fields where she worked, and one day, while she was some distance away, a big crow landed on baby Mike and started pecking on him. His mom got there barely in time to scare the crow away and save her baby.

[@mikesbookreviews]

I love all of the individual hauntings. So good.

[@whatsupbrethren7991]

@Vasco B. I’m not sure I actually liked that scene I was straining to view it through a scary perspective but all I could imagine was a kid being chased by a bird. Are there other parts of the book that are scarier I’ve only just finished that bird scene

[@VaskoBuk]

@@whatsupbrethren7991 Hi, I get and respect your point, as the perception is, of course, subjective. There are many scenes ahead, which IMO most readers would find scarier. So there's a lot to look forward to.

[@whatsupbrethren7991]

Vasco B. Cool thanks

[@mumblingmorlock5445]

Just finished the book, and I can't recommend highly enough to read it for any horror fan, this shit was amazing! I ate this book in 3 days, just absolutely mesmerising.

[@mikesbookreviews]

Happy to hear it. I adore this story.

[@chimmey7741]

Picked up my first Stephen King book yesterday.. IT... Thanks for your review Mike... Just hope I don't scare the shit out of myself..

[@murdermotel5618]

I'm about to dive in and do my own review soon

[@joelayton6135]

I feel you on the storm drain thing 🤣 I KNOW It isn’t down there… but I’m not gonna be the one to get got

[@NamasteBbooktube]

That giant bird haunting Mike really spooked me, particularly because it was the last thing I was expecting. Also, I quite enjoyed the lovecraftian aspects of the climax: the whole thing with the cosmic spider and spider eggs 🥶 I loathe spiders, they are all demons.

[@user-wl6yz6uc7g]

What started my fear of clowns was that seen near the end of Poltergeist where the clown doll got possessed and tried to drag the kid under his bed, my mom took me and my older brother to see it in theaters when It first came out in 1982 I was only 4 at the time. My first Stephen King book and movie that I saw was Cujo .

[@justsomesaltyboi8716]

IT is my first book that im going to read from stephen king. im genuinely excited to read it, hoping that i would become hooked to his books.

[@logansaxby7224]

I've never been able to get into King but I want too. This is the book I plan on trying next, thank you for the video, please keep it going

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for watching. This certainly isn't the one I'd recommend beginning with for folks who aren't really into King, despite it being the one I started with, but I feel like if your going to run out of patience with King, I'd start with a shorter book first, like Carrie or Pet Sematary. But if you're hell bent on reading IT, you have my full support.

[@MrTofy1974]

I'd recommend reading Carrie first...short, 330 pages, and to the point....his first book....IT has like 1300 pages in mass paperback

[@logansaxby7224]

Ok cool, thank you for the recimmendation, I think I own that book too. I got a bunch of King book for free, so it good to know where to start

[@mikesbookreviews]

@@logansaxby7224 Enjoy!

[@logansaxby7224]

@@mikesbookreviews thank you very much, have an awesome day

[@isaac_owens9110]

I was also brought up Pentecostal and reading King I just feel like really helped me break out of my shell that I was into even after being away from the church for a few years already.

[@ManDuderGuy]

Great channel ya got here Haystack!

[@anonymousboy4712]

i am so late, but i just wanted to let you know that the reason mike saw the giant bird was because, in the book, king wrote about how when mike was little, a bird came up to his stroller while his mother was turned away and pecked at him. this book was awesome! great review!

[@mikesbookreviews]

Thanks for watching!

[@fairytail4lifenalu86]

Like your videos, love IT, though The Stand is my personal favourite

[@mikesbookreviews]

fairytail4life Nalu IT, whole my favorite, I usually acknowledge The Stand as his best.

[@HafthorBjornssonFan]

IT is probably my favorite of his books. Ok, his text and syntax are average, but the guy knows how to develop and pace his stories. He makes his characters likable and gives his books substance and so on and so forth.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yup

[@jonathansoto6984]

The character I could relate to the most and I still can relate to rn is Eddie Kaspbrak. I’m a huge germophope and I’m a lot more shorter than kids my age and he’s a lil different like me and my mom is very protective on me and really cares that nothing bad happens to me and she still babies me a lot

[@ConqueringWeightLoss]

As far as the 1990 mini series goes, I think they did well enough with what they were given for a tv budget. I thought the child actors were brilliant, especially Jonathan Brandis as Bill, Emily Perkins as Beverly and the kid who played Ben Hanscom. As for the adults, the only ones I enjoyed were John Ritter as Ben, Harry Anderson as Richie, Dennis Christopher as Eddie, Annette O'toole as Beverly and the gentleman who played adult Mike Hanlon. Overall though I thought aside from Tim Curry, the actor that really stole the show was the young man that played young Henry Bowers. He had incredible charisma and stage presence that commanded your attention. A much better Henry Bowers than the 2017 movie version. Was glad to see young Ben Hanscom from the 1990 mini series, make a cameo in IT Chapter 2 at Ben's architectural company.

[@vincentcrowley5196]

I used to have a copy of the book as a teen ,saw the 2 part tv version on video as i was much too young to see it at the time, (5 y.o.in 1990) have yet to watch the second movie adaption , the one with them as adults. Henry Bowers is a great villain as he is real and can get them even if Pennywise needs them to believe to be effective. The ending of the story when Mike realises they'll forget one another meant he was free to leave Derry ,as his job as a "watcher'was done with Pennywise finally being gone. It was Richard Thomas ,playing adult Bill. Great in the classic All Quiet On The Western Front (1979)

[@jochemscheper2797]

My favorite book next to the stand

[@praetorxyn]

IT is probably my favorite King book, and The Stand is a close second. Like most people I'd imagine, I saw the Tim Curry miniseries first, probably at least a decade before I actually read the book, and it was great experiencing the "back and forth" storytelling of the books compared to the "childhood then adulthood" of the miniseries. Without spoiling anything, it was pretty obvious there was a scene at the end of the book that could never have been included in any film or television adaptation as well. I'm baffled that "that scene" ever got published in the first place, but it didn't bother me as much as I legitimately remembered people of similar ages doing similar things. I can't remember the order I've read King, but I think it was Dark Tower > 'Salem's Lot > IT > The Stand. I don't think I've read any of his other work, but I more go for fantasy series than standalone novels. I will say that the scary demonic clowns never really scared me, but regular clowns were always creepy to me. My great uncle took me up to a clown at a fair when I was about 3 and apparently I cried; I can't remember any of it.

[@EndlessLaymon]

I am a huge fan of this book. I've read it over a dozen times over the years.

[@dociebiemowie915]

Imo... The most disgusting/despicable character is Patrick. Your thoughts?

[@abhinavsumesh2549]

@@dociebiemowie915 yeah he is very creepy

[@sam_plays_hockey]

So I’m trying to let my mom let me read it so what age would you day is ok?

[@abhinavsumesh2549]

@@sam_plays_hockey I'm reading it now I'm only fourteen.

[@EndlessLaymon]

@@sam_plays_hockey I first read IT when I was twelve.

[@kristennowlin3642]

I really like Stan’s kids and Mike’s bird because it’s things they find scary later. Stan didn’t know the kids drowned in the water tower until a few weeks later and Mike doesn’t learn that his father saw the same bird until much later. It makes It seem more omniscient since It can see, not only what the kids are scared of, but what the kids *will* be scared of. That’s terrifying.

[@RSully2010]

The reasoning behind IT becoming a giant bird for Mike is that as a baby, a crow landed on his cot and attacked him......... btw did you notice that Dick Halloran from The Shining makes an appearance in the story Mike's father tells

[@jeffeby2218]

This is my favorite Stephen King book. I feel "that scene" was King's way to acknowledge they could never go back to being children still growing up. They immediately grew up when they confronted Pennywise the first time. A line had been crossed and a bell rung that could never be unrung. It shocks more today than it did when I originally read the novel. While I do not think it was required, that scene did make sense in the context of the novel to reflect they truly were no longer the children they were when summer started. I suspect King would not have done it that way if writing the novel today.

[@JaimeEnFuego]

That ABC Mini-Series traumatized of kids around that time, myself included. I saw some of it at friend's house and the scene that actually messed me up the most was the 'Bev & The Voices In The Drain.' I just thought to myself that I could be one of them. Horrifyingly relatable at that age. Those Derry interludes are such a delight and I contend they could have been much better executed as an original TV Series called 'DERRY' instead of 'CASTLE ROCK' and either adapted those incidents plus things going on around each of them, or just completely new tales. Perhaps on another level of the Tower that happened instead of here in Keystone Earth. Haha That scene, well...it is what it is and you nailed it with me speculating it was drug-fueled weirdness. End of story. Personally I find that Patrick chapter FAR more disturbing, but to each their own I suppose in our reactionary culture. The psychedelic smoke out and Ritual of Chud are definitely a bit for the more casual CR's and King viewers to wrap their head around compared to Tower Junkies like us, yet they're such cool moments that give SIGNIFICANT more scope to the evil they're contending with. The contention I've seen about it from some is that old debate of the mysterious murderer vs knowing too much about your villain can take away some of the scare factor which is fair. For me though, I've always preferred a well-developed backstory any day, but hey that's just personal taste. SO MUCH to talk about here with a tome of this monumental, masterful mass, however of my TOP 3 Sai King works I've often classified them as such. PET SEMATARY is dark, depressing and hopeless in it's ending, which we both know is more a hallmark of El Rey's Twilight Zone/EC Comics style short stories and the early Bachman work compared to most of his novels. THE STAND in contrast is that hopeful ending that perhaps people can change, although he did alter that a bit with the reemergence of you know who in that epilogue he tagged on the UNCUT. IT however is a strange middle ground of melancholy. Like you when I saw and read it when I was young I totally identified with the 50's Loser's Club and as an adult looking through more aged eyes I identified instead with their 80's counterparts. That ending of friendships fading and realizing so many wonderful moments from our adolescence that helped define are lives will be lost to the sands of time is some really heavy stuff. Bitter sweet as all hell for sure. Bummed I've almost made my way through all your King stuff man, but it's been a beep beepin' blast!

[@mikesbookreviews]

When it comes to talking about IT, I think us Constant Readers become Treebeard in that we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say. This review was nearing an hour and I could have done another 30 minutes, at least. I'm just tired of "that scene" defining the book for so many people, especially those who have never read it. Castle Rock feels like such a missed opportunity to me. I just wish they'd try Nightmares & Dreamscapes again and adapt all of his short stories into episodes.

[@saanrio]

I honestly still love the original miniseries, it has a place in my heart, but I really like the new movies. I totally loved the choice to move it to the 80s and now, it made it more relatable for me, who watched the original miniseries as a 13 year old in 1990. It was similar enough that I got that little frizzle of anticipating something bad coming up, but just different enough that they could surprise me (and have a chance to actually scare me).

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’s still the superior adaptation, IMO.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I agree with you that the new one was great and I think kids were better. They felt more natural, authentic.

[@benlawless9539]

15:00 The storm drain dodging is a real thing 😂😂 same dude same

[@mikesbookreviews]

It’ll never go away.

[@jackiesliterarycorner]

I still watch the original mini series, but I love the new ones. You make some good points about the remake movie, though.

[@HereIsWisdom1318]

15:03-i used to do that too! Edit: the grown up actors were not that good, but i still liked it a lot!

[@jacobh9014]

I heard somewhere that if you’re more uncomfortable hearing about kid’s during “that scene” than you are about hearing of kids being brutally murdered then that says a lot about the shame of sexuality and desensitization of violence in American society. Just a thought

[@mikesbookreviews]

Great point.

[@BigDaddy13515]

This might be my favorite book of all time from any genre.

[@alynam82]

I have IT placed on my TBR in Goodreads, because I really want to read this as an adult, because last time I did read, I was in 6th grade. FYI, the only book I've read in recent years that could stand up to IT, is Dan Simmons "Summer of Night".... I don't want to be that guy on a KZbin channel shouting "Read This!" but I do recommend you give a glance on GR ;-)

[@Argos-xb8ek]

To me all of Mike's Interlude Chapters are scary especially.... Spoilers when Mike begins to realize that Pennywise is stalking him and mentally and psychologically wearing Mike down. How Pennywise uses Mike's father's decapitated head to taunt him and just the interesting stories of Pennywises effect on Darry and its polulace

[@AnnieMacFlannie]

My daughter finished the book on Saturday, August 29th

[@gregkral4467]

IT was the very first book that freaked me out since Pet Sematary.... at the very end, was reading since 3am, was just finishing the last scene, the basset hound we had was let in house, I was reading in bed..... still, gettin amped.... Charlie was so short, all I heard was thundering down the stairs... door opening to my room, but he was short, so didn't see him, he jumped on bed and slavered in my face...... I threw the book across room with a yell..... and then that mug, the wrestle was on, I was relieved. Hehehehe. Moved into new house we built, did not like walking in the dark after reading IT, or during reading IT..... it got to me..... loved the new movies.

[@ariela4588]

For Mike Hanlon, it mentions in the book why It takes the form of a bird for him, and it says when Mike was younger a bird attacked him I’m pretty sure so that’s why

[@mikesbookreviews]

Yeah, a few folks reminded me. Very cool.

[@separator94]

I seriously loved this book. I read it about three years ago and it blew me away. I finished it just weeks before the first 'It' film came out which I was hugely disappointed with. It was just far too different from the book. I liked the cast of kids they used and thought they all did a great job with what they were given, but the movie itself and the depiction of Pennywise completely missed the point. Visually he looked fine but the way he spoke and acted was different than how it was described in the book, and I think that getting that right is of very high importance. The reason the entity that is referred to as It appeared as a clown to children was because it used that form to trick them and lure them to him. In the movie he just looked creepy and scary right from the get-go which defeated the purpose. Also, most of the parts in the movie that were supposed to be scary didn't come across as such. A couple were done well but most came across as very PG-13-ish and even kind of funny or dumb at times. I did like the Bev bathroom scene though. They did a great job with that one. Overall it was just how much from the book they either took out, changed or got completely wrong that ruined it for me. The time period of the 50's was a strong point for the book and changing it was a shame, the sheer number of scenes that were missing from the book was huge and Pennywise saying "We all float down here" was referring to all the corpses of kids floating in the nasty sewer water below the city, not magically floating in the air. Also the book itself is VERY mature with tons of swearing, violence, gore, disturbing imagery and adult themes, and really deserved a heavy 'R' rating. It should've been scary, dark and disturbing with great attention to detail. It needed a far better director and much, MUCH stronger writing. If it were a smaller or lesser known novel I wouldn't have minded as much, but this is 'It' we're talking about. I true horror classic.

[@mikesbookreviews]

When everyone I knew that had never read it were saying how much they liked the movie I felt like such a dick telling them it was just okay because it wasn't like the book. So I get it. I hate that they moved it to the 80's just to get the Stranger Things fans in there. Man, Stranger Things was influenced by King, not the other way around! It should have been a period piece in the 1950s.

[@KatieLHall-fy1hw]

5:17 THANK YOU! This made the scary clown popular (And nobody ever admits it)! Clowns are great! They make balloon animals and do flips and ride unicycles!

[@danielcooper3788]

I loved the book. I don't care much about the new movie. Pennywise was absolutely amazing in the new movie.Tim Curry was legendary. I hope he has a great book coming in the future.

[@KnightOfDark]

13:30 is when Spoilers start

[@killerzotb6377]

I read THE SCENE for the first time today and Yh what was Stephen thinking 😂, still love the book to bits

[@divad44]

Can you PLEASE make a video ranking every Stephen king book? I’m BEYOND curious to know your favorites and least favorites :)

[@mikesbookreviews]

Something to that nature is happening soon. Stay tuned!

[@Wheretheportlandorarealadiesat]

Hello and goodbye mike 😂 good nice descriptive review

[@Sweet_Z_Official]

@Mike's Book Reviews "Beep, beep, Richie!" -- Tim Curry, Stephen King's IT

[@rjmacready8830]

The Patrick Hockstetter chapter was the hardest thing I've ever read. Runner up is the Creature chapter.

[@BrianRocksNow]

I'm a bit late to the party, but I just finished the book for the first time tonight. I enjoyed your insight! I think I can answer your question as to why Mike saw the bird and Stanley didn't. As you know, when he was a baby, Mike was almost prey to a crow and subconciously feared them his whole life because of it. That fueled It's power and probably made Mike a lot tastier to It. Stanley's love for bird watching actually made It weaker, or at the very least would take significantly more effort than It was willing to give to change that realistic and mature hobby into an unrealistic childlike phobia. I think as much as It enjoyed stalking and prepping his meals, It didn't *actually* care to make those fears extra complicated. The easier it was to salt his meals, the better. Edit - Also, I think the fact that Mike's family had always been connected to crows (most likely directly connected to It in some form) had a great deal to do with it. Again, much easier for Pennywise to copy/paste his form to the same bloodline that's bound to pass those fears to their loved ones. Stanley was just the least childlike of the group as a whole. He didn't share the same fears as most kids - which may be why he didn't get as creative of an individual scare from It.

[@joeesposito5204]

The point of the book is that there are day to day monsters that we must face. Everyone has their own personal IT. For Bev, it's her abusive dad. For Bill, it's the fact that his home life becomes a haunted house of sorts after Georgie's death. My one beef, and I've had this discussion with many people, is that Pennywise is not the villain. It is the villain. Pennywise is an illusion, like any of the forms It takes. I think the biggest thing people get wrong about this book is that they think It takes the form of a clown to scare kids. Quite the opposite. The Pennywise form is meant to lure kids in by putting them at ease. Case in point: how we are introduced to It in relation to Georgie. If you'll notice, in the adult parts of the book, It drops the Pennywise facade. Why? Because It knows the Losers see through the illusion. It appears to adult Ben as the vampire, adult Richie as Paul Bunyan, adult Beverly as the rotting old woman, etc. One note: Mike sees the giant bird because as an infant, he was pecked by a bird that flew in through a window

[@laguy8181]

I love both film adaptations but I prefer the original film. It may not have aged super well but I feel like it fits the book better. The new films I think were great but honestly I really enjoyed the things they added that were in the book like the beginning scene that they never put in the first film

[@Spirosbotos]

I’ve been an it fans since 97 when I was 9 I finally am reading the book and fuck me is their so much for a fan of the old film and new

[@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS]

I'm trying to keep all my Stephen King reviews around 11-13 minutes but I might go a lot longer like this for IT & THE STAND

[@mikesbookreviews]

I try to keep most in the < 20 minute range, but it's tough to do with King. I decided I'd just let this one go as long as I want since it's my favorite book of his and all.

[@joronah8650]

I wonder if the upcoming movie will depict IT as a cosmic threat just like in the books. But it already feels a little late for that. Would have been amazing to see him crashing like a meteor in the pre-historic earth haha

[@mikesbookreviews]

Well, someone involved with the making has confirmed they filmed The Ritual of Chud. Now it's just a matter of if that made it to the final cut. I feel like we're going to get some 6+ hour parts 1 & 2 director's cut someday.

[@joronah8650]

@@mikesbookreviews Okay that sounds exciting!

[@mikesbookreviews]

@@joronah8650 Yep. Straight from the screenwriter: www.cinemablend.com/news/2457219/it-chapter-two-will-feature-the-weirdest-element-from-the-book

[@IaconDawnshire]

I had to listen to the Audible version because there's just so much stuff in it. If I read it I would have gotten lost as to what's going on with how he writes. Also, that book screams "read me on my Kindle, less you have hand cramps!"

[@ajconstantine3593]

Not a timely question, but one I hope you get and answer: I know little about the book “Dune.” I’m afraid at my age to invest a considerable amount of time on a tome that size unless I know it can be righteously enjoyed in and of itself, without needing sequels to make up for deficiencies in the first book. So, uh ... is it? 😄✌️

[@dancegregorydance6933]

Yes read it!

[@youtubeaddict487]

favorite book ever

[@marcellusrobinson1465]

I first read it as a grown man and it scarred the hell out of me!

[@PreppinShootinLivin]

I finally just read IT over the last couple weeks. I actually didn’t know much about it..I mean I knew about the clown but that was it, I thought it was a monster book with this killer clown and that’s just really not it at all. As you mentioned, this is really just a coming of age book. The “horror” is only there a little here and there. So with all that said, the first half of the book kinda bored me and confused me...I was expecting something completely different. But after the first half I got settled in and it turned out to be quite good. I’ll have to reread it now that I know what it’s all about...but that will be a few years down the road.

[@banditverse63289]

Bro i am about to buy this book because of this great horror story of It and i watched both It movies of 2017 and 2019 now i am seeing people talking so much about It novel so it developed my interest and i want to read it.But tell me wouldn't it bring scary thoughts to me when i read. How to enjoy it?