Reason for Reading: I am (re)reading King's books in chronological
order. This was next on the list.
There are thousands of reviews of The Stand online already. I can
hardly assume to add any more insight to what has already been said
about the book so I won't try but rather instead give my
impressions. I've read The Stand before, the original version, back
when I was somewhere between 11 and 13. I know this as Cujo is the
first new book of his I waited to buy when it came out. Since I'd
read the original version, I chose to read the "uncut" version this
time around. With 30 years between reads I am not in a position to
compare the two as I only remember The Stand affecting me as a book
that has stood out as one of the best books I'd ever read my entire
life. It scared me and haunted me at the time.
The re-read has lost that affect on me. I didn't find it scary or
incredibly creepy but I've read so many apocalyptic books since
then that the novelty has worn off. I must remember though that
those other books are all looking back at The Stand as their model
and while some may get close, Justin Cronin's The Passage, none
ever exceed King's original epic apocalyptic novel. That said it
still is an incredibly well-written, compelling story that never
lags. It has a huge cast of characters and this is when I enjoy
King the most as he is a master at juggling a large ensemble and he
can develop even minor characters who only have a few chapters to a
point where you remember them long after the book. As a kid I
remembered Larry the most and it was his character I was looking
forward to meeting again but upon this second read as an adult
Larry didn't affect me the same way. This time I found myself
attached to Stu Redman much more. He is certainly the man I would
want to have around if I was in such a situation! In King's preface
he states that this is not his favourite novel but is widely
mentioned as his reader's favourite. (I wonder which *is* his
favourite). Not having read all his books I can't make that claim,
yet, but of the ones I have read it did stay with me the most.
After this re-read I can see why. It is not just a story but a
world that the reader slips into and loses themselves. The classic
struggle of good vs. evil keeps you on the edge of your seat and
though I mentioned I didn't find the book scary or creepy, it
certainly has many uncomfortable moments of gruesome and pure evil
that are not for the faint of heart. In the end the book is not
what I remembered it to be but it was a new experience with adult
eyes that I understood more deeply and it still has a hold over me.
I can truly see an apocalypse of this variety being a possible
reality. A story that will consume you for days and haunt you for
years.