Erin S. (nantuckerin) reviewed The Stand (The Complete and Uncut Edition) on + 158 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
If I were stranded on a deserted island, and could only have one book with me, this would probably be it. It's not the most intelligent answer, but it's true.
I've read The Stand from cover-to-cover probably 20 times in the past 15 or so years. I read it for the first time as a sophomore in high school, and still love it as much today as I did in the first reading. If anything, the story has grown as I have -- I relate more strongly to different characters now than I did then. I find different parts more horrifying now, and have a greater depth of understanding of the real terrors this book holds.
Fans of King have probably already read this book, possibly many times as I have. Fans of horror will appreciate the stark and believable nightmare King weaves in The Stand. But the truly horrifying part of the book -- the realistic and very possible biological disaster that signals the decline of society leading to "The Stand" is what gives me bad dreams. It's great stuff. I would recommend it to just about anyone that isn't afraid of the dark corners of what could be, and who is open to a horror story that is equal parts science and magic.
I've read The Stand from cover-to-cover probably 20 times in the past 15 or so years. I read it for the first time as a sophomore in high school, and still love it as much today as I did in the first reading. If anything, the story has grown as I have -- I relate more strongly to different characters now than I did then. I find different parts more horrifying now, and have a greater depth of understanding of the real terrors this book holds.
Fans of King have probably already read this book, possibly many times as I have. Fans of horror will appreciate the stark and believable nightmare King weaves in The Stand. But the truly horrifying part of the book -- the realistic and very possible biological disaster that signals the decline of society leading to "The Stand" is what gives me bad dreams. It's great stuff. I would recommend it to just about anyone that isn't afraid of the dark corners of what could be, and who is open to a horror story that is equal parts science and magic.
This has got to be the BEST King book ever written. Nothing he has written has even come close.
Fantastic book!
The ultimate good vs. evil. Or is it that mankind has to constantly create the battle of good vs. evil.
A MUST read!
Elizabeth K. (Queens529) reviewed The Stand (The Complete and Uncut Edition) on + 10 more book reviews
I absolutley love this book
Book is long, but very detailed. Well written, great story. These characters will stay with you for quite a while.
Absolutely the best book i have ever read. i was hooked until it was over, and when it was, it was like i lost a best friend, lol.
Lindsay R. (KoontzJunkie) -
My absolute favorite book, I highly recommend it. I'd post it on my bookshelf, if it didn't cost so much to send.
Ronnie G. (frenchgiant) reviewed The Stand (The Complete and Uncut Edition) on + 22 more book reviews
For years "The Stand" has mocked me, weighing down my bookshelves with its massive girth, visions of Gary Sinise, cornfields, and the Holland Tunnel littered with corpse filled cars dancing through my mind whenever I glanced upon its creased spine. I was a rather sheltered lad of 14 years old when the TV mini-series came out, and sadly other than a few commercials advertising the series, I never got around to watching it.
For years and years this book followed me around, from bookshelf to bookshelf, from apartment to apartment, from state to state, yearning to be cracked open and spew its plethora of dystopian fiction all over me. Finally, on a crisp October evening, around that one and only time of the year that I always get an itch to read a Stephen King novel, I dragged the book out of the grooves it had worn into the wooden bookshelf and began what would turn out to be a three month long odyssey into a world ravaged by a plague unlike any other the human race has ever encountered.
As the plague began terrorizing the planet, with early symptoms akin to that of the common cold, a funny thing started happening to me. I began noticing myself becoming alarmed when those around me began sneezing or sniffling. I'd catch myself in the act and think about how ridiculous it was for me to be having such reactions, but then I'd encounter another sneeze and react the same way. Can you imagine my reaction when I caught myself sneezing? You see, the beauty of "Captain Tripps", as the plague is referred to throughout the book, is just how frighteningly plausible the whole thing is, especially in the times we live in today.
Having only a vague knowledge of the The Stand's plot, I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the story focused on the plague's aftermath and the survivors' attempts to rebuild society in its wake. I've always been a fan of novels with expansive lists of characters and King did not disappoint me, as I was introduced to tons of characters, some good and some evil, all of whom are fighting to survive in a bleak new world.
Oddly enough I began reading this book at a time in my life when I found myself busier than ever, and as such it took me much longer to read than I would have liked. Because of this, I began to forget some of the details of less important plot lines, who some of the more minor characters were, etc. As you can imagine, this became somewhat of a problem as I had to piece through 1,100 + pages to find that one key detail that I'd forgotten. I can't blame King though for my apparent lack of cognitive skills. The Stand really is a damn good book and thankfully lived up to the lofty expectations that I had for it.
For years and years this book followed me around, from bookshelf to bookshelf, from apartment to apartment, from state to state, yearning to be cracked open and spew its plethora of dystopian fiction all over me. Finally, on a crisp October evening, around that one and only time of the year that I always get an itch to read a Stephen King novel, I dragged the book out of the grooves it had worn into the wooden bookshelf and began what would turn out to be a three month long odyssey into a world ravaged by a plague unlike any other the human race has ever encountered.
As the plague began terrorizing the planet, with early symptoms akin to that of the common cold, a funny thing started happening to me. I began noticing myself becoming alarmed when those around me began sneezing or sniffling. I'd catch myself in the act and think about how ridiculous it was for me to be having such reactions, but then I'd encounter another sneeze and react the same way. Can you imagine my reaction when I caught myself sneezing? You see, the beauty of "Captain Tripps", as the plague is referred to throughout the book, is just how frighteningly plausible the whole thing is, especially in the times we live in today.
Having only a vague knowledge of the The Stand's plot, I was pleasantly surprised by how much of the story focused on the plague's aftermath and the survivors' attempts to rebuild society in its wake. I've always been a fan of novels with expansive lists of characters and King did not disappoint me, as I was introduced to tons of characters, some good and some evil, all of whom are fighting to survive in a bleak new world.
Oddly enough I began reading this book at a time in my life when I found myself busier than ever, and as such it took me much longer to read than I would have liked. Because of this, I began to forget some of the details of less important plot lines, who some of the more minor characters were, etc. As you can imagine, this became somewhat of a problem as I had to piece through 1,100 + pages to find that one key detail that I'd forgotten. I can't blame King though for my apparent lack of cognitive skills. The Stand really is a damn good book and thankfully lived up to the lofty expectations that I had for it.
