- Hardcover: 1152 pages
- Publisher: Penguin USA (Sep 1986)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0670813028
- ISBN-13: 978-0670813025
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16.3 x 5.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (184 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 424,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Stephen King's idea for It came from a favorite childhood image: the entire cast of the Bugs Bunny Show coming on at the beginning. He thought of bringing on all the monsters, one last time: Dracula, Frankenstein's creature, the Werewolf, the Crawling Eye, Rodan, It Came from Outer Space.
It is about a group of adults who were once troubled children in the late '50s--"The Losers." One of them is a best selling horror writer much like Stephen King (or his friend and collaborator Peter Straub). In order to defeat the protean "It" that threatens their hometown, they have to go back- -not only to the town itself, but deep into their childhood memories, to regain the talent for magic they once had. King says It is for "the buried child in us, but I'm writing for the grown-up, too. I want grown-ups to look at the child long enough to be able to give him up."
This huge, baggy beast of a novel is a favorite of Stephen King fans--second in popularity only to The Stand. Perhaps longtime fans develop mental filters for King's sloppy storytelling to tune out the repetitions and silliness. King is like the pointillist painter Seurat: if you stand too close to the little dots, the picture falls apart, and it looks meaningless. That's why he makes the storyscape so big--to take you up to that macro-level where you like the book in spite of its flaws. --Fiona Webster --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
‘A writer of excellence...King is one of the most fertile storytellers of the modern novel’ (Sunday Times )
‘One of the great storytellers of our time’ (Guardian ) --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.
‘One of the great storytellers of our time’ (Guardian ) --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Where to start? 'It' is King's finest to date. After a shakey start (this book is over 1100 pages, of course it will take a while to get going") this book is a real effort to put down, a rare trait in a book of such a size. The plot is a masterpiece by King seond only to the character development, interwoven between two timelines; now (well 1985) and the summer of 1958. If I tried to explain it the explanation would start something like this: Well there's this murderous monster clown invisible to adults who feeds on children in a small Maine town... So I'll stop now and you'll have to trust me this book is good. Childhood is a recurring theme in all King's work (as it is in Bill Denborough's) and It is no exception, the description of the children's lives is a joy to read even when there are no werewolves or lepers to get in the way. Perhaps the children are a bit too mature for their age but this is easily overlooked, it makes up for all the times they are (wrongly?) potrayed as immature idiots. Suprisingly for a book with so many main characters the reader soon knows all seven's first names, sirnames, parents and interests (and is interested!). There is so much to praise here but this is still really a book for people who like horror. King just can't wait to add in little details about supporting characters somewhere along the lines of: John Smith (who would lose both his legs 5 years later after a motorcycle accident). Then there is the story of Patrick Hockstetter and his fridge; not for the faint hearted. There are many little details that people have picked upon, but very few books are perfect and all the fantastic work makes these very minor indeed. The ending is good but not as good as the rest of the book and I feel that this is the reason it stands out so much. So don't worry you won't be disappointed at the end. So constant reader, enjoy and remember to stock up on light bulbs, your bedside lamp will be on all night. Remember this book is responsible for a global irrational fear of clowns. Head my warning.
By the way look out for a cameo from everyone's favourite shiner Dick Hallorann
Next... Neil Gaiman's American Gods
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is book is one of the best I have ever read. I always avoided Stephen King books as I feared they would be too gory/slasher like, but I had no idea of the depth of King's skill at bringing characters to life.
It, which tells the story of seven childhood friends who nearly defeat a demon preying on the Children of Derry and then have to return later when it cimes back, is wonderful. The characters are so lifelike, you feel as though they are your friends. I am not ashamed to say that even if it makes me sound pathetic! I was genuinely sad when I had finished reading the book, not becasue of the ending, but becasue I just wanted it to go on and on. I re-read this book last week and it still retains its magic for me!
All I can say, is that even if you have never read A king book before, try this one. It iks astounding and you will weep, you will be scared and you may have to sleep with the lights on. Clowns will never look the same again!
It, which tells the story of seven childhood friends who nearly defeat a demon preying on the Children of Derry and then have to return later when it cimes back, is wonderful. The characters are so lifelike, you feel as though they are your friends. I am not ashamed to say that even if it makes me sound pathetic! I was genuinely sad when I had finished reading the book, not becasue of the ending, but becasue I just wanted it to go on and on. I re-read this book last week and it still retains its magic for me!
All I can say, is that even if you have never read A king book before, try this one. It iks astounding and you will weep, you will be scared and you may have to sleep with the lights on. Clowns will never look the same again!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first got hooked on Stephen King after seeing an advert in the paper for 'Pet Sematary', 'a new book by Stephen King' and bought it because I liked the cover!!, well that did it - 'Firestarter', 'Christine', 'Salems Lot' etc I soon caught up with EVERYTHING he'd written previously and loved every second of them and now 20 odd years later I still look forward to the 'NEW STEPHEN KING BOOK' but I can still remember the first time 'IT' arrived and even after all these years it (no pun intended) remains my favourite all time book. I've now read it 5 times and dig it out every 5 years or so for another go! In my opinion this is the finest thing SK has ever written and can highly recommend it. If you like Stephen King and don't have this in your collection then you're not a Stephen King fan, simple as that.
A Brilliant book.
5 out of 5
A Brilliant book.
5 out of 5
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
awesome
What can I say? He is awesome and this is one of my fave books. I also liked the movie as much as the book, which is unusual for me!!
Published 21 days ago by Skyfox
Brilliantly crafted, genuinely horrific
Steven King is the boss when it comes to this type of story. His characters are well developed, the background stories are clear and relevent and we genuinely care about what... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Darth Gixxer
Amazing!!!
Without a shadow of a doubt. This is the best book i have ever read. After being terrified of the film as a child, i decided to pick this up. I was not disappointed. Read more
Published 1 month ago by I W C
Excellent
I bought this book to read again after buying the recent new Stephen King book on Kindle, 11.22.63. Both books are excellent. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Lozstar9
IT, is not 'it'
I'll NEVER look at a clown in quite the same way again, this is one of the darkest books I've read, I enjoyed the story of Derry and various minor characters with their own... Read more
Published 2 months ago by T.
A re- visit after 25 years
I was prompted to re read this book because of references to a couple of the characters in Stephen Kings latest book 11.22.63.
I am glad I did. Read more
I am glad I did. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. T. D. Moore
Why did I wrestle with putting this down when i hated it ?
I gave up after 200 odd pages, because it was becoming clear that like the stand, which I stuck with, that this was just full of pointless Yankee doodle waffle. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alex
Master of horror
Stephen King is a master of horror, especially from this great read. Better than the film, it's perfect for Halloween or King fans anywhere.
Published 4 months ago by Miss Z. V. Adams
Not the best King book I've read.
Stephen King's book IT, is up there with the likes of The Shining, in terms of how well known it is. Part of IT's fame stems from the TV movie staring Tim Curry as Pennywise. Read more
Published 5 months ago by The Reader
one of his very best
probably one of his best books ever published i bought mine years ago at a bookstore, and since it's all worn out now from too much reading, i'm thinking of buying another copy, to... Read more
Published 5 months ago by shopper
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