Comment

It

a Novel
Oct 31, 2017liljables rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Listen: this novel is not without its flaws. There is racism and homophobia throughout, and the (very few) female characters are treated like garbage. The only female among the Losers' Club, Beverly Marsh - an 11-year-old girl - is sexualized to a horrifying degree. If we chalk these flaws up to the time period of the book (back and forth between the 1950s and 1980s), and the time of publication (1986), I guess we can sleep at night. All that being said...I couldn't put this book down. This novel fully delivered on the genuine terror I was hoping for (and was denied) in the film adaptation. I can't put my finger on exactly what made the book so much scarier, although I guess we could chalk it up to my all-too-active imagination. I think what chilled me the most was the effect of IT on the adults of Derry: while they can't see the entity, IT's presence is still felt, and causes a subtle but definite change in the adults' behaviour. Just like Pennywise, the evil that manifests in the adults has many forms: ignorance, cruelty, apathy, and (I hope) the brutal misogyny and racism throughout. If you're not a horror fan, you've probably stopped reading by now, but if you're open to the idea of a good old-fashion scare, it's the perfect time to pick up IT!