IT – Stephen King

Despite its length, “IT” stands as one of Stephen King’s most unsettling and complex works, effectively weaving psychological and supernatural horror with real-world brutality. Although King has made a career out of exploring dark and unhinged themes, “IT” pushes those boundaries. 

For those unfamiliar — or those trying to decide if the novel is worth the time investment — the story centers around the town of Derry, Maine, where a shape-shifting demon, colloquially known as Pennywise, emerges every 27 years to feed. The novel alternates between two timelines — 1958 and 1985 — following the seven members of the "Losers Club," who are twice called upon to stop Pennywise's reign of terror.

Even though I was familiar with the story from the small screen and cinematic adaptations, reading “IT” felt like experiencing it anew. The adaptations, while solid, cut away much of the material that makes the novel so distinctive — some of it fat, some gristle, but all of it essential meat. 

While King has always excelled at creating vivid, terrifying characters, Pennywise is his most chilling creation (sorry, it’s not up for debate). Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgård both gave memorable performances in the adaptations, but the Pennywise of the novel is pure nightmare fuel. 

Here his terror is drawn by your inner fears, those that are always lurking in the recesses of your mind. Like a silent predator, he waits until the right moment to pounce without warning. Still, the true horror in “IT” lies not just with Pennywise, but with the cruelty of humans toward each other. King’s portrayal of this brutality – primarily physical and emotional violence – often surpassed the supernatural horror.

What really shines is the deep mythology of Derry. King makes the town a character, one that has absorbed generations of trauma. Mike Hanlon’s interludes, which trace the strange occurrences tied to Pennywise’s influence, provide some of the novel’s most compelling and chilling moments. 

These explorations into the town’s history add an epic scope that isn’t fully captured in the film versions. This depth makes “IT” a richer, if more difficult, experience than watching a film, but it also highlights one of the book’s key flaws: its excessive length.

Clocking in at over 1,100 pages, “IT” is undeniably bloated. You could easily trim 500-pages (or split it into two books) without sacrificing much narrative momentum.

King’s tendency to go off on tangents, particularly in the 1950s sections, can make the novel feel overstuffed. While the adult characters are well-developed, their childhood counterparts often feel like recycled tropes from King’s earlier works, such as “The Body.” The childhood sections, filled with pop culture references and pre-teen banter, drag on longer than necessary and could have benefited from tighter editing. 

The book is not without its problematic elements either — the author leans heavily on societal horrors like racism, homophobia and domestic abuse, which may have been more acceptable in the 1980s but have not aged well. These moments pull the reader out of the story and contribute little beyond discomfort.

“IT” Novel vs. Adaptations: What Works Better

What’s Better in the Book
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its depth of characterization. The adult members of the Losers Club are richly fleshed out, and their return to Derry is a painful unraveling of long-buried traumas. 

This psychological depth simply can’t be fully explored in the adaptations, which are more action-driven. Similarly, the novel’s slow-burn horror — especially Pennywise’s menacing presence — creates a sense of dread that the films, with their reliance on jump scares, don’t quite match.

King’s meticulous world-building around Derry’s dark history is another standout element. The interludes, which detail the town’s cycles of violence and Pennywise’s influence, create a richer, more immersive backstory. 

This added a layer of horror that’s absent in the films, which understandably streamlined the narrative for pacing. Lastly, the novel’s depiction of Derry’s destruction is much more impactful, mirroring the full-scale chaos seen in “Carrie.” The film’s budget likely constrained its portrayal of the town’s collapse, but in the book, it’s a haunting climax.

What’s Better in the “IT” Adaptations
Where the films excel is in pacing. King’s novel, while richly detailed, is undeniably overlong. The film adaptations wisely trim, focusing more on the action and horror, and delivering a streamlined narrative. This makes for a more engaging experience, especially for viewers who might not have the patience for King’s indulgent tangents and digressions.

The films also omit or soften some of the novel’s more problematic content, such as the excessive use of racist and homophobic slurs. While these elements contribute to the novel's raw, unpolished feel, their overuse can become tiresome and may alienate modern readers.

Additionally, certain bizarre plot elements, like the “Ritual of Chüd” and the controversial adolescent group orgy scene, are either scaled back or omitted entirely, which is ultimately for the better.

Final Thoughts

All-in-all, “IT” is challenging and flawed but also highly entertaining. 

While its length and problematic elements can detract from the experience, King’s ability to weave a deeply unsettling tale of both supernatural and human horror proves that what the author does well, he does exceptionally.

The book’s rich mythology, character depth and slow-burn terror make it a must-read for Constant Readers, but those who struggle with the author’s meandering style are wise to skip it in favor of an adaptation which delivers the essence of the story. 

Ultimately, I’d rate It at 3.5 stars, though I’m inclined to round up to 4 stars, simply out of respect for the risk King took in writing a novel like this. It’s not an easy book to love, but it’s undeniably ambitious. 

A Note on the Audiobook

Though the audiobook clocks in at over 45 hours, Steven Weber’s consistently engaging performance kept me hooked — even when the text dragged. It’s easily one of the best narrations I’ve heard this year, largely thanks to his chilling portrayal of Pennywise. 

Weber managed to make the iconic character feel fresh and terrifying, but beyond the dancing clown, Weber masterfully captured the essence of each character, which is no small feat given their prominence in pop culture. His ability to breathe new life into these well-known figures is a testament to his performance and creativity.

Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars

Rating (narration): 5/5 stars

Format: Audiobook (library loan)

Dates read: September 1 – September 20, 2024

Multi-tasking: Okay. It’s epic in length, so it’s unreasonable that you’d sit around not doing anything while listening, but it does require a fair amount of concentration due to the dual timelines and mess of characters. This would be a great listen for a long road trip as tackling it in larger chunks helps immerse you in the story more than sporadic or short sessions.