Like Coming Home!

mstay said:

From the first time I read this story the characters became so real. The things they were going through and the things they had to do were so interesting. I was sucked into the story until it was over. Every time I re-read it I feel like I'm visiting with old friends.

The Stand is my favorite SK story. And I've read them all.

What do you think?

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Stu Redman is one of my all time book heroes, because he's not just noble--he's human, trying to do the best he can. He's not one to ever court power, so he's exactly the guy you want in charge. *sigh* I think I have a bit of a crush...

The Nameless said:

It's number 3 on my list, behind IT and 11/22/63. I was actually a bit apprehensive about reading this, I remember thinking "how much can you like a 'good vs evil showdown' story? But when I was in one of my Wasteland/Wizard & Glass "lows" I read the intro - the soldier fleeing frantically with his family, and thought "hang on a minute, that's a frenzied start to such a big book, maybe I am ready to read this after all". When I did read it, I was awe struck at the depth of the characters and the different situations they were all in. I loved reading about all of the characters (except 'The Kid', I found him and his bits too ridiculous), I even enjoyed reading about Frannie, although her character was whiney and annoying.

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Yup. IMHO, the original is a stronger book for his excision. He's not exactly boring, but when you can remove a whole character and make absolutely no difference to the story, it didn't need to be there.

Sigh...ok here's my problem with The Stand. Maybe someone can help me understand why I am having trouble with this. This is the 3rd time in my life that I have read it. And I have enjoyed it a lot overall every time, it's a very good book. There is so much I like about it. But...... For the first half of the book when the disease hits and wipes everyone out and the survivors are escaping their respective cities and towns, I am utterly enthralled. I eat up every word of it like it's nothing and have a fantastic time with it.

Then I get to the 2nd half of the book, and I find myself having to work hard to get through it. I just lose so much interest in the story once they get to the farm and then start heading West and I can't figure out why. It just doesn't seem to have the same intensity to it. Each time i have pushed myself and made it through but it isn't easy for me. I hate that this happens because I want to love it all the way through. I can't figure out why it doesn't hold my interest like the first half.

mstay said:

I don't know Sunlight Gardener . May be you just like the survival story better. The 2nd half is more of a society and how it works kind of story. I guess by the time I get to that part I just loved the characters so much that I wanted t know what was going to happen to them next.

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Yeah you are probably right. I can't say any of the characters grabbed me in particular, at least not like in many of SK's other stories. I didn't feel a particular kinship with any of them in particular. Not sure why.

mstay said:

From the first time I read this story the characters became so real. The things they were going through and the things they had to do were so interesting. I was sucked into the story until it was over. Every time I re-read it I feel like I'm visiting with old friends.

The Stand is my favorite SK story. And I've read them all.

What do you think?

Click to expand...

The Stand is the first Stephen King book I read. I was hooked from then on.