It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

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I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

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I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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I love a good horror movie. There’s something fun about getting sucked into the suspense of a spooky story that plays with your imagination and emotion. No one has had more success in crafting terrifying tales than Stephen King. The author’s books have become an ever-giving well of inspiration to countless movie adaptations. While film versions of King’s books are too numerous to list, the most recent success was the 2017 retelling of It. The movie played on the nostalgia of those who read the book and watched the 90’s mini-series and introduced the nightmare of Pennywise the Clown to a whole new generation. It focused on the Losers Club as children, presenting only half of King’s novel on the screen. Now, director Andy Muschietti concludes the story by bringing the adult losers to life in It Chapter Two.

This movie is a continuation of the first film, so you’ll definitely want to watch it before venturing into this one. Chapter Two picks up 27 years after the first film. The losers are all grown up and living their separate lives away from Derry. Most have forgotten the details of the year they faced a horror that banded them together and forced them to vow to return if it ever happened again. Only Mike Hanlon remains in the town, keeping watch for the cyclical evil of Pennywise to resurface. When a man witnesses his boyfriend being murdered by a clown outside of the Derry fair, Mike is certain the time has come. It is time for the Losers Club to come back to Derry and fight It again.

It Chapter Two sees Stephen King’s story fulfilled in a way that should leave both diehard fans of the novel and casual fans of the first film completely satisfied. At nearly three hours long, the movie manages to fit in most of the plot details from the novel while never feeling bloated or overlong. This sequel sees the filmmakers take the story into a much darker place in terms of both scares and tone. At first, I was a little thrown off by this change in tone, but I’ve come to appreciate the motivation behind it. Gone is the childlike innocence of the first film. Instead, the losers are adults forced to reconcile their pasts and face the horrors of a long-forgotten threat.

The adult losers have been perfectly cast with James McAvoy and Jessica Chastain both bringing an introspective layer of dread to the grown-up Bill and Beverly. Bill Hader, who plays the adult version of Finn Wolfhard’s Richie, shines above the pack with one of the best performances of his career. He manages to subtly balance the humor of his character with the harsh realization that his childhood insecurities are still haunting him. Bill Skarsgård is more terrifying than ever as Pennywise the Clown. Tim Curry’s take on the character still scares the heck out of me, but Skarsgård has more than made this version of the monster his own.

Overall It Chapter Two does everything it sets out to do as a satisfying conclusion to the story that the first film began. It isn’t as endearing as its predecessor, but I don’t think it was ever intended to be. This is a lengthy, imaginative, and mostly faithful adaptation of a behemoth of a novel. Amongst the other big blockbuster films, It Chapter Two dares to try something different. This isn’t another superhero movie. This is an ode to all things horror, a victory lap for a filmmaking team that managed to adapt a challenging novel into a smash hit. I loved every second of these two movies and highly recommend them.

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Comments

Tanya @ Girl Plus BooksSeptember 27, 2019 at 11:52 AM
I watched the It miniseries on TV (the 90’s, maybe) but I never got around to seeing the movie adaptation. Tim Curry was shockingly scary as Pennywise back then but from the few clips I’ve seen Skarsgard definitely holds his own.
Shooting Stars MagSeptember 27, 2019 at 1:24 PM
I loved IT: Chapter one, so I do hope to see this one soon. I think the casting for the adult versions seems spot on.

-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
VerushkaSeptember 28, 2019 at 5:20 AM
The 1980s mini series scared the crap out of me, and I swaer it's the reason I can't deal with horror as a genre. I will admit the casting in this second one is very tempting and makes me want to try....
LuanneSeptember 28, 2019 at 9:19 AM
Great review Ethan. I watched the first part and was debating on this second one. Thanks for helping me decide! (It's a yes)
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerSeptember 30, 2019 at 8:52 AM
Loved your thoughts on this and agree, both are well done. Since seeing this we have re-watched the original ginial version. We all float down here.
Esther @ BiteIntoBooksOctober 9, 2019 at 9:22 AM
I LOOOOVVEED the Old IT movies from the 90's. I've watched them like 20 times. Then I read the book. I watched the first movie last year, didn't really like the new one, but this second one was SO GOOD. I went to the 0:00 Premiere in the middle of the night.

I loved the casting as well, so well done.
Daniela Ark @ BOOKIVERSE (www.danielaark.com)October 10, 2019 at 1:36 PM
I think Stephen King's stories are a little too long for my taste BUT they are GOOD! I did like Chapter 2 A LOT! More than the first. Great review Ethan!

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

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