The IT spot: Rereading, part 3

So, I've breezed past Bev Marsh beating the crap out of her POS husband Tom (from Tom's POV, mostly), and Bill explaining to his wife that he has to go home to deal with the promise he made as a child, yet can barely remember.

These spots are more faithful, though abbreviated, in the mini series, especially Bev's bit. Her husband remains in the novel, following her to Derry to exact revenge. I miss that in the miniseries, as he doesn't suffer half as much as he deserves there.

More interesting, and less present, is the return of Bill's stutter. As a kid it's ever present (aside from a few key moments), and as an adult it gets worse over time. Not that it's noticeable in the performance of Richard Thomas, who mostly sounds like he's choking, if he bothers to try at all.

Moley moley moley mole.

SPOILERS

One of the most important factors in this section is Bill explaining things to his wife Audra: of all the married or attached members of The Loser's Club, he's the only one who tries. He even admits that he could probably remember everything right then if he started talking to Audra, but is afraid to do so.

With Bev and Tom, it's obvious why there was no explanation, but Eddie and Stan were married too. Why not explain more, or try to dig out the memories?

Stan, of course, does remember enough, or at least, that's what Mike later speculates, which is why he kills himself. Stan's mind was too tidy to let go as a child, and too ridged to handle the return as an adult.

Eddie loved his wife as well, but any effort to explain would have trapped him in the house with her, so fleeing was best.

Bill was the one to face IT in the Ritual of Chud. He was in the Macrospace with IT and the Turtle Maturin. His connection to the Turtle is strongest. I think that's why he could have dug out the memories then, if he really tried. Or at least why he believes he could have.

The other important factor is that the Loser's club Ka-tet is already broken, and the sense of that is filtering down. Bill and Mike aren't sure if Stan will come (and of course, he doesn't). That's something we face every moment we're with young Stan: we know he will kill himself, and break the club, leading to any number of horrors they have to face as adults. If he had lived, would Eddie have survived? Would Mike have been stabbed? Would the destruction of IT been easier, the town's death more cataclysmic?

Interesting questions, friends and neighbors, but not ones we'll get the answers to.

SAFE

I've officially finished rereading The Shadows Before. Now to head on to Derry: the First Interlude. I can't remember which interlude this is, but no matter what, it'll paint the bloody history of Derry in it's true blood-red colors.

I missed this book.