The Stand

[benjj]

I'm reading this again (again, again, again) at the moment.

Each and every time I am blown over by the sheer size, complexity and brilliance of it. Despite the actual plot it is like being welcomed by an old friend or like arriving home to your own bed after an awful holiday.

I've been having a tough time of things recently and every page is like a balm. I genuinely feel better after each chapter.

Does anyone else have books like this? I'd also include all the Fleming novels, Banks' Culture novels and Lee Child's Reacher. Each is like a massage for the soul in a very different way.

M.O.O.N. that spells The Stand.

• fks arsonist with pistol butt *

[bearman68]

I'm fond of the Stand. Recently enjoyed again the Stephen Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series (6 meaty books that will keep you going for ages).

[waynedear]

Picked it up at a charity shop last week, many, many years since I last devoured it, time stood still for three days.

[Nom de ploom]

I read this as a teenager and really enjoyed it, the problem I have with King is often he takes soooooooo long to get to the point...

still agreat book though, I seem to recall the tv movie version of the book was risible?

[guru_1071]

i think its the best book he ever wrote, just nails every aspect of it, the way the characters are all built up etc is just great

[rumple]

Its one of the few books of Stephan King's I couldn't get on with, I will give it another go though, it will feel lightweight after his Dark tower series, everyone but me seems to like it so I must be missing something.

[Fubar1977]

Years since I read it but I seem to recall I really liked it up until the very end, where it kind of lost the plot a bit.
I need to give it another go.

For me it`s the Riverworld series by Phillip Jose Farmer, amazing read, I go back to every 4 or 5 years and read it again.

[NewNameNeeded]

My favourite book. I also really enjoyed Cell, which was in a similar vein albeit a bit more light weight.

[Up_North]

It was a great book - in many senses of the word.

I don'y know if any of you have seen Revolution on Sky, but it pays blatant homage to The Stand, in terms of plot and even character names. In fact the book itself had a cameo appearance in one library scene!

Ian

[Beati Dogu]

It's one of the few Steven King books I've read. I think I read the long version, but there is a shorter edition too.

Fubar1977 said:

For me it`s the Riverworld series by Phillip Jose Farmer, amazing read, I go back to every 4 or 5 years and read it again.

Yeah I read that and a couple of the follow on books too. A truly unique idea for a book that definitely deserves a thread of its own.

[ch108]

I'm only recently getting into Stephen king books. Currently halfway through this having never read it before. Quite impressed so far.

[Fubar1977]

Well, I'm about 150 pages into the unabridged version now and it's certainly sucking me in, glad I saw this thread it's reminded me to re read this book.

[Stevearmstrong]

Just finished it last week for the first time, very much enjoyed it and bought the blu ray of the Tv series, watched 2 of the 4 episode and its very good also.

[motorizer]

bearman68 said:

I'm fond of the Stand. Recently enjoyed again the Stephen Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series (6 meaty books that will keep you going for ages).

have you read Donaldson's gap series? that's one of my favourite epic series, and something I plan to revisit sometime.

The stand is one of the best King books I've read.

Edited by motorizer on Friday 19th July 19:25

[Dan_1981]

Its a bloody brilliant book.

Recently read a very very similar book called "The Passage" - i'd try it if you enjoyed The Stand.

I'm not one for re-reading books but there are a few that I will happy reread.

The Stand is one, the whole Sven Hassel series is another (trashy graphic WWII stories from a German Penal regiment) and the Cider House Rules is another one.

[jas xjr]

read it several times , I can do that as I have a very poor memory . it is rare that I find any of kings novels anything other than a good read .
having read IT , I dislike clowns to this day

[Up_North]

We all float down here jas....

[fausTVR]

I read a lot of King in my teens and twenties and the Stand ranks up there with The Talisman for me, a great adventure in both cases, really draws you inside. I have a poor memory too so rereads still reward as long as a timely gap is allowed.

Bits are coming back through the mists; the walking dude, stu redman, cibola cibola, Nadine. I thought the TV version was quite watchable.

[Hooli]

bearman68 said:

I'm fond of the Stand. Recently enjoyed again the Stephen Donaldson 'Thomas Covenant' series (6 meaty books that will keep you going for ages).

Those are excellent.

[Bigends]

Read it a couple of time now including the 'directors cut version' terrific book. Just ordered a copy for my ereader