Y'all, I did it. I finished The Stand.
And here's what I thought of it...
*****
(4.8 out of 5)

(My review for Amazon.com)

Anyone that knows me well knows that I love

(worship)

Stephen King.

I’ve read some of his lesser-known works and adored them, and so imagine how thrilled I was to pick up perhaps his most acclaimed piece of literature, The Stand. Never did I think it would take me almost 2 years (yes, 2 years) to finish it. But hear me out.

I was given the “complete and uncut” edition and let me tell you, that sucker is very complete and uncut. Now, I know Stephen King is known for plopping in some extraneous detail here and there. And believe me when I tell you, I live for that detail. I love it. I’ve always been shocked at the hundreds of constant readers who murmur about his excessive use of detail. For that’s what makes the King the wordsmith he is, amiright?

But no, the first 34(ish) chapters of the book are full of massive amounts of detail and pure character development. And yes, I love learning about characters and gaining a fondness for certain ones. But I don’t love 34 chapters of it.

BUT… after the 2 years it took me to get past those first 34 chapters (stop judging me, will you? I did read other books during that time), I became more and more engrossed in the world Stephen King had created. And I’d even go as far to say that the story was painted so vividly for me, that I really did feel more absorbed in this book than I have any other book. I found myself truly invested in certain characters (okay, okay… maybe that’s why he put in 34 chapters of character development?), and I constantly had to refrain from googling what happened to them, and whether they went to the good or the bad side.

I think we all love ourselves a “good versus evil” story, and this has to be the epitome of the ever-constant conflict between good and evil. Because even though you know that good (usually) triumphs, you don’t know what Stephen King’s take on it will be, who will die, who will switch sides, and what will be of either society in the end.

So… what I’m trying to allude to, is that despite the time it took me to get into this book, I would recommend it to anyone. I would add the discretion to perhaps try and get your hands on the original version, to avoid any difficulties delving into the delicious storyline that awaits. But if the original version isn’t available, I strongly urge you to buy the 1,153 page edition. And if you wade through the first 300 pages questioning why you are lugging a book that seems as heavy as an encyclopedia around, just know that it will be so much more than worth it in the end.

Stephen King’s genius never disappoints, and though I thought for a minute there, or for 2 years, that I wasn’t actually the constant reader I thought I was, he redeemed himself and I learned I shall never question him

(the master)

again.

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