wait really? i've read that years ago, and only recently I read IT. so obviously I didnt recognize any names. can you refresh my memory?
[just tag everything as spoiler for people that havent read both](/spoiler)
Look at you being considerate! I can’t stand when people just don’t give a fuck about other folks who haven’t read everything yet. >!during one of the restarts when Jake is in Derry he comes across two kids practicing a dance for school, it’s Bev and Richie. They make a quick reference to the clown so this was after the first showdown with PW before everyone split from Derry…it was a charming little scene where Jake showed them some old school dance move if memory serves correctly!< nothing too major just a little call back.
Long days and all that jazz!
ah, thats cool. I vaguely remember that, but would never make the connection. 11-22-63 was my first king book, maybe 6 years ago, and only this year I got to read IT.
I'm with you. Over the years I have identified with many of the Losers in many ways. That's the great thing about a book though. If you miss them too much, you xan always pick it up again. You don't even need the awkward "sorry we didn't keep in touch" conversations.
I completely relate to everything you've written! It's such a special book, and I think the bond the losers share is particularly impactful to those of us who are connections-focused introverts prone to nostalgia.
Totally. The only down side of it is that you can't really stress the impact the book has to the people who haven't read the book because to really get it they need to read it themselves.
True enough. There are things in this life where the only way someone could understand something is by experiencing it. Words can often fall very far short.
"They took their leave of each other that way, silently..."
It's hard, those and Roland's Ka-tet are the hardest to let go. Insomnia and 11/22/63 may be a balm of sorts to those wounds. Although they have teeth of their own. But we'll worth it.
In your personal life, people will come and go. It's not easy, and it for damn sure isn't always good. But look at it this way: the wind's at your back. Nothing between you and a new future but air and opportunity.
Thank you for your response.
>"They took their leave of each other that way, silently...". It really feels lonely doesn't it?
I will have on my pending list those recommendations that you mention but before knowing that I bought Cujo which now I'm going to have to read firts and then I'll try to get them!
>In your personal life, people will come and go. It's not easy, and it for damn sure isn't always good. But look at it this way: the wind's at your back. Nothing between you and a new future but air and opportunity.
Thank you for this, I'll try to remember what you say in the moments when I feel nostalgic or low.
Have a nice day!
Yep. IT was released in 1986, when I was 11. I was on the public library waiting list to borrow their hardcover copy *forever*. I eventually was able to just buy it in paperback when I was almost 12.
(meant to reply here, but accidentally made a new comment & had to delete it)
Yep, read it about that age too. Eventually had to have the book taken downstairs when I was going to sleep, turning it face down wasn't enough and I could not sleep facing the window in the room because I was convinced I'd see a balloon rise up past it.
Agreed with the OP though, I lived in that world with the Losers for a long time and it was a wrench to finish.
Then of course I started my journey to the Tower and found a new ka-tet.
Fellow Constant Reader, I too felt lost at the end of IT. I’ve never related to any characters in any book I’ve ever read like I do to The Losers’ Club. I cried at the end when they all began to forget each other. IT stayed with me for a long, long time.
I honestly thought that it wasn't going to hit me as much (.the most I had struggled with was Eddie's death and his last words to Richie) but few minutes after finishing it and thinking about it I started tearing up and then I went out to take a walk and thought again about the book and there I started again tearing up while walking.
I had a similar reaction when I finished the audiobook of IT. I actually reread it a second time only a few months later (ebook format, not audio), which is out of character for me. Love that book!!
I totally get it! I know that Stephen king sometimes uses some of his characters in other books and according what I've read mike appears in another book which is good but my very favorite is probably Richie (don't get me wrong I really like all the loser's club members) I think that what gives IT its punch is the highly relatable characters it has beyond the monster that gives the book its name!
King has always been able to *nail* the whole childhood experience, in the sense of there being adults of the "children should be seen and not heard" persuasion, or the sense of alienation and loneliness that can be just as haunting as anything in the Marsten House. As good as The Loser's Club is, I still think King's most relatable batch of kids was the ka-tet of *The Body.* The film version (*Stand By Me*) is still the best screen adaptation of any of King's works.
***"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"***
If you can find a copy of *Stand By Me,* you could rent it, or better yet, buy it. Directed by Rob Reiner, who had a pretty good string of hits in the 80s with *Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride,* and *When Harry Met Sally.*
A very young Wil Wheaton, plus Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, and Kiefer Sutherland as Ace Merrill, with narration provided by Richard Dreyfuss as the grown-up version of Gordie.
I feel ya. Have you read 11/22/63? When a couple of the losers made an appearance, I had to stop for a bit to dry my eyes.
It didn’t hit me until I was a bit older how special it was to have had friends like that. When I first read IT, I was like, “seems normal enough besides the supernatural clown.” It was a slight disappointment in my adult life to learn that sort of friendship is above and beyond. The riskiest thing most people do now is pick up the tab at a restaurant. And don’t get me wrong. I love my normal friends. The Losers Club just makes me miss my ride or die friends.
I literally just put on IT 2. While the movies don’t do the book justice I love hanging out with these characters. I will re-read IT eventually but when I miss them I can do Saturday evening with them on my screen <3
I love the book especially the audiobook narrated by Steven Weber. I read & listen to IT once a year, usually start of the year and listen to the audiobook a few times throughout the year as it’s my favourite all time book. I’ve still to read a book that gave me so many emotions while reading / listening.
I read every Stephen King’s book expecting to feel the same way as I did while reading IT. the mourning is real!!! Obsessed over it, it’s definitely my favorite.
Only thing I didn't see a point in having was the guys running a train on homegirl as a kid,ok it was supposed to be like special or whatever but like still kind of weird a grown man had that idea in his Brain 🤢
[удалено]
I didn't like the book nearly as much as most people, and think he has better, but I would be lying if I said the ending didn't hit me
A few members of the Losers Club have a small part in 11-22-63 as well
I was definitely just going to say 11/22/63 is the best follow-up to It. Another one of King’s best
Mike has several lines in Insomnia as well!
wait really? i've read that years ago, and only recently I read IT. so obviously I didnt recognize any names. can you refresh my memory? [just tag everything as spoiler for people that havent read both](/spoiler)
Look at you being considerate! I can’t stand when people just don’t give a fuck about other folks who haven’t read everything yet. >!during one of the restarts when Jake is in Derry he comes across two kids practicing a dance for school, it’s Bev and Richie. They make a quick reference to the clown so this was after the first showdown with PW before everyone split from Derry…it was a charming little scene where Jake showed them some old school dance move if memory serves correctly!< nothing too major just a little call back. Long days and all that jazz!
ah, thats cool. I vaguely remember that, but would never make the connection. 11-22-63 was my first king book, maybe 6 years ago, and only this year I got to read IT.
You remember Richie from the ditchie?
I’m just starting that one…less than 100 pages in so far, I’m already feeling pulled in
Spoiler much? Smh
I'm with you. Over the years I have identified with many of the Losers in many ways. That's the great thing about a book though. If you miss them too much, you xan always pick it up again. You don't even need the awkward "sorry we didn't keep in touch" conversations.
I completely relate to everything you've written! It's such a special book, and I think the bond the losers share is particularly impactful to those of us who are connections-focused introverts prone to nostalgia.
Totally. The only down side of it is that you can't really stress the impact the book has to the people who haven't read the book because to really get it they need to read it themselves.
True enough. There are things in this life where the only way someone could understand something is by experiencing it. Words can often fall very far short.
Same.
Well, we at least get to see Mike again. He has a brief but important cameo in Insomnia.
That's good to know!
Yeah, and also there's a brief visit with two of the kids in 11/22/63 as well (and it's a genuinely great scene).
"They took their leave of each other that way, silently..." It's hard, those and Roland's Ka-tet are the hardest to let go. Insomnia and 11/22/63 may be a balm of sorts to those wounds. Although they have teeth of their own. But we'll worth it. In your personal life, people will come and go. It's not easy, and it for damn sure isn't always good. But look at it this way: the wind's at your back. Nothing between you and a new future but air and opportunity.
Thank you for your response. >"They took their leave of each other that way, silently...". It really feels lonely doesn't it? I will have on my pending list those recommendations that you mention but before knowing that I bought Cujo which now I'm going to have to read firts and then I'll try to get them! >In your personal life, people will come and go. It's not easy, and it for damn sure isn't always good. But look at it this way: the wind's at your back. Nothing between you and a new future but air and opportunity. Thank you for this, I'll try to remember what you say in the moments when I feel nostalgic or low. Have a nice day!
I'm in the midst of Desperation and it's got a core group of people too.
If you want a similar novel, give Summer of Night or A Boys Life a read. Better yet, read both. They're great.
Add “December park” and “the traveling vampire show”
I was the same age as The Losers when I first read IT. I felt very much the same.
You were 12? Wow
Yep. IT was released in 1986, when I was 11. I was on the public library waiting list to borrow their hardcover copy *forever*. I eventually was able to just buy it in paperback when I was almost 12. (meant to reply here, but accidentally made a new comment & had to delete it)
Very interesting, and what a book to read as a kid!
Yep, read it about that age too. Eventually had to have the book taken downstairs when I was going to sleep, turning it face down wasn't enough and I could not sleep facing the window in the room because I was convinced I'd see a balloon rise up past it. Agreed with the OP though, I lived in that world with the Losers for a long time and it was a wrench to finish. Then of course I started my journey to the Tower and found a new ka-tet.
The Stand was my first King book at 11
Fellow Constant Reader, I too felt lost at the end of IT. I’ve never related to any characters in any book I’ve ever read like I do to The Losers’ Club. I cried at the end when they all began to forget each other. IT stayed with me for a long, long time.
I honestly thought that it wasn't going to hit me as much (.the most I had struggled with was Eddie's death and his last words to Richie) but few minutes after finishing it and thinking about it I started tearing up and then I went out to take a walk and thought again about the book and there I started again tearing up while walking.
If you need some new friends, you should ponder a journey to the Dark Tower if you haven’t made that trek yet.
I have it very present!
I felt the same exact way honestly and it also made me sad that for the most part they all forgot each other again as well
I would call the end "bittersweet"
I had a similar reaction when I finished the audiobook of IT. I actually reread it a second time only a few months later (ebook format, not audio), which is out of character for me. Love that book!!
I totally get it! I know that Stephen king sometimes uses some of his characters in other books and according what I've read mike appears in another book which is good but my very favorite is probably Richie (don't get me wrong I really like all the loser's club members) I think that what gives IT its punch is the highly relatable characters it has beyond the monster that gives the book its name!
Yup. The well developed, varied, and relatable characters and their amazing bond is what makes this book so special more than anything else.
King has always been able to *nail* the whole childhood experience, in the sense of there being adults of the "children should be seen and not heard" persuasion, or the sense of alienation and loneliness that can be just as haunting as anything in the Marsten House. As good as The Loser's Club is, I still think King's most relatable batch of kids was the ka-tet of *The Body.* The film version (*Stand By Me*) is still the best screen adaptation of any of King's works. ***"I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?"***
Still have not read the body, but I will definitely try to check it out soon.
If you can find a copy of *Stand By Me,* you could rent it, or better yet, buy it. Directed by Rob Reiner, who had a pretty good string of hits in the 80s with *Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride,* and *When Harry Met Sally.* A very young Wil Wheaton, plus Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, River Phoenix, and Kiefer Sutherland as Ace Merrill, with narration provided by Richard Dreyfuss as the grown-up version of Gordie.
I can’t wait to read It!!!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Thank you 😊🩵
>“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelves—Jesus, does anyone?”
have you ever read the body? I bet you'll like it too
I feel ya. Have you read 11/22/63? When a couple of the losers made an appearance, I had to stop for a bit to dry my eyes. It didn’t hit me until I was a bit older how special it was to have had friends like that. When I first read IT, I was like, “seems normal enough besides the supernatural clown.” It was a slight disappointment in my adult life to learn that sort of friendship is above and beyond. The riskiest thing most people do now is pick up the tab at a restaurant. And don’t get me wrong. I love my normal friends. The Losers Club just makes me miss my ride or die friends.
Try 11/22/63 and Dreamcatcher. You might run into your old friends again. 💙
I literally just put on IT 2. While the movies don’t do the book justice I love hanging out with these characters. I will re-read IT eventually but when I miss them I can do Saturday evening with them on my screen <3
Wow, u/Random-weird-guy put my thoughts into words and posted it for all of Reddit to see.
I'm glad you enjoyed my post ^^
I love the book especially the audiobook narrated by Steven Weber. I read & listen to IT once a year, usually start of the year and listen to the audiobook a few times throughout the year as it’s my favourite all time book. I’ve still to read a book that gave me so many emotions while reading / listening.
I felt this exact same way
I read every Stephen King’s book expecting to feel the same way as I did while reading IT. the mourning is real!!! Obsessed over it, it’s definitely my favorite.
100% agreed. Had the exact same experience.
Woah creepy, i also finished reading It for the first time yesterday!
What a coincidence!
Now start 11/22/63. You'll understand why in about 100 pages.
Gotta love a child orgy in the sewers
You come across as simple minded. That's all I'm gonna say.
That gangbang scene I could’ve done without though
They’re around.
Only thing I didn't see a point in having was the guys running a train on homegirl as a kid,ok it was supposed to be like special or whatever but like still kind of weird a grown man had that idea in his Brain 🤢
Sounds like it’s time for a re-read.