Episode
SLOW READ: The Stand (Chapter 45 - Mother Abagail)
- Podcast
- Slow Read: The Stand
- Published
- Mar 16, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2983
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Summary
Welcome to SLOW READ , where we tackle the books you’ve always wanted to read at a pace you can handle. Hosted by Sarah Stewart Holland and Laura Tremaine We are currently reading The Stand by Stephen King (unabridged version) You can find our full Reading Schedule here Join the SLOW READ community on Substack for bonus episodes, book club meetings, and Side Quests with Sarah & Laura ___ If you prefer to read instead of listen, below is a cleaned up transcript of the episodes as well as links to all the books and Substacks we mentioned in this episode…and several fun bonus links and videos! Mentioned in this episode: The Shack by William P. Young Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis The Correspondent by Virginia Evans ___ Sarah: I might cry recording this chapter. Laura: Why? Sarah: Because I loved it so much. I cried reading it. I just loved it. Laura: Well, this is why we dedicated a whole episode to just this chapter. Sarah: That was very wise of us. And by us, I mean you. Seminal Moments and 500 Pages of Lead-up Sarah: We separated this chapter out because it is such a seminal moment in The Stand . Oh, my gosh. I love her. Do you? Laura: Yes. She is like a literary icon. Sarah: I am obsessed. I loved every word of this chapter—okay, that’s not true, there were a couple words I didn’t love—but she feels so real. I struggle to say “character” because I just want to say “woman.” Laura: This is the first time in the book where we finally get to know more about her. She’s kind of only showed up in dreams so far. Finally, we’re seeing that the pandemic isn’t the villain, really. Campion isn’t the villain. We’re starting to get what people mean when they say The Stand is a story about the battle of good and evil. Sarah: Let’s s…