In the good town of Derry there was a birdbath with the phrase “apparat eidolon senex” written on it. Was it just some creepy Latin (it means “a phantom appeared in the form of an old man”, apparently) or did it have some deeper meaning I missed? And why put that on a birdbath? Also, I’d forgotten how fun this book was, with the exception of a Certain Scene.
Which scene?
Gonna guess he’s referring to what the kids did with each other near the end.
There’s a scene at the end. I’m far from a prude but that one scene has kept me from ever recommending this book to anybody looking for something fun to read. I’m somewhat surprised it’s still printed actually. Beyond that, I agree, I remember IT as being a really fun and entertaining book.
Probably the one where
the kids have an orgy.
Yeah, that.
IIRC, It appeared to Beverly as her Old Man.
While it was unnecessary IMHO and fairly universally squicks people out a bit, it’s not THAT bad. I mean it’s bad, but not unpublishable bad if you get my meaning. It’s no Hogg :D.
I could see what he was thinking in terms of structure and plot - it’s not illogical, just kinda gross ;). And again, unnecessary. I’m sure he is a decent enough writer he could have managed much the same with a more age-appropriate bit of pseudo-romantic bonding if he felt he had too.
Which is why I’d certainly recommend it with a big caveat. It has other flaws as well, some scenes beyond the icky one fail in other ways, including the ending. But it also has some of his best writing interspersed in between the weak sauce. Worth the dross for the good stuff IMO ( assuming you like King’s style and usual subject matters, anyway ).
The scene in the tunnels at the end, yeah, that wasn’t fun, but I was much more disturbed by the refrigerator scenes and Patrick’s (?) POV about his baby brother.
Me too. The refrigerator… That was awfully disturbing. I wish I hadn’t read that…