A review by bozzi1
It by Stephen King

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

🎈Spoiler Free Book Review🎈
•
What can I say about this book that hasn’t already been said a thousand times?  Probably not much, so I’ll try to keep this brief.
•
Like so many others, IT was the first book I read by King, and I was nine years old. I was on the verge of moving to a new town where I knew only one other person in school, and even though I was slightly younger than the kids in The Losers Club, I felt an instant sense of belonging, of acceptance...and I’ve been a constant reader ever since. 
•
This is my third reread and I wondered how much my thoughts and impressions would change, as an adult and parent. I listened to the audiobook and Steven Weber did an excellent job narrating, particularly as Henry Bowers and Pennywise, and with no surprise at all, I fell in love with IT even more. 
•
Some will say IT is too long, but I want all 1,138 pages. I love the transition between ‘57-‘58 and ‘84-‘85 and all of the interludes that help form the town of Derry into a character all its own. Character development is always a strong point in King’s writing, and he doesn’t do it any better than with The Losers Club. Bill, Richie, Eddie, Stan, Mike, Ben, and Beverly are the most memorable characters I’ve ever read. Pennywise is possibly King’s most frightening villain, not just a psychotic clown, but an IT that can transform into your greatest fear. 
•
IT is classified as horror, and rightfully so, but it’s so much more. I’ve heard people say they dislike the 2017/2019 movies because, “They’re too funny. IT’s supposed to be scary.”  I don’t want to discuss the movies here; I merely mention that because every time I hear that I think, “I guess they didn’t read the book.”  
•
IT made me laugh as much as IT terrified me. IT also broke my heart, as only King can. IT is a masterpiece that firmly stands as one of my top 3 King novels and remains one of my favorite books by any author. 
•
“...maybe there are just friends, people who stand by you when you’re hurt and who help you feel not so lonely. Maybe they’re always worth being scared for, and hoping for, and living for. Maybe worth dying for, too, if that’s what has to be. No good friends. No bad friends. Only people you want, need to be with; people who build their houses in your heart.”