Reading the Chunksters discussion

Nearing 75% keep on reading.......

Still reading my little heart out and I am very curious to see where the plotline is going....will post more towards the end of the week :-) Happy reading everyone!

Trisha, did I miss a post about the new baby? I was thinking you were due soon and it seems like it's been a long time said you said that! I could also be going insane so please forgive me...lol

Not until Dec. 21, so we are down to the last 5 weeks. I can't wait!!! Trying to get ahead with some of the reading! Hahah!

I loved the section with nadine cross and the planchette...very very spooky. I also like how Harold and Nadine react differently to the dark man, with Nadine taking the more mystical route and Harold taking the logical route.

I love these two characters, not because they are the nicest or most wholesome characters but, because they represent people that have the potential for good even while being tugged in an evil direction. They have so much dimension to them, so much inner conflict. Frannie on the other hand (my initial favorite) has become way too emotional and weak. So far she seems faces everything in fear and I'm waiting for her to step it up.

Also,I didn't imagine stu to be hairy and truth be told it seemed like a cliched way to say that frannie loves a real man. That being said it's probably just because it goes against my hot image of stu.

Also, when is mother Abigail coming back! I really miss her!

Sorry for the ramble

I am wondering about Mother Abigail as well and what will happen when (or if) she returns. The planchette was definitely spooky, and it seems like "the dark man" has had his eye on her for quite a while, which gives rise to the question of destiny vs. free will. Are characters like Nadine destined to end up with the dark man, or are they free to stay on the side of Mother Abigail. It seemed like even Mother Abigail had a feeling about Nadine when they first met, saying, "I know who you are", which sounded a little ominous, like she already knew that Nadine did not belong with them. Hmmmm.....

I think Nadine had "outs" so to speak, but she didn't try to take advantage of them until it was too late.

God damned Nadine... I was SO sure that Harold was ready to let go of all his past hurts, after seeing how he was being accepted into the community. It finally started to get through his thick skull that he could make a great life in Boulder, find respect, and friendship, and maybe love eventually. He actually was already making friends, feeling camaraderie with the fellows he was working with on the Burial committee. And he was thinking to himself, well, why not just let go of the past--people like me now, and they wouldn't even care if I told them that I was a big loser in my former life... and then he allows himself to be weak and seduced by Nadine.

I'm so pissed at him. Grrr.

Also, I think it was unreasonable for Nadine to assume that Larry would save her. Part of me thinks she waited so damned long to go to him because she knew he would say no out of loyalty to Lucy, and because she didn't really want to be saved.

On the politics front--I'm glad someone finally suggested setting up a court system, especially after the suggestion of imprisoning anyone who considers defecting to the Dark Man's land. They claim to want to recreate the United States, and they ratified the Bill of Rights, so they need a justice system to support those American ideals.

@ Kathy: I think you're right about Nadine's "outs." I wonder if she ever really wanted to take advantage of them, or if she let them pass her by so that the choice would be made for her, in the way she really wanted it made.

Also, this is random, but I just remembered it... I think it was in this chunk or the chunk before... when Stu told his story about meeting Jim Morrison, after his death, and being sure that he was on the adversary's side... that was an odd scene. Anyone have any thoughts as to its meaning?

I read week 13 and 14 back-to-back so I'm leery of posting a spoiler.

I have to say that I still firmly believe that Harold and Nadine could easily become good, and at times I see that they waver between the two sides.

I also pictured Stu to look very much different from his actual description.

I keep thinking that the pace is really going to pick up as the chunk of book in my right hand becomes smaller each week.

Just finished this section. I am really working on catching up.

The Jim Morrison story Stu told was really interesting. I have this thing for Jim Morrison and his music, but he definitely dwelt on the dark side, so this seems interesting. I was SO GLAD that the story was not about Elvis. That would have been so cliche.

The part about Nadine and the planchette was definitely spooky. I have to say, I never trusted her. As many have said, she could have gotten "out" but chose not to take advantage of opportunities when they presented themselves. I, though, don't think that she wants out, or ever did. I don't think she really is struggling between being good or evil. I think that she likes the thought that she is going to give her virginity to the Dark Man. I think it defines her in some way. The rest is just going through the motions. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if she would have corrupted Larry.

As for Larry, I was so afraid that he was going to give in to her. He started out as such a weak character. I almost cheered aloud when he opted for Lucy and turned Nadine down. I especially liked the way he described doing the "right thing" as so ambiguous. The confusion of what is the right course is so true to life. I'm sure we all have had situations where we were just as conflicted, which just makes King's characters better to me.

Harold, on the other hand, is really struggling with the line between good and evil. I think that both he and Larry could have gone either way. I was really upset when he gave in to Nadine, but not surprised in any way. I had decided a while ago that he was too weak and scarred to withstand the pressure of someone whose positive regard is so superficial. Where as the regard of the Boulderans was beginning to be real. It is too bad for him. I hope he comes to his senses.

I don't see Frannie as weak. I see her as the mother spirit. The one who has to be afraid and worry about the next generation. She is the illustration of, the good of all be damned, I'm worried about my kid and family.

I loved the Committee meeting and the discussion of the legal system. How easy it would be to let go the ideals of liberty and freedom when you feel like your very existence is at stake. I was glad that someone had the temerity to suggest a justice system to be a check and balance kind of thing.

As for Mother Abigail. It seems to me that I now understand her worries about the sin of pride. Although she was not a prideful person herself, by staying she was allowing the society in Boulder to put her on a pedestal, which is a sin of pride in a way. By leaving, they have seen that they can exist without her, that she is not an absolute, but an ideal, or the ideal, that brought them all together. When she comes back (I'm presuming that she will) her place in the society will be more appropriate.

@ Lyn: The Jim Morrison story really stood out to me. I keep trying to figure out if it has some deeper meaning (why Jim Morrison? why is he with the adversary?).

I think you hit the nail on the head with Nadine being defined by losing her virginity to the Dark Man. Without that, she'd just be plain old Nadine, completely ordinary. I think that explains why she was never really tempted to turn to the good side.

Loretta - Jim Morrison was just a very dark person. He definitely was chasing a lot of personal demons. In addition, he was heavily into mysticism, but not in a good way. I wonder if King found his persona interesting, like I do. He is the right age.

Interesting, Lyn. I admit my familiarity with the Doors is only on the greatest hits level--I know 5-10 songs, and that's about it. It certainly adds some mood to the adversary's side--almost as if they have a soundtrack.

I used to be a big fan of the Doors and when I was a lot younger I read Morrisons poetry book (Into the Wilderness, I think was the name). Anyhow if you look at any of his songs you can easily apply something to this book. For instance, I just plucked up the lyrics for the End. As I was reading through them I was thinking about all the ways they relate to the book. Any thought?


Jim Morrison - The End lyrics

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of ev'rything that stands
The end

No safety or surprise
The end
I'll never look into your eyes again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need of
some strangers hand
In a desperate land

Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the king's highway
Weird scenes inside the goldmine
Ride the highway West baby

Ride the snake
Ride the snake
To the lake
To the lake

The ancient lake baby
The snake is long
Seven miles
Ride the snake

He's old
And his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here and we'll do the rest

The blue bus is calling us
The blue bus is calling us
Driver, where you taking us?

The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall

He went into the room where his sister lived
And then he paid a visit to his brother
And then he walked on down the hall
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
Father?
Yes son
I want to kill you
Mother, I want to.............

Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end

It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me

The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die

This is the end



Lyrics | Jim Morrison lyrics - The End lyrics
more Jim Morrison lyrics :
· I Looked At You lyrics
· Ligth My Fire! lyrics
· End Of The Night lyrics
· Take It As It Comes lyrics

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Jim Morrison
The End lyrics
Send "The End" Ringtone to your Cell
This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of ev'rything that stands
The end

No safety or surprise
The end
I'll never look into your eyes again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need of
some strangers hand
In a desperate land

Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the king's highway
Weird scenes inside the goldmine
Ride the highway West baby

Ride the snake
Ride the snake
To the lake
To the lake

The ancient lake baby
The snake is long
Seven miles
Ride the snake

He's old
And his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here and we'll do the rest

The blue bus is calling us
The blue bus is calling us
Driver, where you taking us?

The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall

He went into the room where his sister lived
And then he paid a visit to his brother
And then he walked on down the hall
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
Father?
Yes son
I want to kill you
Mother, I want to.............

Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end

It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me

The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die

This is the end

I'm totally beating a dead horse with this, but they used "The End" for one of the final lost promos before the series finale.

Interesting references King is working there, with the riding the highway west thing... I have to believe he was thinking of that for some of the plot construction.

I think you're right Loretta. I saw a few of the early episodes of lost so I'm only somewhat seeing a small connection.

LOL, well, it's an obvious connection just because the producers came out and said that The Stand was a source of inspiration for LOST. ;-) I'm just impressed by how thorough the inspiration truly was.

Andrea - thanks for the Morrison lyrics. The End is one of my favorite songs by Jim Morrison, and it certainly fits this situation.

Loretta- I am going to make Lost a top priority for 2011. You really have my interest peaked.

I love the way you guys interact with what happens in their little world. :)

How Harold and Nadine get to you and how sad it was, indeed, that Nadine very selfishly lured Harold to the dark side, with something rather more PG13 than cookies.

While she offers it, and keeps her end of the bargain, she repeatedly asks herself if this is the life she wants. She seems to be genuinely scared of Randall, but somehow still remains a virgin for his sake. Couldn't she just give it up with Harold, would be better for both of them.
They'll never be 'good good' but they could get accepted and play a part in society.

Still, I'm proud of Larry of not giving in, even if it could eventually save some trouble, serious trouble indeed, but then he would have been lost and he is getting where he is supposed to be.

Nath, I agree with your thoughts on Larry. I think that he really has changed to the person that we were hoping he would become. I'm not saying he's a pillar of society because of the way he led his previous life and treated people poorly, but I think he shaped up well enough.

Larry has always been my favorite! Sure, maybe not in my first read, but with the successive ones after that and knowing how he grows up and makes his stand alongside the others.....I am very proud!

Maybe the title isn't based on the battle between good and evil only.

Perhaps King had Larry in mind too. With no writer in their midst ( King repeatedly lets writers take the lead in his stories) Larry's rock and roll background might be the substitute and may be the character King identifies most with.
And we know how he struggled with drugs and booze in the 80's.
Yes yes.. King sure knows how to make a layered cake. :)

That's an interesting point, because I always thought Glen was the voice of his intellectual half--you know, the person who muses on what would happen to society if all hell broke loose.

Somehow, going on the other novels I've read of him, he seems to be attracted to the bad guy turning good, the weak one turning strong.

The ones who significantly change, even it they don't seem better afterwards.

I do love it that most of you who are reading The Stand will try other books now. :) King is addictive!

He definitely is addictive!! And I'm hooked! :)

Me too!!!

That makes three of us. And it is so great to have your insight on him, Nath.

Thanks Lyn :)
I'm happy if I can help.. especially bookwise.

Those lyrics were very compelling. Definitely a lot of inspiration for King there!

The whole Nadine/Harold thing is bizarre, but not wholly unexpected. I agree, if she just gave in with Harold, the whole Dark Man thing would be moot and the world probably a much better place.