Stephen King's It was the first King book that I had ever read (a little over 10 years ago), which led me on a path to reading many of his books in a three or four year span. With the new movie coming out, I decided to reread the book that started it all. After finishing a second time, I have been searching for all kinds of thoughts from others (which led me to many podcasts and eventually to this board) on what I found to be the most heart-wrenching thing that happened: the memory loss. Unfortunately, I have only seen passing mention of the sadness of it with minor exploration done on the theme.
After the final battle and Mike's making his last journal entries, writing about his final conversations with everyone and how they're all (even him) now forgetting about each other again, I was reduced to tears at his last words:
I loved you guys, you know.
I loved you so much.
Even now there's a little tug at the heart string just reading the words and thinking about their time together. His final conversation with Richie in particular (them not remembering Stan's last name or what ailment Eddie had) was just so deeply frustrating and sad at the same time. I was screaming in my head, "No, don't away their memories of each other! You can't!"
I'd assume there is some deep psychological meaning behind it about forgetting childhood, but it got to me in another way. While reading this book the first time, I don't remember the memory loss aspect hitting me as hard emotionally, but then during the reread, it was like I was called up by Mike Hanlon himself.
After going just 10 years of not reading It, I had just about forgotten EVERYTHING. Prior to the reread, if you offered me up a million dollars to name all of the Losers Club, I would not be a million dollars richer afterwards. I thought It was an absolutely amazing book after reading it the first time. King's words were put together so well on the 1,000+ pages that I felt like I was a citizen of Derry, Maine and a part of the Losers Club, and there's a euphoric feeling I had during and immediately after the read.
Then I forgot about everything.
Even now the memories and feelings are fading. All that emotional connection I had is disappearing, and it deeply saddens me. Maybe in another 10 years I'll get that imaginary call from Mike to reread It and allow the memories to slowly return.
That's all.
After the final battle and Mike's making his last journal entries, writing about his final conversations with everyone and how they're all (even him) now forgetting about each other again, I was reduced to tears at his last words:
I loved you guys, you know.
I loved you so much.
Even now there's a little tug at the heart string just reading the words and thinking about their time together. His final conversation with Richie in particular (them not remembering Stan's last name or what ailment Eddie had) was just so deeply frustrating and sad at the same time. I was screaming in my head, "No, don't away their memories of each other! You can't!"
I'd assume there is some deep psychological meaning behind it about forgetting childhood, but it got to me in another way. While reading this book the first time, I don't remember the memory loss aspect hitting me as hard emotionally, but then during the reread, it was like I was called up by Mike Hanlon himself.
After going just 10 years of not reading It, I had just about forgotten EVERYTHING. Prior to the reread, if you offered me up a million dollars to name all of the Losers Club, I would not be a million dollars richer afterwards. I thought It was an absolutely amazing book after reading it the first time. King's words were put together so well on the 1,000+ pages that I felt like I was a citizen of Derry, Maine and a part of the Losers Club, and there's a euphoric feeling I had during and immediately after the read.
Then I forgot about everything.
Even now the memories and feelings are fading. All that emotional connection I had is disappearing, and it deeply saddens me. Maybe in another 10 years I'll get that imaginary call from Mike to reread It and allow the memories to slowly return.
That's all.
