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Stephen King - 'IT', really scary book

86 replies

perceptionreality · 13/09/2012 10:00

I thought the film was really silly and not at all frightening - the clown was almost comical.

I decided to read the book (don't usually read horror) and it's really got to me and given me nightmares!

OP posts:
Houseworkprocrastinator · 13/09/2012 20:13

I haven't read many of his but I really liked pet cemetery which I read in my teens and the girl that loved Tom Gordon. However I really liked his son's books horns and heart shaped box.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/09/2012 20:13

Yes - just awful. But written with such love and concern too, I thought, if that's not a silly thing to say.

NCForNow · 13/09/2012 20:10

Remus the description of the "men" scene" was terribly haunting.

LemarchandsBox · 13/09/2012 20:09

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/09/2012 20:07

'Bag Of Bones' is superb. Two haunting scenes in it which I won't give spoilers for but one involves water and the other involves a girl and some men. Shudder.

NCForNow · 13/09/2012 20:04

What about his "Bag of Bones"? I've read most of his and that still haunts me!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/09/2012 20:02

Poor Stan. :(

HumphreyCobbler · 13/09/2012 20:02

Oh yes, Carrie. That is a good film too.

HumphreyCobbler · 13/09/2012 20:01

I think his books could translate well into films, they just have not often been made into very good films. Perhaps because he is seen as rather a lowbrow writer? The Running Man film was an shocking version of a rather grim and gripping novella.

The obvious exception to this is The Shawshank Redemption. I also liked the film of Misery a lot.

LemarchandsBox · 13/09/2012 20:01

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Agnesinroom25 · 13/09/2012 19:59

Yes she didn't like it at all. I just love him there is one on the amazon cheap list ATM which I haven't read yet, might go and download it now in the mood for a bit of SK thanks to this thread.
Iklboo every time I hear a tap drip I think of poor Stan Uris.

noblegiraffe · 13/09/2012 19:56

It is brilliantly scary, I read it as a teenager and used to have nightmares about waking up and seeing a balloon tied to my bedside lamp.

The Stand is also fantastic, but very very long. I also like Carrie and Firestarter.

CakeBump · 13/09/2012 19:56

IT is the scariest book I've ever read, it definitely gave me nightmares - I was about 15 when I read it and wouldn't pick it up again!

It was great though, and I really like the way SK can write in layers; there is what's happening and what the character is actually saying, then you have the character's thoughts, but also then the subconscious. Its very clever but like others have said, it can't translate into the big screen....

solidgoldbrass · 13/09/2012 19:56

I like most of his books, though got bored with both Needful Things and TOmmyknockers.
It scared me green when I first read it about 25 years ago.

LemarchandsBox · 13/09/2012 19:55

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RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 13/09/2012 19:55

I re-read 'Pet Semetary' a couple of weeks ago. It's fun but it's not really scary and it gets a bit daft at the end with all that failing to learn from his mistakes stuff going on. I really like the old man though.

Who is Denny then? I'm sure he's a SK child because I used to want to name a little boy it! Think, Remus, think...

CelstialNavigation · 13/09/2012 19:55

The Shawshank Redemption wasn't just based on the novella though, the film was the closest book-to-movie adaptation I've ever seen. And Stand By Me (from another novella from the same book) is just a lovely teen movie/book, I can never decide if the book or the movie is better. River Phoenix and Wil Wheaton just made the movie with their acting. I can never reconcile Wil Wheaton in the movie with him in The Big Bang Theory now!

LemarchandsBox · 13/09/2012 19:54

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iklboo · 13/09/2012 19:54

Every time I hear 'Für Elise' I think 'Mrs Denbrough was playing that when George was killed'. Not that I've read the book much Blush

Agnesinroom25 · 13/09/2012 19:53

Misery was a terrible film but the book is very good.

Handsfulloffun · 13/09/2012 19:53

I love IT, The Stand is excellent as is Misery.

Agnesinroom25 · 13/09/2012 19:52

He almost didn't publish Pet Semetary as he said even he thought he had gone too far this time.

maddiemostmerry · 13/09/2012 19:51

The Stand is my favourite. I think it was made into a mini series and didn't work due to the lack of depth given to the characters.

LemarchandsBox · 13/09/2012 19:51

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Agnesinroom25 · 13/09/2012 19:50

The little brother is George :(. I love SK can read them over and over again apart from The Shining now that really frightens me.