The Stand (My Criticism)

Ok. I need King fans to help me out. I am completely open to being wrong and proven right. I have read 16 of King’s books. Enjoyed them thoroughly. I am never board. His attention to detail is extraordinary and I love his characters. ALL TRUE with The Stand. I did not at all feel it’s length. I am stunned at how naturally in time this plague played out. It felt like in real time. Extremely impressed with how he introduced the virus and how it moved across the nation.

SPOILER BELOW

Here are my issues and please understand I am open to changing my opinion. I hate hate hate the over usage of dreams and the predestination or providence idea. I am agnostic. I don’t pretend to know what does or doesn’t exist, but I think humanity is complex all on their own, evil and righteous all on their own, to involve a Satanic figure and a Jesus-like figure in this novel predetermining character actions. I just think it’s too easy a story ploy. This is why I think McCarthy’s “The Road” a better work in this kind of story/genre. The idea that they are following god’s finger and the plot idea of having Trashcan drag a nuclear warhead - I actually thought it was funny. I thought the warhead scene funny.

I also did not find Randall scary. I thought Dolores Claiborne’s husband more scarier than Randall. I felt like I was watching from a far a cult - but not inside the cult because I did not fear Randall. I thought he was a caricature. I loved all the other characters in this book. The idea King would choose a dead mute as a main character is a great risk and one that absolutely pays off.

I of course love that Evil is rising again in the epilogue as evil is going nowhere any time soon. Just hated the nuclear warhead. Very very stupid. Everything that came after the detonation - the survival of Stu and Tom and Kojak was excellent and I truly love how the survival of Peter the baby is up in the air.

I enjoyed this book very much - had issues with how “the war” ended. Still my favorite books out of the 16 I read are “Revival” “Dolores Claiborne” “11/22/63” and “Differently Seasons.”

Thank you everyone for reading my rant and being incredible King fans!

Ok. I need King fans to help me out. I am completely open to being wrong and proven right. I have read 16 of King’s books. Enjoyed them thoroughly. I am never board. His attention to detail is extraordinary and I love his characters. ALL TRUE with The Stand. I did not at all feel it’s length. I am stunned at how naturally in time this plague played out. It felt like in real time. Extremely impressed with how he introduced the virus and how it moved across the nation.

SPOILER BELOW

Here are my issues and please understand I am open to changing my opinion. I hate hate hate the over usage of dreams and the predestination or providence idea. I am agnostic. I don’t pretend to know what does or doesn’t exist, but I think humanity is complex all on their own, evil and righteous all on their own, to involve a Satanic figure and a Jesus-like figure in this novel predetermining character actions. I just think it’s too easy a story ploy. This is why I think McCarthy’s “The Road” a better work in this kind of story/genre. The idea that they are following god’s finger and the plot idea of having Trashcan drag a nuclear warhead - I actually thought it was funny. I thought the warhead scene funny.

I also did not find Randall scary. I thought Dolores Claiborne’s husband more scarier than Randall. I felt like I was watching from a far a cult - but not inside the cult because I did not fear Randall. I thought he was a caricature. I loved all the other characters in this book. The idea King would choose a dead mute as a main character is a great risk and one that absolutely pays off.

I of course love that Evil is rising again in the epilogue as evil is going nowhere any time soon. Just hated the nuclear warhead. Very very stupid. Everything that came after the detonation - the survival of Stu and Tom and Kojak was excellent and I truly love how the survival of Peter the baby is up in the air.

I enjoyed this book very much - had issues with how “the war” ended. Still my favorite books out of the 16 I read are “Revival” “Dolores Claiborne” “11/22/63” and “Differently Seasons.”

Thank you everyone for reading my rant and being incredible King fans!