The Stand, uncut

Right now I’m reading the uncut version of The Stand , which I’m finding to be kind of a letdown. I really wish King hadn’t tried to “update the book for a modern audience” because he really did a shitty job of it, if you ask me. In fact, every time he mentions the 80’s at all, it feels tacked on. Also, I tend to take issue with what he did choose to add in.

I could have done without the chapter from Sally Campion’s point of view. I thought the point where the Campions’ car plows into Hap’s Texaco was far more interesting. Also, I really didn’t think hearing about the Trashcan Man’s journey to Vegas and his meeting the Kid was particularly necessary, either. Then again, that passage also bothered me because there’s a random gratuitous homosexual encounter, and I feel a bit like King equates homosexuality to insanity. (And yes, I know there’s a gay character in Cell , but I never finished that book and really have no intention of doing so.)

So, yeah, mostly I think King’s being awfully self-indulgent, but I still love the story, even if on a second reading I tend to roll my eyes a lot at Randall Flagg. On the plus side, I’ve come to appreciate Larry Underwood a lot more on the reread, mostly because nobody’s constantly telling everyone else how great he is, whereas everyone sings Stu Redman’s praises to the sky.