Stephen King's The Stand Book Review

My review of the epic novel, The Stand, by Stephen King.

[@edonis2787]

M-O-O-N that spells spoilers, laws yes! Everybody knows that.

[@Hart8]

edonis2787 That comment made my day.

[@Pepatzzo]

Have been laughing for 10 minutes with this comment. Thank you!

[@DeandreKey]

Thank you for this 💀💀

[@fredmej1307]

Hahahhaha

[@christopherrichardson2945]

How most authors would write a paragraph on the sun setting, King writes 2-3 pages on a backstory as simple as falling off a bike while swerving to avoid a skunk

[@bassJW]

Dude, I gotta disagree with you. The middle part is the best. King really demonstrates his knowledge of the human condition. I personally didn't like the ending.

[@MrRay3801]

bassgrease I totally agree....I loved the middle of the book. Once the action moved to Vegas it just felt cheesy

[@MrSkinnyWhale]

Just finished the book and wasn't too sure about the ending either, glad I'm not alone. I think my overall enjoyment of the book is fuelled by how much I enjoyed the middle.

[@xAntoIRL]

Just finished it too , ended was like weird like I feel like it wasnt what I was in for when I picked up the book idk if you guys get what I mean but yh . Ps what is that last bit about where like I guess flagg is talking to some tribal people? idk ...

[@ethandale4490]

i agree with you, the first part is pretty slow when the people are dealing with captain trips the second part is awesome and i couldn't stop reading it and the third is pretty good as well

[@Jzs20]

How would you have wanted it to end ? just curious.

[@jackkilman8726]

Personally, I have never taken the "hand of God" part literally. I've always thought that was just how it appeared to Ralph and Larry in their final vision before dying. I've always taken the ending as Flagg being defeated by his own carelessness, since it was his own electricity ball that set off the bomb. The "hand of God" was a sign to Ralph and Larry that Mother Abigail's God had been with them all along and that their sacrifice was not in vain.

[@Atti19216]

I agree

[@AmityvilleFan]

Without taking it literaly, the novel makes no sense.

[@ladynottingham89]

I am currently on page 830. Honestly, given the current political climate of hate towards "the system" and constant whining about everyone being a victim, I found it refreshing to and interesting to read in a book about how hard it is to run a society and the moral dilemmas people in power have to struggle with to make things work smoothly for everyone. The characters had to make hard choices, especially when they had to choose the spies to send to Vegas (sorry for the spoilers). I find the book to be paced perfectly. We'll see about the ending. People say this one is a huge deus ex machina.

[@OrlandoOrtiz570]

Well, what did you think?

[@dustinneely]

​@@OrlandoOrtiz570 this book is an overrated piece of 💩.

[@hippie_preppy_jock]

I'm not saying the amazing imagery of book sticks with you... but it's crossed my mind every time I've sneezed for the last 25 years.

[@luvmenow33]

Frannie and the coat hanger. Chilling

[@JackieSimpson-ex2oi]

@@luvmenow33 Even more so in 2023. The world gets scarier by the week.

[@simpl3simon806]

I read THE STAND in 1991 and i was reading events that were accuring in the book on the actual dates in real life and time amazing occidental event

[@atilagornrocks]

I just finished this yesterday, great book, my favorite character was Nick. Great review !

[@ZakSalter]

So far nick is my fav as we'll...

[@theivory1]

It is a great book. I like Nick, but somehow I really identify with Underwood.

[@martinarreola64]

Rubén Ramírez he was the deaf mute right?

[@christopherrichardson2945]

Randall Flagg nick is deaf/mute, yes

[@xAntoIRL]

Nick and larry for me

[@samharness24271]

I really tried to like the stand. I read the dark tower series and loved it. I was excited to get started on the stand to get more Randall Flagg. I feel like he was a minor character in the stand. The middle of the book was painful to get through.

[@HeatherL42]

The Stand is a book I have read 4 times. The universe of this book is so intense and has so many layers. I love the review

[@johnreece5540]

The Miniseries is awesome. However, there is some essential exceptions in the concept and characterization of four major characters. Those essential main characters are Frannie, Harold, Llyod and Trashcan Man.

[@duh1534]

great review, one of my favorite books of all time.

[@gretapropper9271]

Thank you so much for reviewing this! I had to do an assignment for an English class with this book and the way you summarized it made it a tad easier to comprehend with there being so many storylines in the book keep up on the reviews!

[@nycbutterfly52]

Years ago I read the 1978 version and the uncut version side by side. The unabridged version is definitely a more satisfying read! It was interesting to see each chapter side-by-side. I personally don't think King's work overall, or The Stand in particular, is too wordy. I even wish there was MORE!!!

[@ctwwtc8761]

The last few lines of the book with Flagg remind me of Roland's end at the Tower

[@jeff5624]

Just finished “The Stand”. 01/09/22 - 02/19/22 Love the SK reviews.

[@pritch533]

I really enjoyed this, this was my first book back into reading just after American Psycho. My only gripe was when they're settled in the town... it really dragged. Also Franny is the MOST annoying character and every time she was back in I just wanted her to go. I loved the couch falling on her after the explosion. Then ending was good, but Stu and Tom making the trip back dragged a little too much for me. Overall Fran was my most hated character.

[@cinemaster9012]

Spoilers: I read the complete and uncut version. Finished a few days ago. And even though I like the ending after having thought about it, I was initially disappointed. When Flagg escaped the A-bomb, I had thought that was the reason why Stu Redman was saved, to have a final duel with Flagg, but alas that was not the case. I know now that it is a flaw in my reading perspective, as I had a similar experience with the Shining. I found myself in both perusals expecting some else to happen after their respective climaxes and they were over before I realized it. Aside from that, I really enjoyed the reveal when Flagg is Legion. I only hoped that Underwood would have said goodbye to Joe or that he would start worrying about Nadine, especially after seeing Harold’s body, and I thought Flagg would tell him about her suicide to provoke him into to doing something impulsive. But like I said, upon reflection you really start to appreciate the ending. "Did they learn anything?” "I don’t know.” "I don’t know.”

[@CalBain]

A duel between them would have been awesome

[@joranasher550]

Hey, I'm a new viewer, I have been watching your reviews for Stephen King books, I just start getting into reading his books, and i think that you give really good insight on every video of yours that I have watched, and actually when looking for new king books, I watched your videos to look for new ones, and watching those, really helped sway me to get the first two dark tower books, and I really want to get the stand as well, but I recently just finished misery, the dark half, the mist from the skeleton crew, and Christine, and I will say all of those are great books, and I would say that Christine is actually my favorite king book as of now, I haven't read a lot of his books, but i plan on buying and reading more of them, I just started cujo and i will continue to watch your videos to help me pick and choose😁😁😁

[@martinarreola64]

what did you try think of the mini series

[@sportsmed1038]

Randall Flagg - Love your username, dude.

[@1Wheelchairmaniac]

Im saving this video for when I finish the book, but right now I'm on chapter 36 and it has been driving me nuts wondering when frannie is going to mention jess again. Looked it up and it doesn't? That's pretty confusing considering he was a huge part of her inner monolog for so long then boom you never hear about him again, not even when she needed help burrying her dad and didn't know who to ask.

[@Jzs20]

Laws no. no bloat at all (Imo) the book is perfect in every way ... if anything, I wish it was longer. maybe follow frannie and stu to Maine and see what they encounter. decent review though man

[@nycbutterfly52]

YES! I wanted more too! I've loved this book since 1978, and I've read it several times, both the original version and the restored one (which I think is superior). I should look online to see if there is fanfic on these characters.

[@HeyInternetErichere]

Definitely agree. The middle half dragged so much for me. I read the uncut version and I didn't need those endless scenes of parlimentry procedure and town meetings. Really good book, but also overrated due to that sluggish middle part.

[@tylerkasuboski3366]

Dude, S. King isn't even close to the first dystopian writer or writer to tackle apocalyptic fiction. Jack London, Samuel Butler, George Orwell, Anthony Burgess, J.G. Ballard, Jack Finney, John Brunner, Brian Aldiss, Thomas Disch, Boris and Arkady Strugatsky, and SO many more had done it before King (and were influences upon him) as he so ably discusses in his non-fiction book "Danse Macabre". Arguably, no one had done it over as many pages as King's "The Stand", but dystopian/apocalyptic fiction was certainly not even close to new even in 1978. Also, I just don't understand those who consider "The Stand" bloated but whose fave King novel is "It". "It" is every bit as bloated and is in many ways a rehashing of "The Stand" on a small scale minus the apocalyptic setting. Both are battles between "good" and an amorphous "evil" force and as you aptly stated are saved by the fact that King is probably the greatest creator of characters of any 20th Century writer. His knack for characterization is on par with Dickens and this, along with his capabilities as a master story teller, is what allows him (like Dickens) to keep readers on board for 500+ pages (even 1000+) without much trouble. I still believe The Dark Tower series will be King's most lasting literary contribution and "Pet Semetary" is likely his greatest piece of straight-up horror fiction, but "The Stand" is the novel which proved King capable of handling story-telling on a massive scale and set the stage for The Dark Tower novels as well as "It" and even "The Regulators" and "Desperation". King's short short stories and novellas however (especially the "Night Shift" collection and "The Bachman Books"), are where it is most easy for a casual King reader to recognize his brilliance. "The Stand" for me gets 4.5 out of 5 stars with the first 1/2 of the novel being 5 outta 5 all the way...

[@jaredgenova2228]

Omg no! The "epic battle" was SO anticlimactic! When I read it and then it panned to Stu watching the mushroom cloud I was like TF?!! That's it?! I mean, yeah a nuke is a huge deal but I felt like he kind of nuked the climax of the book figuratively as well.

[@cinemaster9012]

I thought Stu would fight him and cast the demons of legion into the desert wind where they’d chase each other forever, like hot and cold air, fomenting storms, but never joining again. I thought this was foreshadowed in the cellar-tornando scene. Thankfully, that didn’t happen and we get more of Flagg in the Dark Tower

[@johnnyfreespeech5815]

I’m conflicted by the ending. Why did Stu, Ralph, Glen and Larry need to travel to Vegas to confront the dark man when all of his demise came from his own people? Trash can man destroys the planes and kills the pilots, the baby that mother Abigail warns about is killed when Nadine gees Flagg into killing her. Then the A-bomb goes off and kills all his people. Stu believes that maybe they needed to make a sacrifice to God but I don’t really see it. I enjoyed the book overall but I also thought the ending was anticlimactic.

[@netabolt6546]

i havent read it yet but i'm planning to read it next year. scary considering how big this book is and from the draggy part you mentioned. but i going to read it, just right before i going to reread The Dark Tower series for the 4th time.

[@angelbar]

Finally I got the 1991 uncut version yesterday! Now to get the time to read it.. thank you for the review man

[@jawskid3601]

Here's how I'm going to read The Stand: First, I'm gonna read The Eyes of the Dragon, because it takes place LONG before 'The Stand' and it has Randall Flagg. Then I'm gonna read the short story, Night Surf (included with Night Shift), because that's what King based The Stand. Then I have the uncut version of The Stand. I know a guy who LOVES SK just like I do and we MAY make Night Surf into a short film. Here's the version of The Stand I have: www.amazon.com/Stand-Stephen-King-n/dp/B0012I8MNQ/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487896827&sr=1-3&keywords=the+stand. My question is, is the miniseries version worth checking out? I've heard the first 3 episodes are pretty good, but the last part is kinda lame. What's YOUR opinion. Thanks, David

[@johnogorman7907]

Sounds like you're quite the fan, so no doubt you'll end up watching the miniseries (I take it you're talking about the one with Rob Lowe in?). I remember watching parts of the miniseries when I was young but didn't really understand it (I think I was about 9) but that spurred me on to read the book 20+ years on. And I am so glad I did. I then went back to watch the miniseries and it was a bit crap but I had expected that, otherwise it would have been listed in countless 'must-see TV series', which it hasn't. But I still enjoyed it as it completed the circle for me - and you've got an even bigger circle to complete! I would say, watch the miniseries but have low expectations and be warned, Nadine is not as fit as you think she will be :-( Enjoy

[@MaryRose86]

Could you review Salem's Lot ? You do some amazing reviews and I'd love to see your take on it.

[@ZakSalter]

I'm on the part where Larry and eventually Rita make it through the Lincoln tunnel. So far so good..

[@FrostyKnives]

That was such an excellently creepy segment

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

That wasnt Rita that was Nadine Millennial moron.

[@dawnhazelett7184]

AbysslooksBack ___ in the book it’s Rita

[@ZakSalter]

@@plaguedoctormasque8089 Haha youre the dumb fuck who cant read. Larry went through the tunnel with Rita.

[@glozorpozorp1354]

So is The Stand part of the Dark Tower series? The Stand was my first Stephen King book, after that I went on a reading binge (that I'm still on actually, I just finished It and also enjoyed your review for that book as well). I haven't read any of the Dark Tower novels - so I guess I'm a little confused. Are the Dark Tower novels stand alone books or connected as a series? And is The Stand part of that series? Thanks for the great review!

[@FrostyKnives]

The Dark Tower is Kings meta-verse. Sooner or later everything King writes connects to the Tower. The Stand is very heavily connected to the Tower for two reasons: Flagg plays a major villain in both stories and also Wizard and Glass intersects with the land of The Stand. If you read the series you will see influences from most of his books. Thanks for the watch!

[@glozorpozorp1354]

+FrostyKnives13 Which would you recommend I start with?

[@FrostyKnives]

+Gloria Micolites The four books I would recommend reading in addition to the Tower are The Stand, It, Salems Lot and Insomnia. Those four, as well as Black House, tie directly into the Tower. And then start reading the Tower novels.

[@glozorpozorp1354]

+FrostyKnives13 Awesome, I appreciate it!

[@andrewlewis4040]

you don't tell me happy crappy I tell you. the middle of the book was ace, get it

[@billkeon880]

Yes I agree about the middle section about the council. I would add the snowy section at the end could have been trimmed down. Loved the part about Harold’s house and his ledger. Overall loved the book. For me though, too bad he had to include all the biblical god references. God, god, god, god. Goddamn it Stephen. Anyway great book

[@carterdahl2178]

Isn't the world moves on reference from The Gunslinger

[@iamdeath5297]

Just got this bad boy today k locked out 100 pages so far I'm liking it

[@markpippin5437]

I consider King to be the King of Nostalgia because his nostalgic books are his best. His horror stories are secondary.

[@Zombiesomnomnom]

Have you read any Brian Keene? Would you do some reviews on his books if you have?

[@FrostyKnives]

I may have a copy of the Rising somewhere. If I do I can read it and review it

[@Zombiesomnomnom]

+FrostyKnives13 Still waiting for that Brian Keene review!

[@limesquared]

I like the original version. The updated version was moved to the nineties which was unforgiveable.

[@tylerkasuboski3366]

The setting was NOT moved to the 90's. King simply pushed the dates up ten years and added a VERY FEW late-80's culture references. I've read both versions multiple times and it never ceases to feel like the late-70's to me. And the minor date changes are a small price to pay to get so much extra "Trashcan Man" material. I DO like the way the original novel began much better than the uncut version though, that I'll give you.

[@QueenieTT]

Hey Frosty, you said you had read IT & The Stand more than once! I was wondering how long a book that size takes you?

[@FrostyKnives]

Viccc! About a week

[@booknerd1949]

My copy of The Stand is about 1357 pages long. It's a giant book but it's really among his best works.

[@JohnP77777]

He changed a ton in the expanded edition. Some of it doesn't make sense, the original is perfect.

[@brianmerritt5410]

I slightly disagree, I think the book started off strong and the first third was the best part, I found the last third to be the disappointmemt because the climax did not seem as ultimate as I thought it was going to be. The middle part was kind of draggy but I didn't mind because I thought it was leading up to a bigger showdown.

[@JuanitoRottenFtw]

Great review Read it 15 years ago Loved everything Except the deus ex machina ending I'll check the audio book when I finish rereading the dark tower

[@tylerkasuboski3366]

There is no "deus ex machina" ending. Flagg's conjuring up of the blue energy ball to torture his own people accidentally sets off Trash's "gift" (a nuclear warhead). It's only the incredulous theological brainwashing caused by Mother Abigail that makes Larry and Ralph believe (in the seconds before their deaths) that God had intervened. I think the theological aspects of The Stand are way overblown and theists will read the novel in one way, non-believers (and agnostics) in another...In my opinion God does not intervene and save the day. Instead, Flagg's at the height of his ego-trip and f*cks up!

[@Blueiii]

Excellent review, but I will disagree about the middle part of the book which you had the most issues with. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the boulder free zone, and the societal restructuring that came from it. When I first started reading this book, I did so completely blindly, as in I had no idea that a supernatural element would emerge, although it is a fantasy and stephen king book that is being talked about. I imagined the worst human nature itself acting on impulse and what would happen in real life if such a thing ocurred, and I believe I got a taste of it. Regardless, with that taste and the rest of the book, I think that those parts were needed in order to emphasize the decisions of harold, nadine and randall to an extent, in that part of the book. I cannot think of much details that could be omitted from the 1153 pages that I read, which took me over a month to read through on and off, that I would give the go ahead to erase. Either way, due to that wordiness I would give the book a 9/10. I agree that some things could be phrased differently or worked out differently, but I'm in no way an editor or an English student to provide the solution. Cheers!

[@fairytail4lifenalu86]

It doesn't take place over a very long period of time, as shown by Fran's pregnancy. At most 40 weeks, or less.

[@turtleanton6539]

Yes

[@benjaminkennedy5083]

I’m like one of the only ones that liked the ending

[@anthonybeesly9095]

The Kids just killed it!

[@patrickmchale1857]

I enjoyed reading the book.

[@divakarjai]

Do always spoiler free ones Plz..but good one

[@cinemaster9012]

"Did we learn anything?” "I don’t know.” "I don’t know.”

[@angiestone2818]

I liked it. It took me a while to read it.but it was worth it.

[@dangc8315]

The first section is absolute perfection. Other two are hit/miss

[@lordhermis8718]

But is there a sword fight against a bird monster?

[@TheKeithwhoward]

the middle needs to drag to show the reader the contrast between the new world and the old. in the new world people travel free with new exciting adventures around every turn. in the old world ( the middle of the book) people live boring lives. In the end Fran and stew like the beef type, move back to Maine and seek adventure. If the middle of the book did not convey the boring everyday life the end would not have had such an impact.

[@denniscach5060]

This is Stephen King at his best

[@Shiraz354]

Thanks

[@billkeon880]

Another great apocalyptic book written in the mid-1960s is the Drowned World by JG Ballard, and it predicts global climate change. Could have been written in 2019.

[@divakarjai]

Plz do without spoilers..

[@tylerkasuboski3366]

It's a review...Read the book first if you don't like "spoilers". Go out on a limb and just fly blindly. The novels that you just pick up on a whim (and know little about before reading) always hit harder than novels you've read a ton of reviews about. You can pick up a paperback of The Stand at any thrift store for under $5. Go for it!

[@Barzins1]

The problem I had with this book is that Flag was way too immature and incompetent to be consistent with his character in the dark tower. In the dark tower he was more than a match for Roland. In The Stand his capabilities were significantly Diminished.

[@whatever4566]

I dont like how he updated the timeline from 70s to 90s

[@ffejpsycho]

M - O - O - N -... that spells.... ''bumpty bumpty bumpty''

[@chriscat1560]

carrie is my IT is my favorite book

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

Trash would be your favorite 😆

[@robertjustice3814]

I just finished this book last night and loved it! My fav characters were Stu Redman and Tom Cullen so you can imagine my excitement and relief at the very, very end of the novel. Given what it is, it had the happiest ending that could have been managed.

[@mattroman8334]

Magnum opus

[@carterdahl2178]

Not The Stand, either IT or Salems Lot

[@kalebdunaway]

God bless and Jesus loves you!

[@johnnycage9305]

Captain Tripps a.k.a Coronavirus a.k.a Covid19

[@plaguedoctormasque8089]

Charact riszation? Lol stop my sides hurt!!!

[@nani2155]

I guess The Stand takes place in 2020 😂

[@donaldmcauliffe7653]

I thought the shining was very good

[@Atti19216]

Great book and good cheesy miniseries but the new reboot is ridiculous.

[@thegodfatherpartiiiandyes3714]

I SAW THE 6 HOUR MOVIE MINI SERIES AND THAT WAS EPIC BECAUSE I GOT IT AL WAL MART THINKING OH A KING MOVIE WATCHED IT AND I LOVE IT BECAUSE THE STORY IS VERY WELL DONE

[@jett11west]

I'm on page 209 and hardly anything has happened so far. It too freakin' long. I'm getting bored and need something to happen soon.

[@Fendertastic]

go watch a movie