PUMPKINHEAD's Reviews > It

It's been a long time since I read Stephen King's IT, and with the new movie that came out not too long ago (which I enjoyed) I felt compelled to go back and give it another read, despite the fact that's it's the size of a brick (and not much lighter).

I've read a lot of books since digesting this tome, and it's altered my perspective a bit. I've always considered myself an SK fan, but I've grown weary and frustrated with many of his offerings since the turn of the century. His earlier works are the ones I dig, where I felt that King's imagination was really on its hot streak.

Upon rereading, the first thing that struck me is just how overwritten IT was. I remember it being long before, but not quite such a chore to get through. That being said, IT was still scary, still sent shivers down my spine (especially that scene with the Stanley and the dead kids in the water tower, and Patrick Hocksetter's secret fridge in the junkyard). The world and history of Derry (as well as Pennywise) is such a profound creation, that the impressiveness of it was not lost on me, even on a second time around. IT is such a big story and you really get wrapped up in the sheer size of it and the many characters involved. There are times, however, where you feel like the book is never gonna end.

Despite reading the novel again with a more critical eye, the overall enjoyment of IT was hardly diminished when all was said and done. I don't think I'll ever give it a third go, but I'm glad I gave it a second.