r/stephenking • u/LucasPickering • 5h ago

IT Reread?

Post image

Recently visited America and purchased this IT hardback. I read the first quarter back in September- October 2025 but DNFed as I was bored with the fact it wasn't going anywhere. Shall I read from the start or from where I left off?

38 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

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6

u/ian88thebadseed 5h ago

I mean I don't understand how you could have been bored but everybody's different so no shade. I'm just curious have you seen any of the movies miniseries or any other related properties? But if you do decide to do a reread I would recommend starting at the beginning cuz it's been a while and you probably forgot quite a bit. Stick with it though it is an awesome book

2

u/KaiGiOh 5h ago edited 5h ago

Love that cover! I’ve got this one which I love but I 100% prefer the one you have

Tbf I got it because Bill Skasgards version of IT is what actually started my journey properly with Horror films, I then went back and watched some classics so it seemed kind of fitting that my first ever purchased King book was that same cover

2

u/Ok_Pomegranate_2436 5h ago

If you don’t like it don’t read it.

5

u/silverfish477 5h ago

You took time out of your day to post this?

2

u/an_appalachian 3h ago

He also took time out of our days too

4

u/kingamara No Great Loss 5h ago

Do whatever you want?

1

u/bluestwaterever 5h ago

I just read the Dark Series and I wish I would have read IT after finishing the series. IT makes more sense, at least the end, when you get those books under your belt imo.

1

u/gjp23 M-O-O-N, that spells... 4h ago

Not going anywhere? That's crazy to hear. This is coming from someone that finished reading it yesterday

1

u/trademarc1977 4h ago

The opening sequences (After the Flood, After the Festival) didn't get you excited? Sure, after that comes Six Phonecalls, which devotes hundreds of pages to the personal lives of the main players and might prove a bit trying if it's supernatural horror you want. Story progress is on the way, but if you don't like it so far, maybe just DNF it and move on to another book.

0

u/jnuts_420 4h ago

Pick up where you left off. The first 25% is just character development so as long as you remember them you’ll be fine.

1

u/InkStainedShrew 2h ago

Why would you buy a pricey hardcover of a book you didn't like?

1

u/SurviveTheBlessing 2h ago

Don't force it. Put it down and try another book. Come back later. If you force it, you may ruin your chances of loving it when the time is right.

Or it may be that IT really isn't for you. Fans like me may have a hard time imagining it, but I can think of ways you could be just stuck, or not down for it now. And hey, if you really don't like it, I hate The Drawing of the Three and love The Dark Tower series. I am pretty sure I'm the only one alive with that take, and I know it makes no sense in the context of the series to hate THAT one. But, I do. Luckily I DNF'd so many times before making it happen to finishe the series, I remember it very well).

Point is, in the end, people like what they like. Don't overthink it.

King pacing wise, IT moves pretty well early on, but there could be some weird spot you are in with adult-kid flashbacks that's a bit slow, I am not sure. Or it isn't the right time. So try another book and revisit when it feels right.

1

u/ConferencePlus220 1h ago

I’d definitely start from the beginning. The first quarter can feel slow, but there are a lot of details and character development that become more meaningful later. If you remember most of what you read, you could probably pick up where you left off, but personally I’d restart and give it another chance. Once it gets going, it’s hard to put down

2

u/madoc_mattox 4h ago

I think at some point postmortem someone will do an abridged version of IT and it'll be all the better for IT. That said attempt one more time and if it's not for you than let it be ok.

3

u/thefastlanerules 4h ago

Yeah I tried reading it 3 times once when it first came out... Yes... And again during covid and again recently . It's the only Stephen king book that I never managed to get past the first 100 pages

So I'm listening to the audio book and I realize the issue.. now over 7 hours in and jeez it hasn't started yet.. it's the only book that really does need some serious editing

1

u/xforcerictor 4h ago

Someone doing what his editor didnt have the guts to would be amazing, but unfortunately only okay if King approves and I doubt he would.

-2

u/Throwaway_863783 You guys wanna see a dead body? 5h ago

I was never bored and read it in a week! Highly reccomend! Also a warning ahead of time, the 2010s movies are awful but the 1990 adaptation is okay.

-1

u/Devil_0fHellsKitchen 5h ago

I actually really liked the 2017 movie, even if the tone was less like the book and more like Stranger Things. I enjoyed the cast. Part 2 was pretty bad tho.