Scan barcode
bolbisaur008's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.75
Let me start by saying, this book is LONG, especially if you read the extended and uncut edition (which I recommend btw), but it is worth reading every page. It's truly an epic in a genre I would describe as post apocalyptic urban fantasy. It has everything, comedy, horror, romance, magic, government conspiracies, you name it.
Even tho I would say this book is plot driven, it's the amazing cast of characters (and there are A LOT) that drives it a long. I highly recommend listening to the audio book, as the way the reader gives each character their own voice and personality really helps to keep all the sub-plots straight.
All in all, The Stand is incredible. It feels like 3 full length novels smashed into one, but you won't regret reading it.
Even tho I would say this book is plot driven, it's the amazing cast of characters (and there are A LOT) that drives it a long. I highly recommend listening to the audio book, as the way the reader gives each character their own voice and personality really helps to keep all the sub-plots straight.
All in all, The Stand is incredible. It feels like 3 full length novels smashed into one, but you won't regret reading it.
shirin_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
nemurin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mchelly114's review against another edition
4.0
4.5? - interesting read and captivating in the beginning. Some very memorable characters. Decent amount of character development. Don’t know how I feel about the god vs devil and supernatural elements and ending was a bit sudden.
garrett_schaffs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
apothecaryalyth's review against another edition
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
4.75
treyladd's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
coleridgegirl's review against another edition
3.0
This is really a 2.5 for me. I didn’t like it very much at all. That said, it’s technically sound and although it’s absurdly long, there are only a few things that feel unnecessary (in particular, maybe we didn’t need 200 pages of town meetings?!).
I unfortunately disliked everyone except Glen. And the dog. And the excessive racism, misogyny, ableism, etc. was A LOT. I think that’s more of a product of its time and, to some degree, I just missed the boat on this. I’ve also read things like The Walking Dead that, for me, are more enjoyable versions (accepting that this was groundbreaking and set the stage for those).
The worst part, however, is how boring the villain is. I’m not disappointed that he’s pure evil. I think that can work. But he’s supposed to be this primordial, eldritch evil that is so terrifying. And yet he basically doesn’t do anything. We hear how much people are afraid of him and he grins, forces a woman to marry him, and threatens a lot. But he doesn’t DO much of anything. And for the master of horror, I feel like I should have gotten more HORROR from this villain. Not just a fairly generic “bad guy.” He’s less creepy than Ed Harris in Westworld, and that’s basically what I pictured. I needed more for 1200 pages of the cosmic battle between good and evil when basically good is some people having a meeting and evil is a guy in a boardroom in Vegas.
The best parts were the early parts as the virus took over. Especially reading about NYC following the virus now that we’ve survived COVID. I think the best part of the book was Starkey’s chapter in the cafeteria.
I unfortunately disliked everyone except Glen. And the dog. And the excessive racism, misogyny, ableism, etc. was A LOT. I think that’s more of a product of its time and, to some degree, I just missed the boat on this. I’ve also read things like The Walking Dead that, for me, are more enjoyable versions (accepting that this was groundbreaking and set the stage for those).
The worst part, however, is how boring the villain is. I’m not disappointed that he’s pure evil. I think that can work. But he’s supposed to be this primordial, eldritch evil that is so terrifying. And yet he basically doesn’t do anything. We hear how much people are afraid of him and he grins, forces a woman to marry him, and threatens a lot. But he doesn’t DO much of anything. And for the master of horror, I feel like I should have gotten more HORROR from this villain. Not just a fairly generic “bad guy.” He’s less creepy than Ed Harris in Westworld, and that’s basically what I pictured. I needed more for 1200 pages of the cosmic battle between good and evil when basically good is some people having a meeting and evil is a guy in a boardroom in Vegas.
The best parts were the early parts as the virus took over. Especially reading about NYC following the virus now that we’ve survived COVID. I think the best part of the book was Starkey’s chapter in the cafeteria.
mcrammal's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
I loved this book so much. When I wasn’t actively reading it, I was thinking about it. It was so easy to get completely lost in the world King created. This is a book I will definitely read again and again.
yianni27's review against another edition
3.0
Well written and holds the attention, but certain choices in book 2 took away significantly from the character development. A short time skip has us look away from the characters and then look back with them behaving differently. The changes were telegraphed and predictable, but something is lost in not being able to witness the changes as they come, especially as pertains to Larry.
Also, very similar themes to the dark tower series in that everything is driven by unseen forces which the characters have little control over, in this case God vs ka in the dark tower. This was more interesting in the DT series because it was a known force which characters understood and worked within and around, clearly exerting influence over their surroundings. In The Stand character essentially submit to these forces, painting a picture of a supernaturally driven country populated by bystanders without agency.
Also, very similar themes to the dark tower series in that everything is driven by unseen forces which the characters have little control over, in this case God vs ka in the dark tower. This was more interesting in the DT series because it was a known force which characters understood and worked within and around, clearly exerting influence over their surroundings. In The Stand character essentially submit to these forces, painting a picture of a supernaturally driven country populated by bystanders without agency.