Review: It

It by Stephen King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Update on 26th July, 2019:

Only 453 pages left of "It".

After so many pages, so much frustration and still refusing to give up, letting the tale sneak and grow on me ever since the reunion chapter (P. 569), or maybe slightly before that, since the incident of the photo album in George's room (P. 406), I finally don't want to put the book down; this I felt acutely, once during the epic rockfight (ever since P. 818), and now, at the onset of the dangerous ritual in the smoke-hole (P. 901 and 912).

And though I once felt, 'I won't ever care whether they die or not, or how, as long as I get a satisfying ending and revelation of the mysteries,' I've begun to dread the ending chapters, where they all may not live.

[Special thanks to the week-long readathon challenge this year. It's certainly helped me push my boundaries and energy and mind every day, every hour, every moment, in terms of choosing to read more.

#readingrush #readingrush2019 #finallyFeelinglikeaBookwormforreal]


Update on 29th July, 2019:

Only 236 pages left of "It".

Got the biggest shock of my reading life from page 1127 of this book, I think.
The author sure has tried somethings untried ever before with this book, but how will I feel when this is all over? I don't know.

Update on 7th August, 2019:

Only 76 pages left of "It".

I've been telling myself since the past 3 days that 'today is the day I'm going to finish reading and start watching the adaptation for the first part' of this book that I picked up about 2.5 months ago and which I was apprehensive of at first, disdainful towards just before the middle, curiously eager about around 3/4th and now... am unputdownably excited over near the very end.
But life is full of stuff and chores and what not. Really could not find or make the time for It without being unimaginably sleepy and tired or neglectful to other more pressing matters of importance or preference.
However, this afternoon, I am planning to put aside some things and just read. Read It. For a final time (actually, last pages for the first time, since I might re-read it someday... or not). We shall see.

Update on 8th August, 2019:

0 pages left of "It".

I have finished reading It, at long last. It's raining outside, all morning. And I feel unburdened and yet, waiting for more. It will remain a memorable reading experience for a long, long time, I think. All the thoughts I scribbled on the last couple of pages I can't share without giving out spoilers.
Some things that stood out after the climax of the story began:
(view spoiler)[
- The underwhelming feeling at the revelation of what It was
- Funny moment in the dark - the monster getting annoyed by the tongue twister
- The bizarre way the Turtle was explained
- Bill's apt realization that to pass beyond communication was to pass beyond salvation
- The pain, anger and fear of It, in Its own PoV (Really well-written)
- The past and present intertwined during the battle with It and afterwards
- Eddie's bravery. Twice now. And I respected him for facing It, despite all his fears, and saving his friends.
- Richie's part in the battle, and Ben's angry words to him. Those were really special to me, because it's Richie.
- Derry's destruction
- The horrific and quite unnecessary (i.m.o) act of connection they felt they had to do to get out
- The way Beverly asks them to go forward, chase It, in wake of all the pain and imminent doom.
- Their friendship and love standing the test of time till the very end, at least until they forget for good
- Ben finally finding the courage to go and try to win what he's never had before, had for a brief moment and wished for with Bev all along, and Bev finally willing to try, to give it a chance?
- The way Bill beats the devil in the last chapter; the part of Silver. I loved that part.
(hide spoiler)]

All are revealed in the end. Yet, I still have a few questions left to discuss with friends who have read it or watched the adaptation for the first part, or ponder over alone, even after it has all ended.

And kudos to the author, for being able to create a story of fantasy, horror, mystery and chaos that grows on you to make you immersed deep into it when you least expect it, and characters with interesting arcs and transcending connections that makes you root for them in the end just when you believe you don't care about any or all of them that much at all.

It was epic, bittersweet, full of good quotes, not really horror-inducing but shuddering at some points, not without imperfections and moments that makes you cringe, and still, a memorable read. Hard to rate in stars 'cause you are bound to have mixed feelngs. I want to give it a 4 and a 2, and there are no in-betweens. I think I'll rate it a 3 for now. Oh, and good luck to all those who read it, this gigantic monstrous It for the first time.

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