Group Discussion III: The Stand (40th Anniversary)

[Doc Creed]

In many ways, Boulder was a bastion of heroicism and American spirit. Stu, Ralph, Glen, and Larry were heroes. The Judge and Dayna, too. So many went West and were willing to lay down their lives. Tom helped Stu make it home (with some help from Nick, who himself sacrificed himself for the group). The closet bomb was a foreshadowing of the bomb in Las Vegas, I think. Over all, it's an optimistic book.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

Rabbits seem to be a bit of a theme. One big part of Lloyd’s character was his regret over forgetting to feed his childhood pet and leaving it to die trying to chew it’s way out, it really humanized him and it came back to haunt him. And I remember Stu thought of his situation in the hospital like that of going “tharn” in Richard Addam’s iconic rabbit novel, Watership Down. Not to mention rabbits are used for medical and scientific testings, and Stu among others were test subjects for the disease at the hospital place. Also you could describe the characters in the stand as going “down the rabbit hole”. I don’t think rabbits were really supposed to be an important theme, just something I noticed.

Excellent point! I hadn't made the connection with rabbits.

 

[Doc Creed]

His last appearance is at the May Day celebration with Tom, right? He seems like a happy, healthy kid again although, I imagine losing Larry must have been tough.

That's right. The town was growing in population and there were more children arriving.

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

I still never got the whole “hand of god” thing, maybe the characters were dilusional and something else set the bomb off. I originally interpreted it as some side effect to whatever Randall did to the cook guy (I forget his name). But since The Stand is for all interpretations a modern adaptation of The Holy Bible, a part of me thinks it was literally God reaching down to set the bomb head off.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

In many ways, Boulder was a bastion of heroicism and American spirit. Stu, Ralph, Glen, and Larry were heroes. The Judge and Dayna, too. So many went West and were willing to lay down their lives. Tom helped Stu make it home (with some help from Nick, who himself sacrificed himself for the group). The closet bomb was a foreshadowing of the bomb in Las Vegas, I think. Over all, it's an optimistic book.

Interesting. I didn't see it as optimistic. I actually saw it as ambivalent. Between the Free Zone moving toward a more militaristic presence, Fran's uncertainty about whether people ever learn, and Flagg's narrative getting the final say, humanity seems bound to keep messing up. Although, I do agree there is something to be said of the human spirit, resilience, endurance.

 

[Coolallosaurus]

Interesting. I didn't see it as optimistic. I actually saw it as ambivalent. Between the Free Zone moving toward a more militaristic presence, Fran's uncertainty about whether people ever learn, and Flagg's narrative getting the final say, humanity seems bound to keep messing up. Although, I do agree there is something to be said of the human spirit, resilience, endurance.

I imagine, though, as with a lot of texts, interpretation is variable based on the reader and their environment/life experiences at the time of reading. I've been surprised by how my interpretations change with each new read of the same text.

 

[Doc Creed]

Does anyon

Interesting. I didn't see it as optimistic. I actually saw it as ambivalent. Between the Free Zone moving toward a more militaristic presence, Fran's uncertainty about whether people ever learn, and Flagg's narrative getting the final say, humanity seems bound to keep messing up. Although, I do agree there is something to be said of the human spirit, resilience, endurance.

That's all true. Idk, even with Flagg being the last character we see, I felt a rousing sense of optimistism (a fresh new world, and the Free Zone victorious more or less), even though the reader knows it's only a matter of time before "things fall apart" again, as Creighton said in Book One.

 

[Doc Creed]

I've been surprised by how my interpretations change with each new read of the same text.

So true. It's amazing how many different ideas and emotions we bring to a book each time we reread it. The book seems to change because we have changed.

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

The whole chapter regarding the random survivors dying from their “jet lag” from modern American life is very cruelly humorous. In a way it’s a realistic outcome to people being thrust away from the comforts of modern life, how some attempt to make a move, and some try to prolong their comforts like the woman who was paranoid of rape.

There’s also a tad bit of irony involving some of the deaths, for example what is probably the cruelest one, the little boy. He attempts to find a new source of food now that giant house has run out of its finite supply, but ends up getting stuck in the pit, the point of irony is that he went to find more food, but it caused him to be in a situation where he couldn’t eat at all.

Another being how the woman who accidentally traps herself in the walk-in freezer trying to rid herself of the bodies of her husband and child. From what I remember she viewed it as some form of freedom from what was her modern life, but ended up getting herself in an area where she had no other option but to die right beside her husband and child.

 

[Doc Creed]

A huge thank you is in order for king family fan. She provided the prizes for tonight's drawing. I have just pulled out a name: Tery. Congrats, Tery! I will PM you soon. Thank you, Linda!

 

[Coolallosaurus]

It's almost past my bed time here, so I'll be signing off. Thanks so much for hosting this, Doc Creed! It's been an amazing trip: great discussion and new takeaways!
Lots to think about when I get to teach the novel later in the semester. If anyone has any really fabulous The Stand resources, or any thoughts/recommendations for teaching it, feel free to send me a direct message.

 

[Doc Creed]

The whole chapter regarding the random survivors dying from their “jet lag” from modern American life is very cruelly humorous. In a way it’s a realistic outcome to people being thrust away from the comforts of modern life, how some attempt to make a move, and some try to prolong their comforts like the woman who was paranoid of rape.

There’s also a tad bit of irony involving some of the deaths, for example what is probably the cruelest one, the little boy. He attempts to find a new source of food now that giant house has run out of its finite supply, but ends up getting stuck in the pit, the point of irony is that he went to find more food, but it caused him to be in a situation where he couldn’t eat at all.

Another being how the woman who accidentally traps herself in the walk-in freezer trying to rid herself of the bodies of her husband and child. From what I remember she viewed it as some form of freedom from what was her modern life, but ended up getting herself in an area where she had no other option but to die right beside her husband and child.

Yep, I remember these. Thanks for sharing them. King's brilliance on display.

 

[Doc Creed]

It's almost past my bed time here, so I'll be signing off. Thanks so much for hosting this, Doc Creed! It's been an amazing trip: great discussion and new takeaways!
Lots to think about when I get to teach the novel later in the semester. If anyone has any really fabulous The Stand resources, or any thoughts/recommendations for teaching it, feel free to send me a direct message.

My pleasure. You all made it happen.
Will do. I appreciate you participating and adding to the discussion. Later.

 

[Spideyman]

So true. It's amazing how many different ideas and emotions we bring to a book each time we reread it. The book seems to change because we have changed.

Absolutely--- as our lives change, as we grow, as the world changes-- re reads take on new outlooks. I found that especially true with Lisey's Story.

Nee to bow out of the discussion for the evening. Will ck back to read future posts .
Thank you Doc Creed for leading us through this adventure. It was both fun and educational.

 

[king family fan]

A huge thank you is in order for king family fan. She provided the prizes for tonight's drawing. I have just pulled out a name: Tery. Congrats, Tery! I will PM you soon. Thank you, Linda!

You are more than welcome my friend. you have done a great job with hosting this thread for all to enjoy.

 

[Doc Creed]

Thanks again to everyone who took part in any of these discussions. The Stand was an important book of the 20th century and it was fun taking the long journey again for the 40th anniversary. Have a great night!

 

[Doc Creed]

I still never got the whole “hand of god” thing, maybe the characters were dilusional and something else set the bomb off. I originally interpreted it as some side effect to whatever Randall did to the cook guy (I forget his name). But since The Stand is for all interpretations a modern adaptation of The Holy Bible, a part of me thinks it was literally God reaching down to set the bomb head off.

I agree. Not sure. I don't even think the words "hand of God" are used. I wondered about this for a long time last night.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I am quite impressed by the various and sundry takes that everyone has offered up....they are quite scholarly....The Stand, holds a special place in my heart as it ushered me across the threshold of King’s world....as far as the final chapters?....I grew weary of the religious woo woo.....though I got a kick out of the Las Vegas “show” put on by the “hand of God”....Wayne Newton’s got nothing for that....my favorite portions were Tom’s lonesome slog and the chilling “rebirth” of old RF.....

 

[Doc Creed]

I'm wrong. Here it is: "'Larry! Larry! The Hand of God!' Ralph's face was transported in a terrible joy."

But, to build on Panda's point, it is a phrase Ralph uses (and from his perspective) so I'm not sure it should be taken literally.

 

[Wayoftheredpanda]

I'm wrong. Here it is: "'Larry! Larry! The Hand of God!' Ralph's face was transported in a terrible joy."

But, to build on Panda's point, it is a phrase Ralph uses (and from his perspective) so I'm not sure it should be taken literally.

Yeah, like I said, delusion. It had to be something that set it off though.