Arrangement of the book

[Rrty]

I think King once said It was not structured properly. He probably had something different in mind, but I agree, and here's what I mean.

There should have been a true prologue. In a sense, if I recall, the first three chapters in reality comprised a prologue, but the book never should have started as it did. Remember those chapters that were italicized and got into the mind of It? That's how the book should have started. Forget about the boat at the beginning, get into the mind of It, let It begin the tale; maybe the entire book could have flashed back between It's italicized insanity and the actual story, and the in-between musings of the creature could have served as an ongoing commentary/narrative of the actual story being told. These observations could have come from the perspective of the post-defeated It, and perhaps the last line would have been something along the lines of "I'll be back" or "I still have one egg left."

Anyhow, It should have started the book.

 

[not_nadine]

I think King once said It was not structured properly. He probably had something different in mind, but I agree, and here's what I mean.

There should have been a true prologue. In a sense, if I recall, the first three chapters in reality comprised a prologue, but the book never should have started as it did. Remember those chapters that were italicized and got into the mind of It? That's how the book should have started. Forget about the boat at the beginning, get into the mind of It, let It begin the tale; maybe the entire book could have flashed back between It's italicized insanity and the actual story, and the in-between musings of the creature could have served as an ongoing commentary/narrative of the actual story being told. These observations could have come from the perspective of the post-defeated It, and perhaps the last line would have been something along the lines of "I'll be back" or "I still have one egg left."

Anyhow, It should have started the book.

Mr. King wrote the book they way he saw he story in his mind.

Easy to be a sofa quarterback writer, ain't it? The story was and is just as it should be.

 

[recitador]

Yeah, i'm pretty good with the brief glimpses from It's perspective. A whole book's worth would have been way too much. The book needs to be relatable as well as well-written, and it's a lot more relatable from the human perspective than the shape shifting monster alien's

 

[not_nadine]

The book is what IT is. Jeeze.

Let's all tell Sai King how to write - on his message board that he is kind enough to let us play in.

Sorry, that got me a little cranky.

 

[Rrty]

Yeah, i'm pretty good with the brief glimpses from It's perspective. A whole book's worth would have been way too much. The book needs to be relatable as well as well-written, and it's a lot more relatable from the human perspective than the shape shifting monster alien's

Fair enough.

Mr. King wrote the book they way he saw he story in his mind.

Easy to be a sofa quarterback writer, ain't it? The story was and is just as it should be.

You sound like you're taking offense on behalf of King. He'll never read my comment, so no need.

When you say "the story was and is just as it should be (stern-expression-of-reproach icon)" it almost sounds as if you believe some other force channeled itself through King and composed the tale. Maybe God? I don't take any book that seriously, especially one about clowns from a cosmological circus.

It is easy to criticize, I agree. Although I do some freelance writing, I have never been published professionally in terms of fiction (I have self-published), so admittedly, I am not much of a writer. If that disqualifies my opinion, I mean, I can see that to some extent, honestly. Yet, I wouldn't get too upset over it.

 

[not_nadine]

You sound like you're taking offense on behalf of King. He'll never read my comment, so no need.

You are on the official Stephen King Message Board, with his personal assistant moderating these boards. You don't know what he reads on here, or what is passed on through our Ms. Mod.

Mr. King can write whatever comes into his mind.

 

[Rrty]

You are on the official Stephen King Message Board, with his personal assistant moderating these boards. You don't know what he reads on here, or what is passed on through our Ms. Mod.

Mr. King can write whatever comes into his mind.

I, without hesitation, guarantee you, 100%, King never reads this board except on the rarest of occasions, and that Ms. Mod never passes anything along to him that is not requested to be passed along (and even then, she probably rejects most of those requests in her role as a gatekeeper).

If he did read what I wrote, I guarantee you, again, 100%, that he would not take offense at what I wrote. Furthermore, he'd probably be flattered I am discussing the book -- that people still discuss a book he wrote, what, over 30 years ago at this point? -- and although he probably would not agree with me, he'd probably think it is neat people want more of Pennywise. He did what entertainers are supposed to do -- leave the audience wanting more.

 

[GNTLGNT]

I, without hesitation, guarantee you, 100%, King never reads this board except on the rarest of occasions, and that Ms. Mod never passes anything along to him that is not requested to be passed along (and even then, she probably rejects most of those requests in her role as a gatekeeper).

If he did read what I wrote, I guarantee you, again, 100%, that he would not take offense at what I wrote. Furthermore, he'd probably be flattered I am discussing the book -- that people still discuss a book he wrote, what, over 30 years ago at this point? -- and although he probably would not agree with me, he'd probably think it is neat people want more of Pennywise. He did what entertainers are supposed to do -- leave the audience wanting more.

...you need to dial it back man...you are getting pretty full of yourself....just take that as friendly advice...

 

[not_nadine]

I, without hesitation, guarantee you, 100%, King never reads this board

Moderator

 

[Rrty]

...you need to dial it back man...you are getting pretty full of yourself....just take that as friendly advice...

You know what, I will take that in the best possible way, and look at that as advice. But let me ask a couple things in a good-faith manner.

Am I really full of myself? Because I write in a certain style, and am rigorous in my analysis? I'm asking that honestly, because a lot of people do seem to get irritated with me on that count. Not sure that I am going to change -- I might change here, though, as it's actually easier just to write things bullet-point style and gets me in and out of the boards in an efficient manner -- but it would be nice to know.

But, the other thing is, read the thread again from the beginning. Get to the part about the sofa-quarterback writer. I'm not sure I was the originator of this particular friction. And let me add, I think you guys sometimes take Stephen King's honor in terms of comments here too seriously. I don't think he would mind what I wrote even if he read it (he will never be exposed to it). King is worth one would assume over $200 million (I'm not sure I believe that $400 million figure that has been asserted). He honestly is fine, dude. Just my opinion.

By the way, I just looked up King's comment about It from Time magazine, the one that I think came out around the release of the book. He is quoted as saying it is a badly constructed book. Feel free to look that up. In all seriousness, based upon the fact that I just sourced that, am I now full of myself? Hard for me to believe that.

I suppose, after recently being Everything-Elsed in the hot topics forum, that maybe I am thinking I shouldn't be as hesitant to defend myself. Perhaps that is why I sort of dialed it up, as you say. But you are right though, I think -- try to be brief.

 

[staropeace]

I, without hesitation, guarantee you, 100%, King never reads this board except on the rarest of occasions, and that Ms. Mod never passes anything along to him that is not requested to be passed along (and even then, she probably rejects most of those requests in her role as a gatekeeper).

If he did read what I wrote, I guarantee you, again, 100%, that he would not take offense at what I wrote. Furthermore, he'd probably be flattered I am discussing the book -- that people still discuss a book he wrote, what, over 30 years ago at this point? -- and although he probably would not agree with me, he'd probably think it is neat people want more of Pennywise. He did what entertainers are supposed to do -- leave the audience wanting more.

How do you know that Stephen does not read the comments here? 100 percent sure??????

 

[recitador]

badly constructed? king's his own worst critic lol. i disagree with most of his self deprecation. i think the fact that he managed to whip back and forth between two time periods and keep the story on track and weave it together with barely a screw up was pretty brilliant. unconventionally structured maybe, but bad? nah

 

[Rrty]

How do you know that Stephen does not read the comments here? 100 percent sure??????

Fair question. I just can't imagine him having the time to read the comments, to be honest.

 

[not_nadine]

So that equates to 100%, Fair enough. Done with this thread and baiting from you.

Have a good night, and I look forward to your posts in other threads.

 

[danie]

Heck, I've never been 100% sure about anyone, much less a guy I've never met.

Well, I did meet him when he signed my book, but he didn't accept my number, even when I told him he could be 100% sure I was a nice girl.

 

[Dana Jean]

We all need to dial it back, folks. What happened to open discussion, pro and con, about his work?

He loves that his work sparks debate and commentary. I can guarantee that without even asking. He is a scholar, and scholars debate. They analyze. And they agree to disagree.

And who is harder on himself than a creative person? King is very hard on some of his earlier works due to his drug use, his maturity at the time of writing, his overall skills. To us, he has been great from the get go. But, as someone who wants to keep evolving in his work, to constantly improve, he has given some scathing critiques. Sometimes almost to the point of embarrassment.

I think he's a brilliant writer. But, I'm not in love with everything he's written.

We are all going to have our personal opinions on his different writings, and that's okay you guys.

 

[GNTLGNT]

We all need to dial it back, folks. What happened to open discussion, pro and con, about his work?

He loves that his work sparks debate and commentary. I can guarantee that without even asking. He is a scholar, and scholars debate. They analyze. And they agree to disagree.

And who is harder on himself than a creative person? King is very hard on some of his earlier works due to his drug use, his maturity at the time of writing, his overall skills. To us, he has been great from the get go. But, as someone who wants to keep evolving in his work, to constantly improve, he has given some scathing critiques. Sometimes almost to the point of embarrassment.

I think he's a brilliant writer. But, I'm not in love with everything he's written.

We are all going to have our personal opinions on his different writings, and that's okay you guys.

...indeed it is...I was just attempting to get his bluntness leavened with a bit of lighter dialogue....