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Stephen King - The Stand or It?

77 replies

jofeb04 · 26/04/2009 12:03

Hiya,

I like the sound of both of them, but can only afford the one.

Has anyone read them? Which did you prefer?

Thanks

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CoteDAzur · 26/04/2009 12:05

It's been a long time, but I remember The Stand was far better than It.

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moondog · 26/04/2009 12:05

The Stand.
They're all great though (and what about going to the library or a 2nd hand bookshop?)

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purepurple · 26/04/2009 12:06

the stand because it is a better story all the way through
The Stand is my favourite King book, and I have read nearly all of them

'It' is great when it starts , but the ending always makes me feel as if he just ran out of ideas
and I have a clown phobia

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Onlyaphase · 26/04/2009 12:07

I really loved both of these, read them as a teenager and again since then. If I could only pick one, I'd probably chose The Stand.

"It" is a good book, but it is split into the historical story when the protagonists were all children, and then in the current day when they are all adults, and this current day part is weaker IMO.

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jofeb04 · 26/04/2009 12:10

I'll never read in in time to get it back to the library . Often in 2nd hand shops, but I've never found The Stand! It's pretty cheap on amazon at the moment.

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jofeb04 · 26/04/2009 12:12

Off to see if it is any cheaper on ebay!

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moondog · 26/04/2009 12:12

You can just phone and extend borrowing time though!

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purepurple · 26/04/2009 12:15

you need to trawl through the charity shops, that's where i got most of mine, for a couple of pounds each
I have a list of the ones I need and I only buy hardback, but we do have loads of charity shops

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jofeb04 · 26/04/2009 12:30

I've bought it for £4, so wasn't too bad really! (Also bought a James Herbet one as well though

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MayorNaze · 26/04/2009 12:31

IT! thoguh mainly cos i haven't even heard of the stand

is it a newish one (and by new i mean in the last 10 years again)?

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frisbyrat · 26/04/2009 12:35

The Stand. It is epic.

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CoteDAzur · 26/04/2009 12:42

I was a teenager when I read The Stand, so it has been around for at least 20 years.

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appledore · 26/04/2009 12:56

I loved The Stand.

Lately I've enjoyed Cell and Duma Key too...I think King has really got his form back after about ten years of 'meh'.

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titmouse · 26/04/2009 12:56

definitely The Stand, although see if the version you want to buy is the uncut original or the edited version, some of them are, and even though it is monstrously long it definitely needs to be.

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solidgoldshaggingbunnies · 26/04/2009 13:02

Actually (drooling anorak alert) the 'original' version of The Stand is the shorter one. About 10 years after it came out, King was famous enough for a bit of self-indulgence and his publishers allowed him to publish the full-length version (slightly updated in terms of a few cultural references but that's all).
I used to be a huge fan of King's but he is a bit patchy. I would say on balance The Stand is better than It, though it's as hugely American-centric as most AMerican novels are.

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elvislives · 26/04/2009 22:10

The Stand is my all time favourite book.

appledore I like Cell but really haven't been able to get into Dumas Key at all.

I recently reread the Mist, after seeing the film version, and was and at how much better the writing was than the more recent stuff.

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rasputin · 26/04/2009 22:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

janeite · 26/04/2009 22:19

The Stand - fab fab book. But yes- make sure it is the full version not the cut one.

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janeite · 26/04/2009 22:20

And buy some tissues at the same time as you will need them.

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janeite · 26/04/2009 22:20

Was v v disappointed with Cell but liked Dumas Key.

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KayHarkerInTheBackOfTheQuattro · 26/04/2009 22:27

They're both looking at really big ideas, but the stage for The Stand is bigger.

On balance, I think I'd have to disagree with the consensus, I prefer IT because while it does flag towards the end (and there's a really wierd scene involving sex that won't make sense unless you've read another of his books, and I can't recall which one atm) I do think it's more evocative.

Smaller stage - just some smalltown lives, but imho, somehow bigger for that. And scarier, too, naturally.

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solidgoldshaggingbunnies · 26/04/2009 22:54

Actually, neither of those are my favourite SK - I think from the early ones, I like Christine best, and later era it would probably be either Rose Madder or Insomnia, though I do find Bag of Bones very compelling.

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purepurple · 27/04/2009 07:33

love Insomnia
but my very fav is Hearts in Atlantis
I am just finishing Firestarter which is ok and I am about to staet the gumslinger series, which I have been looking forward to.

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tillyfernackerpants · 27/04/2009 07:40

I love the gunslinger series. Agree with purepurple, Hearts in Atlantis is my fave.

But if you're going for The Stand or It then The Stand is much better imo. In fact, if you like I have a copy of The Stand I would be happy to send you. Its quite ragged but still readable - I bought it about 15yrs ago & has been read a lot. Then you could buy It & read them both

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LtEveDallas · 27/04/2009 07:49

I re-read The Stand at least once a year - I think it's fab and much better than IT. I also re-read The Talisman. My DH doesn't like King, but has read and enjoyed The Stand.

Early King is great, then he went a bit meh after his car accident, but now (Cell, Bag of Bones, Dumas Key) I think he's back on track.

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