Thursday, February 13, 2020

2 Bloggers 1 Book - The Stand (Brace Yourselves)

So, Stormi and I started this mammoth undertaking in November and I'm happy (so, so happy) to say that we finally finished.  So read on to see my final thoughts and then go look at Stormi's thoughts @ Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!

You can also see my thoughts on Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE (because we had to break it up).

TITLE: The Stand
AUTHOR: Stephen King
PUBLISHER: Anchor
PUBLISHING DATE: October 1978


FROM GOODREADS: This is the way the world ends: with a nanosecond of computer error in a Defense Department laboratory and a million casual contacts that form the links in a chain letter of death.

And here is the bleak new world of the day after: a world stripped of its institutions and emptied of 99 percent of its people. A world in which a handful of panicky survivors choose sides or are chosen. A world in which good rides on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abigail and the worst nightmares of evil are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.  

MY THOUGHTS:
So I think it's no secret that if I had to name just one favorite author, it would be King.  I love his books, both small ones and huge ones, and I thoroughly enjoy a good character driven story.  So chances were good I would fall in the with The Stand.  After all, it's King's epic, work defining novel right?  Well guess what, I was wrong.  Now before everyone who adores this book starts bashing me (well, you guys wouldn't really bash but you get my point), we read the uncut version and there's the possibility that I would have liked this novel better if we had went with the original, shorter one (and by shorter I still mean it's over 800 pages).  But, we'll never know because there's no way I'm EVER reading this book again.  And I might add that Stormi is more an action gal so I don't know how she managed to finish this either.

So in this section we get to see a lot of our survivors meet up with Mother Abigail and settle down in Boulder.  Lots of people are gathering in the area and we get a LONG, DETAILED look at what some of my favorite characters are doing.  And oh, by the way, the abandoned dog they left miles and miles ago?  Well, he was so smart and loyal he eventually showed up himself - and was almost killed in the process.  Smart doggy - bad people.

So while the "good guys" are in Boulder, Flagg  and his "bad guys" settle in Las Vegas.  I see  you King, your irony is not lost on me.  What stays in Vegas right?  Anyway, some of the people in Boulder are not happy and Flagg has gotten control of their minds and has convinced them to do some of his dirty work.  There is a huge clash coming down between the good and the bad and before it even happens, my favorite character dies! 

So some people die, the electric gets turned back on, Fran is still pregnant and I STILL hate Harold.  M-O-O-N, that spells hate. I like Tom 😁 Finally a select group of people head off to stop Flagg before he invades Boulder and ruins everything they worked for. 

And then....poof!  I know King has a reputation for having weak endings, and usually I can defend him somewhat (except for Under the Dome - I'll never defend that ending).  But this book had over , 1,153 pages.  We traveled and traveled and read and read and forgive me if I expected more of a showdown.

SPOILER ALERT (skip this if you haven't read this and plan on doing so).  Trashcan Man thinks he is doing Flagg a favor and ends up nuking everyone!  I cheered more when Nadine took a nosedive off the side of a building). SPOILER OVER

So basically I was let down.  I feel like Stormi and I read this book longer than the actual time span of the whole novel.  I need to pick up another King novel soon to fall in love with because this has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

RATING: 3 Paws - and let me tell you, it's probably closer to 2.5 but I rounded up because one, it's King and two, Kojak lived!


26 comments:

  1. Oh honey, oh no! I'm sorry this wasn't up to his usual standards for you. But I have to commend you and Stormin for getting through 1153 pages of a book you weren't enjoying as much as you thought you would.

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    1. Yes, I do feel like we've accomplished something by just getting it finished. And at least I'm not curious anymore.

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  2. I think the reissue of the longer edition was a mistake, because it didn't need the extra pages. Who knows, you may not have liked the shorter version any better! But congrats for finishing😁

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    1. I guess no matter which one I read, I'd always be left wondering about the other one.

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  3. i was braced. i already knew from stormi that this book was a problem for you guys. i read it a long time ago and can't remember what i thought about it.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I think it will be a long time before I forget this one - and not in a good way.

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  4. You ladies are AMBITIOUS! I've been meaning to reread this for two decades. Still hasn't happened.

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    1. Ummm...don't bother :) Just kidding. Well, maybe.

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  5. I'm glad I read the 'shorter' version of this one. :)

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    1. I think a lot of people have read that one. Wish I had.

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  6. I never read the book but I did watch the movie. Or was it movies? I think it was actually a tv series of several movies if I remember right but I did like it.

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    1. I think it was a mini-series...maybe twice. However, they are making it again so maybe the third time's a charm.

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  7. Yeah, I really don't know how I made it through this one either and I tell you if I knew the ending was going to be that non epic I would have let you persuade me to DNF...lol. :) At least we can say we read it. :)

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    1. I know, how often do I want to DNF and for once, you wouldn't let me :)

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  8. I have a couple of copies of this. Been a long time since I read it. I enjoyed the movie more.

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    1. I'd get rid of my copy if it wasn't for the fact that I collect all my King books.

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  9. I've never read this and I think I'll give it the swerve having now read your thoughts.
    Lynn :D

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    1. I hate to dissuade you but yea, skip it. Too many other books out there and better King books too. But skip Under the Dome as well.

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  10. When I read this, I loved the Captain Trips section of the book-an early interest in that apocalypse type of scenario. I loved characters like Stu, Tom and Nick, hated Trashcan Man, Harold and Nadine. I knew how you were going to react to that death! I agree that the ending was a bit weak after all the buildup drama!

    I loved the book when I read the full thing many years back and I did read it several times. It has been a long time since I looked at it so maybe I wouldn't love it as much if I read it now. My reading tastes have changed a lot and I might find it too slow. Maybe I'll get back to it at some point!

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    1. Who knows, it may still be a fave. I think some books we love are just best not reread. We should keep the original memories and feelings. I know a few if I reread now I'd think differently on. I honestly think Harold and Nadine were worse than Trashcan Man. At least he never pretended to be good.

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  11. Bummer that this was a bit of a miss for you! I haven't read this one yet. I may take it off my TBR. :)

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    1. Just be prepared for the long haul if you don't. I love King but I see why a lot of people think his endings are weak.

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  12. I'm so impressed that you both managed to make it through this one. xD I've enjoyed the few King books I've read, but his books are so long, and I wouldn't say I love his work, so it's hard for me to pick them up instead of, say, the other 10,000 things I still intend to read before I perish. Somehow.

    Booo that they abandoned the good pupper, though. The monsters. D: Ugh, though, that is the worst. I hate when you have so much time invested in a book and the ending is lackluster. Honestly, a horrible ending can kill an otherwise good book for me if i feel there was never any payoff.

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    1. At least the pup found his way back. He was smarted than most people in the book.

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  13. oh sorry to hear the Stand let you down. Especially because it's a mammoth read!

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    1. That's what hurts the most - so much time and unfulfilled!

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