Year 5, week 34: The Stand

This week's book:
The Stand
By Stephen King

This book has been the list of books I will read before I die. The list is always changing and books are constantly being and added and taken off the list. But this whopper by Stephen King has been on the list for probably ten or fifteen years. It has always been the most daunting book on the list, clocking in at 1439 pages, or fourty-eight hours on audiobook. When looking up the length of all of Stephen King's works, this was is his longest book by far. When I was pulling books for the prompts for my reading challenge group for April reads, I decided to pull a couple of books that have been on my TBR pile. (The world according to Garp, was on that list as well). 

Before starting this novel I didn't know much about it, other than it is about the end of the world, and there is a super scary kind of cult/group leader that is pure evil. It turns out the novel has way much more than I didn't know about. Also the book starts with a super flu, a bit like how I feared Covid was going to go. It's probably really good I didn't try to read this book over the last two years. It never ceases to amaze me how Stephen King can create a whole world for his readers. I can understand how someone could enjoy this book and really get sucked in. 

If I'm going to completely honest, this novel is definitely not my favorite of his works. I have really loved some of his books and this one just didn't tickle my fancy. I know this book is a favorite of King's diehard fans, and I know it will annoy many but again, not my favorite. Due to the the length, you really need to be be a King fan or be prepared to be reading this book fooooorrrreeeevver before it's done. 

Year 5, week 33: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

This week's book
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
By Lewis Carroll

This week, the kids and I read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The kids gladly listened to the original story, but didn't want to read Through the Looking Glass. 

I don't know how many times I have read this story. I know I read it in middle/high school, and then the hubby read it to Mikey when I was nursing him as a baby. I will be honest Alice in Wonderland isn't my absolute favorite story, it's just all over the place. But if you haven't read it, you should definitely check it out!

Mikey says he liked the book, but he did not like the queen. He didn't like when she said "off with their head". He wishes it said off with the Queen's head because he did not like her. He did like the Mad Hatter, he was silly. 

Lily: "I don't like the queen either. I thought the book was funny when they played croquet with the flamingos and the hedgehogs. I like whenever she was shrinking and getting bigger. I like the whole book. She was eating so much cake."

Year 5, week 32: The World According to Garp

This week's book:
The World According to Garp
By John Irving

When I was very small I remember very clearly watching the film The World According to Garp, starring Robin Williams, Glenn Close and John Lithgow. The story is of a man named Garp and his life. He is raised by a single mother that is a feminist icon, that has all these female followers. I didn't understand it and found parts of it very sad or heartbreaking. 

My dad loves/loved Robin Williams, so he loved the film and liked the book as well. He always said he wished that Irving hadn't included all of Garp's stories in the book, because it takes you out of the real story, which I would definitely agree with. 

At some point I acquired a copy of the novel, but never got around to reading it. I finally read the novel this week. It was funny/weird because while I was reading the book, random plot points would come back to me. As a whole I did enjoy the novel. I did get really annoyed with all the infidelity that is just thrown around, but I did enjoy that the trans character was my favorite character, as it was when I was a kid watching the movie. 

I am very glad that I read the book so I can have some more to talk to my dad. I will be honest to say I think this book could be about half the length, but Irving does create a whole world for his readers. I would probably recommend the book.