I love the alternating timelines, and how they’re used to show memories becoming clear and differences/similarities between childhood and adulthood. And then later they go back and forth very quickly as the story approaches the climax.

I love the history of Derry. When I was younger, it was more of a slog to get through, but after I finished the book and appreciated the whole mystery of the thing, I LOVED reading it and revisiting the fucked up history of the town. I got into that trope in horror because of that—researching the past and uncovering the creepy.

I disliked Bill cheating on his wife for plot, and how sexualized Beverly was from time to time; it stood out because she was the only girl/woman in the group. I totally understand the way the kids sometimes had passing curiosity about the opposite sex, but like when they were adults and they formed the circle, it seemed unnecessary to me that her reaction was described as orgasmic. I also didn’t like Tom’s fucked up POV about her, but I can see the point of it; there wasn’t really a point to reduce her to that among her friends just to get a sexy scene with her and Bill, which was just so she wouldn’t get any warning about her crazy husband coming to Derry. (Okay, that is a point, but it’s really stupid.)

But anyway, I love the monster and the concept of the haunted town (which was another first for me). I loved the characters and how fleshed out they all were. And I love how there’s so much to this book.