Opinions of reading The Stand 'The Complete & Uncut Version'

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Over

This was my first and only King's book I've read and I've enjoyed it very much. I could imagine a better ending, but the most important is the ride, right?

Absolutely.

You might enjoy "Salems 'Lot" as well. Yes, its about vampires, but extremely more than that. To me, he seemed to have a better understanding of the human psyche "back then" Great "ride".

"NightShift" and "Skeleton Crew" are two great collections of short stories he did early in his career.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Absolutely.

You might enjoy "Salems 'Lot" as well. Yes, its about vampires, but extremely more than that. To me, he seemed to have a better understanding of the human psyche "back then" Great "ride".

"NightShift" and "Skeleton Crew" are two great collections of short stories he did early in his career.

Agree totally. Salem's Lot is still a brilliant read. I think that's his truly greatest work. There's nothing disappointing about that novel

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by carld

It's odd, I've found that reading the book first will almost always ruin the movie, but not the other way around. I suppose it's because the book is usually a much deeper and richer (not to mention longer) experience.

I totally agree! A Beautiful Mind was an aclaimed movie a couple years ago. I hurried and got the book and read it. Then we went to see the movie. If my husband hadn't been enjoying the movie, I would have walked out. If the movie is 2 dimensional (that is being generous), then the book is 6 dimensional.

I have enjoyed the last couple Harry Potter movies, but they will never be able to make the last book into a movie that works. There were too many simultaneous movies going on in my head.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by Over

This was my first and only King's book I've read and I've enjoyed it very much. I could imagine a better ending, but the most important is the ride, right?

absolutely. I have always felt the best ending is one that leaves it to our imagination. Because there really is never a real end to anything, unless everyone dies.

[InlawBiker]

I've been a Steven King fan for a long time, but I can think of several of his novels that could stand to have a couple hundred pages removed and they'd be better.

I've always thought of him as the ultimate "what if" writer. As in, he'll be driving down the road one day and suddenly think to himself, "what if all of the cars on the road suddenly came alive and tried to kill us." Then he goes on to write it.

But I also think he sometimes suffers from rambling along through the middle parts of the novel, making it up as he goes along, until the end carnage.

I may not make many friends with that but oh well.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by InlawBiker

I've been a Steven King fan for a long time, but I can think of several of his novels that could stand to have a couple hundred pages removed and they'd be better.

I've always thought of him as the ultimate "what if" writer. As in, he'll be driving down the road one day and suddenly think to himself, "what if all of the cars on the road suddenly came alive and tried to kill us." Then he goes on to write it.

But I also think he sometimes suffers from rambling along through the middle parts of the novel, making it up as he goes along, until the end carnage.

I may not make many friends with that but oh well.

Couldn't agree more. I was a massive fan of his work growing up, but with each new release he just disappoints me more and more. I think he's a victim of his success. He makes so much money for the publishers that he can do whatever he likes, including the fat middle sections of the books or terrible endings.

It's shame, really, because he's written some terrific stuff when he's being leaner -- Misery, Dolores Claiborne, even the Shining. A friend of mine says that all of his 'big' books are half-back-story, half actual story. Of course, my friend doesn't like him at all

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by InlawBiker

I may not make many friends with that but oh well.

Hey, why? It is a valid opinion and these thnigs are just for fun. I never understand the bickering that can occur over a single person's taste about something. If I like it and you don't, that is how it is and life goes on. What a boring world if everyone liked and disliked the same thing. The advertisers would really hate that for sure. Might kill off an entire portion of the population. And what would it so the the legal profession? Taxes everyone would pay and not complain or there would be none so, POOF, gone, hmmmm, maybe boring might be better after all?

sorry had to add that last part for Sydney's Mom because she used two words in the same sentence TAX and ATTORNEY.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I have enjoyed the last couple Harry Potter movies, but they will never be able to make the last book into a movie that works. There were too many simultaneous movies going on in my head.

They are actually making the last book into two movies. Although it could be three I think.

BOb

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

They are actually making the last book into two movies. Although it could be three I think.

BOb

That is good to read as the last movie left out so much that I had to explain it to friends who had not read or listened to the book. I have yet to read the final book but will real soon now.

[InlawBiker]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

They are actually making the last book into two movies. Although it could be three I think.

That is a good idea. There really is two movies worth of material in the last book, and they also get to double their revenue potential

Greg.

[carld]

Originally Posted by InlawBiker

I've been a Steven King fan for a long time, but I can think of several of his novels that could stand to have a couple hundred pages removed and they'd be better.

I've always thought of him as the ultimate "what if" writer. As in, he'll be driving down the road one day and suddenly think to himself, "what if all of the cars on the road suddenly came alive and tried to kill us." Then he goes on to write it.

But I also think he sometimes suffers from rambling along through the middle parts of the novel, making it up as he goes along, until the end carnage.

I may not make many friends with that but oh well.

King wings it when he writes, and doesn't outline. Thus, he sometimes writes himself into a corner. He has a great opening, and a huge buildup, and then has no idea what to do for a conclusion. His novel "Insomnia" is a like this. It's a fascinating read, that really builds ... and then I couldn't have cared less about the ending, at all. "It" is much the same, great story, weak ending.

As I understand it, he got part way through "The Stand", about the point where the good guys all arrive in Colorado, and then didn't know what happened next. He said at the time "I'm losing my book!" Of course, we know now the events he came up with to reduce the cast and get things moving again.

[Dragoro]

It is a masterpiece, I dont think the ending was weak at all.

[FizzyWater]

I read both of the versions at about the time they were released. So I hardly remember what made them different ... except for the "uncut" versions ending.

And I'll admit to being disappointed in the new, tacked-on ending.

Not that it isn't true-to-life, but...not how I wanted it to end, that's all.

[BenG]

The new version had more of the Trashcan Man's story. He also changed the date from 1980 to 1990.

[Sydney's Mom]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

They are actually making the last book into two movies. Although it could be three I think.

BOb

That sounds promising!