I have finally sat down... (spoilers - TS)

[dumakeykate]

Well a bit of a play on words, I actually mean that I have finished The Stand. I know that there has and continues to be lots of threads regarding this sheer mountain of a book but I just wanted to share my thoughts and listen to yours on how you feel when the epic is over!

Firstly, I stupidly read it over months, don't stone me at dawn but I did pick it up and put it back down... having so many things to do doesnt allow as much pure King time as poss! Despite my disjointed reading approach I do not feel that I lost any of the power of the story or characters. The remarkable thing was every holiday I had from reading TS, I could just pick it up, the characters came back to life, still alive and full in my memory.

I must admit I at first got a little bored with Larry, I think now upon finishing the novel that this was my own fault. He quick became the last character I wanted to see heading up the next chapter purely because i fell in love with the other characters so much more, esp Nick, Fran & of course Kojak. As normal, from any SK book I have read, he quickly forges a very strong relationship where I genuinally care for the characters.

I now feel a little lost as my journey through TS has ended. I also feel that there should have been a second!! LOL despite the mamouth size of the book part of me wants to know what's in store for Flagg, Stu, Frannie, Tom & little survivor Peter. It is the sort of story, selfishly, I guess you just do not want to end. I felt that some character endings were a little abrupt. We had been on a massive journey, for example with trashy and then boom he was gone, along with a lot others! Also Randall Flagg's big plan for an heir was a bit dubious to me, I thought that would have grown a little before Nadine's leap. I guess a good story leaves you wanting more.

I know that TS is a fan fav, I would not dispute this, it is magnificent, a real rollercoaster ride of emotions, incidents and story. The imagination and natural story growth is truly remarkable and a clear example of why King is to me my ultimate fav!

Any chance of part 2!?

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Glad you enjoyed, magnificent novel IMO; in fact, I think its the greatest novel of the 20th century.

Apart from being, as you say, too damn short!

Long days and pleasant nights

[nightbloomer]

I just finished it today. I read it straight through although it took me almost a month and a half. I know how you feel about Larry, he bored me at first but I grew to like him after a while. I got really attached to Nick, but my favorite parts took place in the West. Maybe somethings wrong with me, but I found it more fascinating to read about Mr. Flagg, Lloyd, Trashcan Man, etc. Reading about Boulder was slow going for me. I don't know about the ending though. I didn't really get how the babies can survive, it didn't make sense to me. I guess its just that the virus mutated?

One part of it that bugged me what that the wolves and weasels were evil! Wolves and weasels are my favorite animals (dogs and ferrets). I think The Stand gives them a bad image.

Oh and I just planned a vacation to Las Vegas in 2 weeks for the first time! I'm so excited, but a little scared too I'm gonna go check out the MGM Grand first thing.

[Ben E Gas]

I too just finished the book. I also read it over several months due to lack of free time. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. It was waaaaaay better than the tv series. The tv series should have been about 20 hours instead of 8. They left out so much of the character development and it just didn't compare to the book. They had to leave out different things on the tv series too that I thought needed to be in there.
Next book to read 'Salem's Lot.

[Jasonbobdude]

It takes a truly great writer to make a 1,100 page novel that people actually say is too short.

I read The Stand back in November/December last year, and I'm still just feeling blown away by it all. Truly thought-provoking novel, it makes you wonder how you would react and if this could actually happen. And then there was just the whole swine flu thing, I'm sure that whole episode had a special effect on those of us who read The Stand.

[nightbloomer]

That's so funny, I'm reading Salem's Lot next too!

I agree that the mini series was pretty Lame. I saw it when it first aired and I really regret it because those lousy actors (Molly Ringwald) kept popping into my head.

[vivazebool]

Hey,

I read The Stand straight through in about a month. What a wonderful month that was! Larry was actually the character who I identified with the most. It was sad to see him go. It sure is exciting to feel like you're in the story, and care about the characters so much because they feel so REAL, so THERE. You want to tell everyone about the adventure. IMO, Stephen King is not just a great horror writer, he's a great writer PERIOD, maybe the greater than anyone being published today.

If you'd like to know more about Randall Flagg, then read Eyes of The Dragon.
If you'd like to know how things turned out for him, then you'll need to read The Dark Tower series.

[Goodlovin]

It is always interesting reading peoples opinions on this book and their opinions on Larry.

To me (outside of the rock star thing) he is the character I most identify or did identify with when I first read the stand.

I cant imagine finding another character in another book I will ever enjoy more.

[Teddy Duchamp]

I read the Stand when it first came out and numerous times since!

Its funny the way we can disagree on the characters though - I loved Larry right from the start, he was such a flawed character, and the irritation he felt when his mother became ill - it was so typical of someone like him - he put himself first, then as the story grew, he became, for me anyway the main hero, more so even than Stuart, who had been a basically good guy all along.

And I think Ive said this on another thread, Frannie just annoyed the hell out of me! I know not a lot will agree with me I quite liked her at the beginning when the story kicked off - but I felt she could have handled the situation with Harold a lot better - and perhaps Harold wouldnt have made the choices he did - I think Harold was basically a good guy who made bad choices.

Frannie towards the end came across to me as a bit of a whinging harpy - I know it was human nature that she didnt want Stu to leave - but I started to dislike her a little towards the end of the story!

And something else that will make me sound horrible (lol).............I sort of resented her coming through it all relatively unscathed when the others had sacrificed so much............

[elysian]

Frannie towards the end came across to me as a bit of a whinging harpy - I know it was human nature that she didnt want Stu to leave - but I started to dislike her a little towards the end of the story!

And something else that will make me sound horrible (lol).............I sort of resented her coming through it all relatively unscathed when the others had sacrificed so much............

I agree with this 100%, glad it's not just me!
Part of it is just that Fran is a girl I can never see myself being friends with; you know, the whole 'miss perfect' thing. In high school, I'd have gotten along much better with Harold. And yes, I too always felt a little resentful towards her at the end.