Reviews with content warning for Death - The Stand

The second I finished this book I breathed out a huge sigh. Not because it was necessarily bad but because after 1,100+ pages of death and destruction, it was finally over. The Stand is quite the choice to read during a pandemic and it’s surprising how many details King managed to grasp forty something years before the worlds most recent plague. Though COVID-19 and Captain Trips aren’t the same, many details were eerily familiar to read.

In the forward of my edition of this book, King discusses how there were about 400 pages added back to the text after edits cut them out initially. I think that’s where this book finds it’s largest area for criticism. The concepts, the characters, and the very well thought out world building in this story all lead to the expectation that this would be a wonderful read. I think my score would be different if King would have kept those edits.

Details like Frannie’s strawberry pie staining her countertop, the montage of Larry partying after releasing his music, etc could be shortened drastically. On the other side, when the groups get to Mother Abigail the first time, there are about a dozen characters that are very important to the plot who we meet the first time at that moment. The editing, or lack there of, in this story makes some elements drag on and on while others feel like they came out of nowhere.

I think King does a really good job having you cheer for the “good guys”. Flagg’s character is evil and unpleasant and charming enough to make a good villain. Some of the antagonists I feel had a lackluster end. Harold dying after giving his “I should have been a better person” moment seemed a little too better late than never for me. While I understand he was under Flagg’s influence, his character development seemed too off to me. The ending I’m most upset about, other than Nick, is Nadine. The second we meet Nadine there is foreshadowing to the fact that the dark man wants her. We know that from the very beginning. So WHY when he finally gets her and gets what he wants does he kill her in a fit of rage? I understand we’re supposed to see that Flagg is slipping in his ability to control things but after chapters and pages of build up all for her to jump off a roof right when he gets what he wants, it all seemed like a waste.

Mother Abigail’s character also seemed like a waste to me as well. She was so lovable and seemed like she would be the pillar of strength in this story only for her to leave halfway through and die a few chapters later. I didn’t understand that plot point at all.

The mission the four men go on is probably my favorite part of this book. I love the wording in “one will fall” leading the reader to believe that three will survive while one dies only for it to be the opposite. The ending with the bomb and Trashcan Man accidentally ending it all was unexpected and really clever. Tom and Stu’s adventure home is also a great point of the story and the ending is well written as well as the spooky references in the end that lead the reader to believe that darkness is never really gone.

Overall, I’m glad I read this though I doubt I’ll do it again. Once you hit the 3/4 point of this book it flies by. Unfortunately, the lead up to get there takes forever. There were points where I had to force myself to read one more chapter and that’s not a good feeling when reading is supposed to be a relaxing hobby. King, please listen to your editors.

Content Warnings

ripxw's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

lumpyspaceprincess's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

a_robin_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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? No

4.0

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Information:

Listened to the audiobook from Storytel

Buddy read with Dutch book club

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Review:

Very good book
Enjoyed the audiobook a lot

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Review previously placed on my blog:

I'm currently reading The stand by Stephen King. I'm listening to the audiobook for a buddy read with the Dutch book club I'm in.

It's okay so far. A lot of setting up. I do think the concept is interesting so far, so hope it will become more thrilling. I also hope I will connect with the characters soon.

It became more thrilling indeed! The characters were also good and I could connect with them. I think the story was very cool and very well set up. I loved the good and evil sides concept. I even think it wasn't too long. It was a bit slow sometimes, but those parts did a lot for character building or worldbuilding. I also think the villain in this is one of the best villains ever. I gave it 4 stars, because it wasn't perfect, but a good book nevertheless.

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Content Warnings

shutupiamreading's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

Content Warnings

yodamordecai's review

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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.

Content Warnings

dwellordream's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Content Warnings

nadia's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

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

4.5

What an epic book! And what a reading journey this was!

It took me just under two months to get though, weaving in other books.

The cast of characters was huge but King does a great job of helping you to stay on top of who’s who as you get deeper into the book.

So many interesting themes and questions are raised with this, and while the scope is large, it all fits! Family, death, violence, grief, survival, sociology, community, politics, law and order, religion, war, and more. It’s all in here.

It is all about a global pandemic, so if you’re feeling like it’s too close to home, then pass. I kept on thinking about it how terrifying the beginning segments would have been if I’d started reading it a year earlier.

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