Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Stand by Stephen King

80 reviews

joshkiba13's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Sheeeeesh. 1,153 pages, 78 chapters, and roughly 40 hours spent reading this behemoth of a novel. I think the most accurate description of King as a writer (of novels at least) is slow burn. I have yet to read a book by him that is action-packed, and that's totally fine. He is able to set a fuse burning, a proverbial time-bomb ticking that figuratively (or literally 👀) goes off with a bang---eventually. 

People often say that King is a great character writer, and that rings true here. I don't know that I've read a book with so many main characters and perspectives, but I was never really confused. Larry, Frannie, Lloyd, Stu, Tom, Nick, Harold, Nadine, etc. were all so distinct and unique from each other, it was relatively simple to follow their stories and intentions, and to become invested in their doings. 

I loooooved the premise and rising action of the story. Spoiler-free: A new superflu ravages society and kills nearly everyone in its path. Some people mysteriously survive without symptoms, and despite being separated by hundreds or thousands of miles, these characters all begin to have the same dreams and nightmares, pulling them to one place or the other. It was so intriguing and satisfying to watch them begin to move and meet.

King builds a lot of dramatic irony for the readers, since we know the doings of certain characters that other characters do not. At one time I had to put the book down and take a break because I was so anxious. 

I'll say that the third act became a little dry and anti-climactic in a way, but not overall disappointing. Just maybe not what I expected. And the dark man wasn't quite as scary or powerful as he was built up to be in the rising action, but I am looking forward to seeing more of him in other King books :)

A pretty amazing story with great characters. M-O-O-N, that spells a pretty great book but not his best by any means.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Rape and Body horror

Minor: Trafficking and Suicide

nicilaui's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This book was an incredible journey and accompanied me for a whole month of my life. That's why I feel very close to the characters and will surely miss them. King can write fluently and interestingly, which is why I was able to get through this mountain of pages easily. This crusher should have been read during Corona, but even so, I was able to draw very creepy parallels to the past pandemic. The basic structure of the work was really great, but I couldn't get stuck inside the story. The narration is extremely biblical, but then again ‘cool’ and typically ‘American’. The story built up naturally one after the other, but a lot of tension was lost for me. I could guess the ending very early on in almost exactly the same way as it happened, which I found very sobering. All in all, I'm not mad about reading this book, I really enjoyed it, but it didn't grab me in any way like other books have done in my life. In the end, a lot happened, but in a way nothing happened at all (maybe that's the point). 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, War, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Death, Gaslighting, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Abandonment, Grief, Medical trauma, and Slavery

roisin_marie's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, Suicide, Animal death, Bullying, and Mental illness

So you need to know about the dog? Kojak, the dog, is left behind because they leave on motorbikes. By himself. I know. He isn't mentioned again he just shows up asleep on a porch later. We learn he'd travelled, on foot, alone, for miles and miles to get back to Glen. He took on a pack of evil wolves and won. He is a hero and goes on to the stand. Stephen king kindly let's us know when kojak comes back that he survives to be 16 and goes on to be a doggy daddy. So you're able to relax then

scipio_africanus's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Damn good story. My first time reading Stephen King, and he didnt disappoint. From the synopsis I went in expecting it to be overly sentimental, corny, cartoonish, or just plain weak the way The Postman ended up being but was pleasantly surprised with the direction King took the story and the characters. I see why King is so successful. Great writing and a great time. Will def be exploring him more.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Suicide, Death of parent, Grief, and Murder

huffkjames's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence

dflemmons's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Rape, Sexual content, Trafficking, Death, Child death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Cannibalism, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Murder, Pregnancy, Gore, Body horror, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Fatphobia

catherineelms's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, and Rape

glysing's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.5

Worst book I have ever read. Very good proof of why men are unable to write women’s perspectives. And also a school book example of a book where every single woman character is a sexobject or a mother. Over all a confusing storyline that feels like a series who got to seasons enough. Do not recommend to anyone ever. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Murder, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, and Terminal illness

beatle426's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Death, Medical content, Grief, Violence, Sexual content, Pandemic/Epidemic, Addiction, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, War, Murder, Suicide, Torture, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Gore, and Child death

lo_vana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Rape