Like a lot of people, I went through a period of reading every book King wrote when I was in Junior High and High School. This one hooked me deep and hard. I've always had a thing for end of the world stories where most of humanity dies off and we get to follow those who are left. I think it comes from fantasies I had as a kid walking down the street where I had to escape from some mass murderer or live through a nuclear bomb and fend for myself.

Anyway, this one was so sweeping in its vision and so descriptive of the end of the world that I was fully caught up in it for days. God I miss the days when I could get through a 1000+ page book in a matter of days because I had nothing else to do. It was a true page turner. I'm not sure that I'd find it as good now as I did then. Whenever I try to read King now, I find it all a bit simplistic, but my memories of it are of an excellent read.