Louis Parizeau

Louis Parizeau
The Stand
Stephen King
Science Fiction
Challenge
489

1.      The Stand is about a disease that destroys more than 99% of the world. The disease got out when a laboratory experiment was released when a contaminated person escaped the building. After spreading quickly, almost everyone died. The few survivors now have to unite and work together. Three survivors, Nadine, Larry, and  Joe are on a journey by motorcycle to Vermont to find others. Larry met up with Nadine and Joe a few days before, and Joe, who is mentally disabled, tried to kill Larry. There relationship has improved throughout the book and eventually they become friends. They recently met up with another lady named Lucy Swann, who joined the groups travels to Vermont. Recently, everyone except Nadine have been dreaming about an elder named Mother Abigail. In the dream, Mother Abigail says to meet her in Nebraska, and to stop traveling to Vermont. Mother Abigail says that others will be meeting her too. Also, they dream about a man, that they refer to as the black man, is evil and hellish.
2.      So far, I really enjoy reading The Stand. The plot is very exciting and nerve racking. After everyone died, the point of view switches almost every chapter to a different character so the story is always interesting. I also like one of the themes in this book, courage, because it keeps the books interesting. After all these people are isolated, and there families die, they have to fight to survive. Many people in the story who are immune to the disease have already committed suicide. The survivors have to have courage to survive and push on, even if one of the partners dies. Before Larry was with Lucy, Nadine, and Joe, he traveled with an older lady named Rita. When she died overnight, Larry had to move on to find a new stradigy of survival. I think that how each character survives and pushes on through their diffuculties is an intresting part of this book. But, even though this book is great, it can get confusing. Since there are so many characters and unrelated plots going on right now, I get confused and mix up each characters story. This makes it very hard to remember characters pasts, because I confuse them with one another. 
3.      One theme I have noticed is courage. Every survivor has to show courage to survive. Some immune people were so scared and had no courage, that they killed themselves. The ones who move on and look for others ended up being successful because they joined with a few others. This shows courage because they had to push through all there troubles, and walked for many miles to get to their goal.
4.      My favorite character is Joe. Joe is a mentally disabled boy who's family was killed by the disease, and was found by Nadine.  When Joe was first introduced, he couldn't talk. When Nadine found him, she didn't know his name, so named him Joe. When he first met Larry, he unsuccessfully tried to kill him twice with a knife. The second time, Larry managed to get Joe to the ground and force him to let go of the knife. Over time, Joe's real personality comes out. He starts to like Larry and be comfortable around him. Joe is also interested in Larry's guitar, and picks up on it quickly. Lastly, Joe has learned how to say a few words.
5.      My least favorite character so far is Nadine. I think that she seems very shy and stubborn, and sometimes mean. When they all were talking about the similar dreams they had, Larry asked Nadine if she had the dreams. Almost immediately she started yelling and said, "'I told you I don't dream!' Nadine cried sharply, almost hysterically. 'Can't you just leave me alone? Do you have to badger me'" (478)? Also, most of the time Nadine seems very tired and depressed, and is barley ever happy. She even admitted to it, apologizing that she was always upset. Overall, I think that Nadine doesn't help the people she is around during their trip, and only puts in negative things.
6.      I predict that soon Larry, Nadine, Joe, and Lucy will chose to turn back. I think that they will get to the location that they want to get to and find no one there. Then, I think that they will start to go to Nebraska. This is because since Lucy, Larry, and Joe have all had dreams about Mother Abigail and her message to meet her in Nebraska. Since all three of them are having dreams of her and her message, I think this will make them more likely to go to Nebraska. When they find Mother Abigail, I think that a community will form from all the people who had the dreams and met in Nebraska. Also, I predict that Joe will learn throughout the story more English. Right now, he has developed the ability to speak a few words, and I think that that will expand into a more useful language. He hasn't done anything important in the story yet, so I also believe he will make an important discovery on their trip back to Nebraska that will be very useful to the group.