Reviews tagging 'Trafficking'

The Stand by Stephen King

8 reviews

joshkiba13's review against another edition

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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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dflemmons's review against another edition

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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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gagereadsstuff's review against another edition

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

2.5


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josiew's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

5.0


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lucyford's review against another edition

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dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Such a fun read even though it took me about 9 months to finish it. I really enjoyed every chapter and all the character dynamics as well as the whole downfall of society as glen explained it. Such great writing by Stephen King, I was very impressed and there was never a boring moment in the book.

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voicenextdoor's review against another edition

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

4.0


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yodamordecai's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

One of my top three Stephen King books. It did drag a bit(over 1000 pages) but I overall enjoyed it.

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dont_stop_meow's review against another edition

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

2.0

How has Stephen King not been cancelled? I don't agree with cancel culture, but in today's culture, how has  Stephen King not been called out for the sheer number of blatant n words he uses? I'm baffled that nobody has cried out for this book to be removed from shelves, not just for the use of racial slurs, but also of homophobic terminologies. 
This will be the last Stephen King book I'm tempted to read. He's gross and I'm done with him.

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