The Most Terrifying Part... ***spoilers***

[Anduan Pirate Princess]

The scariest part for me was the whole first part of the book dealing with the spreading of Captain Tripps. SK brilliantly described it from the highest scientific level right down to the individual people passing it on to each other one by one. The fact that an epidemic like this could take the world down easily scares me to death. I literally had a panic attack over the Ebola outbreak last year!

The other part that will haunt me forever was how Lloyd forgot about his pet rabbit for two weeks. I hate it when harm befalls pets and animals in books and movies! And what a way for the poor thing to go. Even before I read The Stand I occasionally had nightmares about finding my own childhood pets (that had long since passed away in real life) still alive in the basement, but since I hadn't realized they were there, I hadn't fed then or given them water in months. So, of course reading that bit about Lloyd disturbed the hell out of me.

 

[Pucker]

The other part that will haunt me forever was how Lloyd forgot about his pet rabbit for two weeks. I hate it when harm befalls pets and animals in books and movies! And what a way for the poor thing to go.

You have some interesting takes on what happens in this story.

I suppose that's how you got to be a princess.

You've obviously put some thought into your analysis (not everyone does that), and we appreciate that.

I would ask you to consider this:

Spoiler

When things start falling apart in the west and even Flagg's most trusted lieutenants begin to question their own motives . . . Lloyd does not. Lloyd is not a good guy . . . I mean, he's not a good person. But when the opportunity to abandon Flagg presents itself Lloyd chooses to stay. Okay .. . yes . . . some of that is probably what Lloyd knows will happen to these people who think they can escape The Walking Dude's wrath (they can't), but it also has to do with Lloyd's understanding of what fidelity is. Flagg does not care about Lloyd (or anyone) any further than he can use them . . . but Lloyd has human failing. He chose Flagg because he was afraid and there really was no other choice . . . but when Lloyd ultimately had a choice to make . . . he chose to lie in the bed he had made.

Now that was a way for him to "stand," as well . . . or am I wrong?

Given the opportunity, I would buy Lloyd a beer.

Make of that what you will.

 

[Anduan Pirate Princess]

All that you say about Lloyd is very true, and interesting to consider. And there are some points when Lloyd is even sort of likable. And when that part about the pet rabbit comes up, he is reflecting on it while still stuck in his prison cell, as he is presumably going to die in the same way. He always felt remorse about it; he didn't mean to neglect his animal. He definitely has a lot of human failings, and we get insight into a few of them through this little vignette. And even feel a little empathy, possibly.

So I guess I meant that the rabbit's death itself was terrifying to me, removed from the context of the story.

 

[Pucker]

So I guess I meant that the rabbit's death itself was terrifying to me, removed from the context of the story.

Please pardon me for saying so, but you're not listening to yourself (or I am misreading you).

I would say, quite frankly, that the memory of the rabbit incident that Lloyd flashes on when he believes

Spoiler

not only that he is going to die, but to die slowly and horribly in that cell, informs much of what he chooses later, as regards Flagg (and what Lloyd has done with his life, and comes to believe he "deserves"

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it appears to me that Mr. King has done exactly what he ( I can only assume ) sets out to do . . .

He has shown what he wanted you to learn, without you realizing that you were learning it.

Is there some other job a writer is supposed to do . . . or am I the one who doesn't get it?

 

[Neesy]

Please pardon me for saying so, but you're not listening to yourself (or I am misreading you).

I would say, quite frankly, that the memory of the rabbit incident that Lloyd flashes on when he believes

Spoiler

not only that he is going to die, but to die slowly and horribly in that cell, informs much of what he chooses later, as regards Flagg (and what Lloyd has done with his life, and comes to believe he "deserves"

Please don't take this the wrong way, but it appears to me that Mr. King has done exactly what he ( I can only assume ) sets out to do . . .

He has shown what he wanted you to learn, without you realizing that you were learning it.

Is there some other job a writer is supposed to do . . . or am I the one who doesn't get it?

I think Lloyd had some kind of learning disability or had been abused as a child, so perhaps was not "Firing on all cylinders" - yes he is evil, but he is also weak.

As far as Mr. King showing us what he wants us to learn? - Dude - it's a story! (and a very good one at that) - let's not over-analyze it to death.

When he adds in scenes of animals being neglected or hurt, that is pretty scary, but it does happen in real life.

So I guess I meant that the rabbit's death itself was terrifying to me, removed from the context of the story.

I wasn't terrified I just felt so bad the rabbit had to starve slowly to death.

By the way, sorry to butt in here!~

I have the day off today - too much time on my hands!

 

[Pucker]

I think Lloyd had some kind of learning disability or had been abused as a child, so perhaps was not "Firing on all cylinders" - yes he is evil, but he is also weak.

I would submit that everyone -- everyone -- in the story is "weak" in some way.

Again (and only as I see it), that is what the story is about.

 

[Neesy]

I would submit that everyone -- everyone -- in the story is "weak" in some way.

Again (and only as I see it), that is what the story is about.

Even the old lady? Yeah I guess so - she goes out into the desert like Jesus to fight her own "demons"

 

[Pucker]

Even the old lady? Yeah I guess so - she goes out into the desert like Jesus to fight her own "demons"

I believe the description was "sinned in pride."

Others may know more

 

[Neesy]

I believe the description was "sinned in pride."

Others may know more

It has been a while since I read The Stand - I read the original one way back when and then in the last 2 years I read the unabridged copy.

Mother Abigail- that's it!

This is a book I could read again, but right now up next is "Finder's Keepers"

 

[Pucker]

It has been a while since I read The Stand - I read the original one way back when and then in the last 2 years I read the unabridged copy.

Mother Abigail- that's it!

This is a book I could read again, but right now up next is "Finder's Keepers"

If I only had one problem in my life -- faint hope -- it should be that I can't decide which book to read.

 

[summer_sky]

...--I don't really find THE STAND to be scary so much as sobering and thought provoking, though. For scary, I look elsewhere

I agree with SkiMom.
Although, it is pretty scary how arrogant, trivial and petty humans can be...

 

[Pucker]

I don't really find THE STAND to be scary so much as sobering and thought provoking, though. For scary, I look elsewhere

You're braver than I am, ski . . . and I do not say that lightly.

What the people in this story do when they think they must "recreate" society scares the . . . umm .. .

**expletive deleted** out of me.

It's probably because I read more into what we never learn about most of those who choose not to listen to what Frannie calls Mother Abigail's "killer god," but it's also because of what those who so laughably call their new home the Free Zone . . . while they're contriving politically behind the backs of those who trust them.

 

[Moderator]

New boss same as the old boss...

 

[Pucker]

New boss same as the old boss...

And Boom! goes the dynamite!

 

[Pucker]

I'll say this again.

In fact, I'm likely to keep saying it . . .

The genius (literal, in this case) of the storyteller is not in the telling of the story he brings . . . it is in the story we tell ourselves, when he stops telling.

 

[skimom2]

I agree with SkiMom.
Although, it is pretty scary how arrogant, trivial and petty humans can be...

Nature of the human beast. That's actually one of the reasons my admiration for Mr. King's writing is boundless: he can see our lazy, self-centered nature for what it is, yet still insist that is not ALL we are or can be.

 

[Pucker]

New boss same as the old boss...

This isn't just something we notice, or is it?

It seems to me that I read somewhere that this idea -- at least peripherally -- was an acknowledged theme that Mr. King addressed in some or other discussion of this fine work.

As a reader, I like to interpret whatever I feel I can whenever I feel I can . . . but that doesn't give me license to think whatever I want (not realistically, in any case).

I said in a previous post that everyone in this story is "weak" to a certain extent, and I think that's true. But I don't want to simply extrapolate from there as if that means that all of my interpretations are correct. It seems to me that this idea of the new boss being the same as the old boss -- while obviously a theme of this particular work -- has also been expressed directly in some form . . . foreword . . . epilogue . . . introduction.

Has he ever actually said it, or am I misremembering?

 

[summer_sky]

New boss same as the old boss...

This isn't just something we notice, or is it?

It seems to me that I read somewhere that this idea -- at least peripherally -- was an acknowledged theme that Mr. King addressed in some or other discussion of this fine work.

As a reader, I like to interpret whatever I feel I can whenever I feel I can . . . but that doesn't give me license to think whatever I want (not realistically, in any case).

I said in a previous post that everyone in this story is "weak" to a certain extent, and I think that's true. But I don't want to simply extrapolate from there as if that means that all of my interpretations are correct. It seems to me that this idea of the new boss being the same as the old boss -- while obviously a theme of this particular work -- has also been expressed directly in some form . . . foreword . . . epilogue . . . introduction.

Has he ever actually said it, or am I misremembering?

Nope, I do not think you are mis-remembering, Pucker. I seem to vaguely remember reading this expressed in some form by Mr. King. And, I seem to remember this expressed by more than simply a legal-esque acknowledgement to a rock song by The Who.
I'm thinking a chapter introduction/title or similar.

Btw, I followed your interpretation of interpreting yourself. And, good on you for not wanting to extrapolate that you always correctly interpret ideas... and even yourself.
We all, being human, are weak, one way or another, from time to time, on many levels all things being equal. Or, even unequal.

Mr. King is really accomplished at identifying the human condition and presenting it to us on terms that we can recognize even if we cannot always interpret correctly.

 

[Pucker]

Nope, I do not think you are mis-remembering, Pucker. I seem to vaguely remember reading this expressed in some form by Mr. King. And, I seem to remember this expressed by more than simply a legal-esque acknowledgement to a rock song by The Who.
I'm thinking a chapter introduction/title or similar.

Btw, I followed your interpretation of interpreting yourself. And, good on you for not wanting to extrapolate that you always correctly interpret ideas... and even yourself.
We all, being human, are weak, one way or another, from time to time, on many levels all things being equal. Or, even unequal.

Mr. King is really accomplished at identifying the human condition and presenting it to us on terms that we can recognize even if we cannot always interpret correctly.

The "like" button is cool, as far as it goes.

Prolly there should be a "Thank You" button.

Or is that just me?

 

[summer_sky]

You are welcome, Pucker.
And, it ain't just you.
I'm kinda over all the modern day "buttons"... as though there aren't enough things in life that push our buttons.
I am a longtime (as far as internet history is concerned) liker of emoticons, though.