Frannie and Larry Post Part II

[Valjean]

Ok, so I am reading The Stand for the first time and it is my first SK novel.

I mentioned yesterday my annoyance with the Frannie and Larry chapters, and got great advice on the "Newbie" board.

Now...

I am on pg. 272 (uncut) and things are making more sense. I am still annoyed when things slow down and get boring (like with any book), but I have come to appreciate those early Frannie chapters a little more (still not sold on Larry).

Reading about Frannie's reaction to her parents' deaths was pretty intense, especially when she buried her father. It would not have worked without that earlier development of that relationship. I am not so annoyed by Frannie now, as her story is beginning to make sense in the wake of "Captain Trips".

Larry in the park was still a bit boring. I have just been thoroughly annoyed with his continued selfishness.

I get hyped during the great Stu chapters!

Just wanted to mention that Frannie has gotten better for me. Still loving the book so far!

V

[bopropadop]

Hang in there with Larry, too. And you nailed him so far as being selfish. Give it some more time and see how it plays out...

[K4driver]

larry is one of my favorites from the Book, He really is better by the end.

[michal]

I find it funny the way you expect to "like" the characters right from the start. I mean, real people change, and "perfect" characters who always do what's right from the right reasons are not very believable and almost annoying. It's a huge book - an epic book, and people change over time.

If I was to meet the 20 year old girl I was 7 years ago, I'd probably smack her, for being so self righteous and cocky. But back than, I truly believed that I was as "done" as I ever will be. Get my drift?

[bluesky]

Ok, so I am reading The Stand for the first time and it is my first SK novel.

I mentioned yesterday my annoyance with the Frannie and Larry chapters, and got great advice on the "Newbie" board.

Now...

I am on pg. 272 (uncut) and things are making more sense. I am still annoyed when things slow down and get boring (like with any book), but I have come to appreciate those early Frannie chapters a little more (still not sold on Larry).

Reading about Frannie's reaction to her parents' deaths was pretty intense, especially when she buried her father. It would not have worked without that earlier development of that relationship. I am not so annoyed by Frannie now, as her story is beginning to make sense in the wake of "Captain Trips".

Larry in the park was still a bit boring. I have just been thoroughly annoyed with his continued selfishness.

I get hyped during the great Stu chapters!

Just wanted to mention that Frannie has gotten better for me. Still loving the book so far!

V

I just finished this chapter too. I felt terrified and sympathetic when Frannie was overwhelmed with emotions and helplessness when she was making shroud made from her mother's tablecloth for her father and how she dragged her fahter down to the garden and buried him there. It's just so sad. I want to read more about her and get to know the whole book. hope we can share it again soon.

[aneaglesangel]

Trying to remember if the Frannie and Larry parts were different in the uncut version....

I like how some of the characters in Steve's books grow and learn as the story grows. Many people go through their entire lives being totally selfish and nothing changes it. At least in a Stephen King novel some nasty monster or killer virus can come along and make them good people!

[sknut70]

those earlier chapters really help to develop the characters as you have begun to find out. THere may be some monotony sometimes but thats the way life is for everyone and It really helps to bring the characters to life. you get to Know them. Yes larry is selfish. and he does a lot of self reflecting after the superflu, and it moves his charctor along ..

thats the difference between king books and others that just run though chapter after chapter of action and twists. they are ok, and you tend to enjoy them. But when you put down a king book, you feel like you know the people. They are friends and you miss them when you close the book.

[Sundrop]

Hang in there with Larry. I think you'll be surprised. I'm just finishing up my re-read of The Stand (un-cut), and have enjoyed it immensely. :)

[thymeoperator]

my favourites in that book were larry and nick. larry really wound up being great.

[AndyDufresne]

Trying to remember if the Frannie and Larry parts were different in the uncut version....

I always wondered about that, does anyone have a list or something that notes the changes between the original and the uncut version? I'm curious of how different they would be.

[Valjean]

Well, since I have last posted I have moved onward and upward to p. 554

I have grown more attached to Frannie, and the "diary" segments have been great! Now that she is with Stu and Glen... and unfortunately Harold (yuck)... the Frannie portions have become very welcome as the chapters roll along.

I am concerned about Larry (still), though. Am I crazy or is he not repeating the same mistakes with Nadine as he did with Rita!? I wanted to reach in and tell Larry to continue going solo, even though that did tend to have a maddening effect on him. It is a real catch-22 situation. Larry w/ woman: depression, anxiety, selfishness. Larry w/o woman: insanity.

It is lose-lose for Larry right now, and hopefully his trip to Nebraska will cleanse him of his problem(s).

Anyway, just thought I would keep you posted on the Frannie/Larry paradox. And yes, I do realize characters change. That doesn't mean I can't get frustrated with them, like I would with anyone in life.

Thanks for all the (mostly) helpful posts! You guys are great. :smile2:

[aspergillus]

Have you read any other authors that bring characters to life and make you have the feelings for them that SK does? That is one of his many talents as a writer IMO and to think this is your first novel by him! Makes me a bit envious. You have many hours of wonderful reading to look forward to.

[karend3]

Yes hang in there Larry comes through with a bang.

[Valjean]

Agreed. It really is quite brilliant. With a book that is perhaps 200 pages long, a character dies, I finish the read and move on. No big deal.

With a book that dedicates 200 pages to one character, you truly become attached. If/when anything happens to them, you may be devastated because you feel like you know them. In The Stand, you even become sympathetic to dark characters like Lloyd and Trash. I have never encountered an author that does that. For my first King novel, I think I hit the jackpot.