Difficulty Reading This Book

[NFD]

So I started reading The Stand by Stephen King about half a week ago, and I'm about 300 pages into it, but I still don't really understand the plot.

I understand that there's the disease that's wiped out most of the USA, and that there's martial law, but the book is just random. One chapter was about this guy who was hallucinating before "Captain Trips" killed him, and that was it. I realize that all the character switches are going in between people who are "immune" to it, but so far it's not making sense.

I just wanted to know, is there honestly any point to the story, or do they all die separately, or do some of them meet up, and there's a story about them.

[MalReynolds]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

There's a huge story. It's an epic in the vein of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It meanders a fair bit, but once you get to the main story, or once some of the characters start meeting up, the book picks up very much. Don't give up the ghost yet.

[NFD]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

Ok, thanks. The cover art had me thinking it was like LotR, but I've since found out it's not really that similar.

[MalReynolds]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

It's not so much swords and sorcery as a huge Good vs. Evil plot. But it is an epic.

[TheRapingDragon]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

It's a bit like IT, except IT decides to go from past to present to future to past to present etc.

The Stand just does that with people instead of time.

[smartdude1212]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

It went into the future? I don't remember that, and I read it about a year ago. Hmm.

Yep, this is one of King's epics. Looking forward to Under the Dome as well, it's going to be another long-ass one.

[NFD]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

I, um, have IT onhold at the library, my copy was destroyed. I'm assuming the evil in The Stand is Blue/Government? I mean, they lied about a cure.

[MalReynolds]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

Just keep reading.

[NFD]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

Will do.

[TheRapingDragon]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

It went into the future? I don't remember that, and I read it about a year ago. Hmm.

Not so much in actual physical presence. I thought it was more in thoughts when they talked about the future or something. I can't quite remember now heh, I read it a long time ago and have read many books since.

[NFD]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

I was also wondering:

Do Harold and Frannie, get together once they leave town? Because when he was painting his message on the side of the barn, she kissed him.

[MalReynolds]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

Keeeeeeeppppp reading.

Most of this stuff is answered VERY satisfactorily in the book.

And people, please refrain from le spoilerz in this thread. Try not to give anything away.

[TheRapingDragon]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

Read on and you'll find out.

EDIT: What Mal said.

[NFD]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

I think my favorite character so far, is probably Stu. He broke out of the government holding facility in quite possibly the hardest way possible.

[smartdude1212]

Re: Difficulty Reading This Book

I haven't even read The Stand, though I have the uncut edition... maybe I will after I'm finished rereading the Harry Potter series (on book 7 now).