I'm sure that you are already aware of the fact that your family loves you so very much. I'm also certain that you are looking down on them from your new residency in Heaven, and that you are able to see this for yourself. I had a unique vantage point over the last week. I was actually able to witness an already close-knit family become so much more stronger as they coped with the loss of such a wonderful person in their family. I met a vast amount of people whom you personally impacted with your kind heart and positive nature. It touched my heart to see how much one individual changed the lives of so many. I just thought you should know that.
You should also know that your family loves you, and will continue to do so no matter what. You were (and still are) an integral part in their family system and they are devastated that you are no longer physically here. Hell, I only knew you briefly and I miss the crap out of you! You always made me feel like I was a part of your family, more than anyone. I want to thank you for that. It meant a lot that you made an effort to include me in conversations and to get to know me. The greatest thing you ever did for me was to run up and hug me the first time we met, instantly deeming me part of the family though you had no clue what kind of person I was or if I would be staying around.
Your family...OUR family is in so much pain right now, but they are a strong bunch. Do not fret over their pain; it will become easier to manage as time heals their broken hearts. If you could put in a word to the Big Guy upstairs for me, please ask him to send much love and comfort to all of your beloved family members. They will sorely need it in the times to come.
There will come a time when we will meet again. I am sure of it. Until that day comes, I will always remember how you approached life, with a positive attitude, a selfless demeanor, and a fondness for fun. I will always remember how you loved. Hopefully I can learn something from your wonderful life, and maybe pay it forward as you did. No one can deny that you were an expert at spreading joy. I wish I could do that as well as you could. I may not ever be able to achieve that, but I will try. For you.
I miss you brother. I can't wait to see you in the next life.
Love,
Justin
Monday, August 15, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
The Stand: A Review
I recently finished reading Stephen King's complete and uncut version of The Stand. After reading the final words on the last page, page 1141, I felt a sense of wonder. How is it possible that I felt compelled to continue reading this novel when it was so long? That is just how King is; his writing is incredibly enthralling and never leaves you uninterested in what is happening. His characters are so real it's scary. He doesn't hold back or pull any punches. People die, the world moves on. It is the way of the world. Just because you have invested over four hundred pages of material with one character doesn't mean that character is immune to the touch of Death when he comes to collect them. Anyways, time to review.
The Stand is basically a study of humanity in a post-apocalyptic setting. The first third of the novel is about how a government-manufactured virus (superflu, Captain Trips, etc) gets set loose across the globe, systematically eradicating the human race except for a small percentage who happen to be immune. The virus in itself is horrifying in its simplicity. It is a modified version of the influenza virus that constantly mutates and circumvents the human immune system. Humans are not the only beings effected by the virus; it wipes out almost all of the dogs and horses as well. The suddenness of the virus's impact is strongly felt due to the fact that the characters' lives are literally interrupted in the strangest fashion. Fran is amidst a strong argument with her mother about her becoming pregnant out of wedlock. She is attempting to figure out how to handle this situation, which is a difficult situation in and of itself, when her mother comes down with the superflu. The superflu soon takes out the entire town of Ogunquit, Maine, leaving only her and her friend's younger brother, Harold Lauder. Stu Redman, a simple man from Texas, begins his journey at the actual epicenter of where the superflu becomes spread throughout the nation. He gets shipped to various plague centers and multiple tests are done on him to see why he is immune. Larry Underwood, a semi-established singer and songwriter, moves back to New York City to get away from the self-destructive atmosphere he was falling into. He has a front-row seat to the slow decay of the world's greatest city, NYC. The most upsetting of all the characters' lives pre-outbreak is the life of Nick Andros. Nick is a deaf mute. The first time we meet him is as he is being beat almost to death by some ignorant low-life jack-asses. He is merely a good man who tries so damn hard to do the right thing, but things keep getting in his way. All of these characters share a dream about a dark man and a very old, black woman named Mother Abigail.
Mother Abigail represents all things good and pure, while the Walkin' Dude (which conveniently is also the Man in Black from the Gunslinger novels!) is the avatar of pure evil and malice. Each of these characters gathers like-minded, similar groups of individuals to themselves and form opposing civilizations in different parts of America. Ultimately, the entire novel is a giant case-study on good versus evil. I'm not going to go in depth on all the plot details, but one thing leads to another, their is a giant betrayal at the Good Camp, and it gets decided that a few people need to go to Las Vegas, home of the Bads, and finally confront the Walkin' Dude. Although the trio who eventually make it to Las Vegas get captured and are in the process of being crucified, Trashcan Man (who loves to burn things and has been ignored by the Walkin' Dude) sets off a nuclear warhead, decimating the entire bad camp.
King displays awesome skill at character development in this novel. Every person, whether they have been in only one chapter or the entire novel, has a depth and purpose to the overall story. The message of the novel is that being good is ultimately better off than being evil, even though evil is easier and seems more comfortable. Nick goes through hell, but he never allows it to break his spirit. He stays on the path of righteousness and never falters, sacrificing himself to save others. Most of the people in Vegas pretend that they are living this great new life yet allow people to be crucified. They turn a blind eye to the evil surrounding them. Ultimately, all of the choices in one's life are between the right choice and the wrong choice. Life is dealing with the consequences of the choices you make and deciding if you want to lead a life of doing what is right or wrong. King's novel leaves the reader with a sense that good is the better choice, and that good ultimately triumphs over evil.
At the end, Flagg (the Walkin' Dude) is shown to be alive and well in a different part of the world, starting his process all over again. After all, good cannot exist without evil.
All in all, I would give this novel 4 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
The Stand is basically a study of humanity in a post-apocalyptic setting. The first third of the novel is about how a government-manufactured virus (superflu, Captain Trips, etc) gets set loose across the globe, systematically eradicating the human race except for a small percentage who happen to be immune. The virus in itself is horrifying in its simplicity. It is a modified version of the influenza virus that constantly mutates and circumvents the human immune system. Humans are not the only beings effected by the virus; it wipes out almost all of the dogs and horses as well. The suddenness of the virus's impact is strongly felt due to the fact that the characters' lives are literally interrupted in the strangest fashion. Fran is amidst a strong argument with her mother about her becoming pregnant out of wedlock. She is attempting to figure out how to handle this situation, which is a difficult situation in and of itself, when her mother comes down with the superflu. The superflu soon takes out the entire town of Ogunquit, Maine, leaving only her and her friend's younger brother, Harold Lauder. Stu Redman, a simple man from Texas, begins his journey at the actual epicenter of where the superflu becomes spread throughout the nation. He gets shipped to various plague centers and multiple tests are done on him to see why he is immune. Larry Underwood, a semi-established singer and songwriter, moves back to New York City to get away from the self-destructive atmosphere he was falling into. He has a front-row seat to the slow decay of the world's greatest city, NYC. The most upsetting of all the characters' lives pre-outbreak is the life of Nick Andros. Nick is a deaf mute. The first time we meet him is as he is being beat almost to death by some ignorant low-life jack-asses. He is merely a good man who tries so damn hard to do the right thing, but things keep getting in his way. All of these characters share a dream about a dark man and a very old, black woman named Mother Abigail.
Mother Abigail represents all things good and pure, while the Walkin' Dude (which conveniently is also the Man in Black from the Gunslinger novels!) is the avatar of pure evil and malice. Each of these characters gathers like-minded, similar groups of individuals to themselves and form opposing civilizations in different parts of America. Ultimately, the entire novel is a giant case-study on good versus evil. I'm not going to go in depth on all the plot details, but one thing leads to another, their is a giant betrayal at the Good Camp, and it gets decided that a few people need to go to Las Vegas, home of the Bads, and finally confront the Walkin' Dude. Although the trio who eventually make it to Las Vegas get captured and are in the process of being crucified, Trashcan Man (who loves to burn things and has been ignored by the Walkin' Dude) sets off a nuclear warhead, decimating the entire bad camp.
King displays awesome skill at character development in this novel. Every person, whether they have been in only one chapter or the entire novel, has a depth and purpose to the overall story. The message of the novel is that being good is ultimately better off than being evil, even though evil is easier and seems more comfortable. Nick goes through hell, but he never allows it to break his spirit. He stays on the path of righteousness and never falters, sacrificing himself to save others. Most of the people in Vegas pretend that they are living this great new life yet allow people to be crucified. They turn a blind eye to the evil surrounding them. Ultimately, all of the choices in one's life are between the right choice and the wrong choice. Life is dealing with the consequences of the choices you make and deciding if you want to lead a life of doing what is right or wrong. King's novel leaves the reader with a sense that good is the better choice, and that good ultimately triumphs over evil.
At the end, Flagg (the Walkin' Dude) is shown to be alive and well in a different part of the world, starting his process all over again. After all, good cannot exist without evil.
All in all, I would give this novel 4 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
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