Helpful Score: 14
This is the newest novel by the horror great, Stephen King. It is 1074 pages long and quite heavy! It is an apocalyptic novel about the small town of Chester's Mill, Maine and what happens to it when a large, glass-like dome descends over the town and all that is in it. There are a number of larger than life characters that fairly leap off the page. In typical King fashion, there are the good guys and bad, unexpected heroes and villains. The plot twists and turns many times and will keep you up at night guessing. By the end of the novel I had grown quite attached to a few of the characters and didn't want the story to end. I would heartily recommend this novel to anyone! Just don't stand to close to the dome....
Helpful Score: 12
Darn you Mr. King, I couldn't get anything done once I sat down with the new, 15 pound book, but I love it.
He's done it again!!! I always thought that the early Stephen King books were slow to start and then took off like wildfire, but this one grabbed me from page one!!! A large cast of characters in a small town get locked in by an invisible, unexplainable dome. The main character, who spends much of the book in jail, almost gets out but gets stuck inside a town where the powers that be are not fond of him. At 1074 pages my biggest complaint is that it was hard to hold! I am always sad when one of his books end so I don't mind when he writes a very long one. The last few chapters were sad; he kills more of his characters than he usually does.
I'm sorry he had a terrible accident but I think it has improved his writing skills! I'm so happy his retirement was, apparently, a rumor. I highly recommend this great big book.
He's done it again!!! I always thought that the early Stephen King books were slow to start and then took off like wildfire, but this one grabbed me from page one!!! A large cast of characters in a small town get locked in by an invisible, unexplainable dome. The main character, who spends much of the book in jail, almost gets out but gets stuck inside a town where the powers that be are not fond of him. At 1074 pages my biggest complaint is that it was hard to hold! I am always sad when one of his books end so I don't mind when he writes a very long one. The last few chapters were sad; he kills more of his characters than he usually does.
I'm sorry he had a terrible accident but I think it has improved his writing skills! I'm so happy his retirement was, apparently, a rumor. I highly recommend this great big book.
Helpful Score: 12
I can honestly say that I have never been a big king fan. I saw this book at the book store and thought it looked interesting. I must say it is one of the best books I have read in a LONG time. When I finished I felt like I lost a friend. I was so involved in the lives of the characters that with every death I felt like I lost someone close. It makes you wonder "could that happen?" The twist at the end was unexpected. I would tell everyone " Read this book" . It was worth every minute
Helpful Score: 5
Definitely not one of his best. 1000 pages is a lot, he could have left out A LOT! By the end I was skimming the pages because I just wanted it to end and find out why what happened did. I would read another book before I picked up this one.
Helpful Score: 4
i normaly think with the long books , the story would drag , and be slow in parts , not this book. starts with alot of action and keeps you reading. the characters are truly great. story is emotional at parts. i HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. as with stephen king books there are some ghraphic scenes!!!
Helpful Score: 4
OMG! I loved this book!!! Stephen King does it again. His characters are so realistic and you can feel their frustration and grief throughout the whole book! This is by far one of my favorite books. It took me 2 weeks to finish this 1,000page+ book but it was so damn good. I highly reccommend it..
Helpful Score: 4
The King is back! I truly enjoyed this book. This book reminded me of The Stand, another dauntingly huge King book, but so worth the time. The characters are well formed. There is a good and evil battle, a hero and the bad guy, two groups of people in a small population fighting for what they think is right. A social tome if there ever was one.
King explains in the afterword that he actually started this one back in the 70's but didn't have the time to work out all the scientific peculiarities of what he wanted to portray in the story. Now that technology has advanced it made it easier to work out some of the issues and now he is also rich and was able to hire a researcher.
King explains in the afterword that he actually started this one back in the 70's but didn't have the time to work out all the scientific peculiarities of what he wanted to portray in the story. Now that technology has advanced it made it easier to work out some of the issues and now he is also rich and was able to hire a researcher.
Helpful Score: 4
Classic Stephen King!! I had forgotten how much I love his writing - but sitting down with this one brought it all back and now I want more more more!
It's a rare writer that can fill up 1000+ pages to cover a time period of less than a week in the lives of the people of Chester Mills without boring their readers to death!
The book on its surface is about a small town that is suddenly encased in an indestructible dome. Obviously, the questions of where the dome came from, why it happened, how to get rid of it, are considered. But there's also the reality of the fact that they are on their own completely - there's no one getting out and no one getting in either. Who is in charge? And why? Are they still part of the U.S.? Or have they seceded? Who can be trusted?
Stephen King is sometimes at his best when he deals with the monsters that really do exist - the evil that lives inside all of us - and that's what this book is ultimately about.
It's a rare writer that can fill up 1000+ pages to cover a time period of less than a week in the lives of the people of Chester Mills without boring their readers to death!
The book on its surface is about a small town that is suddenly encased in an indestructible dome. Obviously, the questions of where the dome came from, why it happened, how to get rid of it, are considered. But there's also the reality of the fact that they are on their own completely - there's no one getting out and no one getting in either. Who is in charge? And why? Are they still part of the U.S.? Or have they seceded? Who can be trusted?
Stephen King is sometimes at his best when he deals with the monsters that really do exist - the evil that lives inside all of us - and that's what this book is ultimately about.
Helpful Score: 3
I really loved this book, I think it's my new favorite King novel. It is quite a huge book and there's a lot of detail in there, some might say too much, but I think it really works well with everything going on in the story.
There are some very graphic things that happen in this book, but when you think about the very small town these people are in I felt that everything that did happen could really happen. People ARE crazy, they DO snap just like that. With no one really to keep any real sense of order, and no one really having any idea what is going on crazy and horrible things WILL happen.
The characters in this story were fantastic, the good and the bad. Some to love and some you'll love to hate. Even the animals are, kind of, involved(a bear committing suicide? sh*t just got real lol).
I will say though as much as I loved this book the end left me wanting to know what happened next for these people. They survived so much, and you hope that there's better days ahead for them.
Fantastic read! Highly recommended!!
There are some very graphic things that happen in this book, but when you think about the very small town these people are in I felt that everything that did happen could really happen. People ARE crazy, they DO snap just like that. With no one really to keep any real sense of order, and no one really having any idea what is going on crazy and horrible things WILL happen.
The characters in this story were fantastic, the good and the bad. Some to love and some you'll love to hate. Even the animals are, kind of, involved(a bear committing suicide? sh*t just got real lol).
I will say though as much as I loved this book the end left me wanting to know what happened next for these people. They survived so much, and you hope that there's better days ahead for them.
Fantastic read! Highly recommended!!
For fans of Stephen King, this monster read does not disappoint. It was hard to put down, though gravity would have had no problem completing the task for you. It is a novel that keeps you guessing from the first page until the last. It isn't a joke. If you can find a preview of it on amazon, I recommend it. The action starts right away in the first few pages and doesn't let up the entire time. The character development is fantastic and frustrating. There are people to love and people to absolutely loathe. The end is so vivid, it won't leave your mind for awhile. It's been months since I've read this, and I'm still having dreams about it. Once again, King has amazed.
Helpful Score: 3
Like a phoenix, Stephen King has,after 20 years, risen from the sands of mediocrity to finally produce a reasonably good book! This 1,100 page tome is a good read despite the fact that there are absolutely no original ideas involved. The whole concept of the book is a mosaic of half a dozen "Twilight Zone"'s and "Tales from the Darkside"'s shown many years ago. But the character developement is great. The main characters quickly begin to feel like friends and it's impossible not to hate the "boss hog" of the town and his crew. There is plenty of action..... military, revolutionary, and social. Although the storyline is predictable, the story is well written and engaging with a few unexpected twists. The end seems awfully familiar, but the book is well worth the read....especially if you get it through the club instead of paying full price. (My copy was given to me). I enjoyed the book as the return of an old friend but I can't in good conscience give it more than 3 1/2 stars due to the lack of originality.
Helpful Score: 3
Under The Dome holds up to its promise with colorful heroes and villains that make your skin crawl.
On a beautiful sunny day the small town of Chester's Mill is shut off from the rest of the world. The town's people find themselves under an invisible cheese cover that is touchable but won't let anyone in or out.
What happens is what is expected: the powers that be seek more power and influence, although this means to discard of those that don't agree.
Under the Dome an own economic system develops until all else is or will be exhausted which includes air.
Under the Dome is no classical King horror story. Although it is a dark story it shows how human behavior will develop in an enclosed environment which might just make it even more frightening.
As always the reader will meet lots of different characters, each playing its own role in the story. The smalltown life, carelessness and stereotypes are beautifully pictured in this novel and it fits most cut and dried opinions.
I am not sure if there should ever be a judgement on character development. Especially with a novel that has 1000+ pages and lots of characters playing a part in it. Character development probably isn't the point either if you look at the main picture. At the what happens if... .
Love it and got what I expected !
On a beautiful sunny day the small town of Chester's Mill is shut off from the rest of the world. The town's people find themselves under an invisible cheese cover that is touchable but won't let anyone in or out.
What happens is what is expected: the powers that be seek more power and influence, although this means to discard of those that don't agree.
Under the Dome an own economic system develops until all else is or will be exhausted which includes air.
Under the Dome is no classical King horror story. Although it is a dark story it shows how human behavior will develop in an enclosed environment which might just make it even more frightening.
As always the reader will meet lots of different characters, each playing its own role in the story. The smalltown life, carelessness and stereotypes are beautifully pictured in this novel and it fits most cut and dried opinions.
I am not sure if there should ever be a judgement on character development. Especially with a novel that has 1000+ pages and lots of characters playing a part in it. Character development probably isn't the point either if you look at the main picture. At the what happens if... .
Love it and got what I expected !
Helpful Score: 3
Yep, Mr. King does it again! I breezed through this 1,074 page book very quickly while things around me that should have been done, waited. Thank goodness King was nice enough to give us a cast of characters in the beginning. I found myself referring to it a few times. As is usual, it was a colorful cast. Great read about good and evil, and an interesting likeness to the greed in people today who also hide behind Christendom. Loved it!
Helpful Score: 2
I just finished this behemoth of a book last night and it was fabulous. I'm not sure how Stephen King does it again and again, he's some sort of genius. I felt the first chapter was a bit disjointed which made me hesitant to commit to reading a 1000+ page book (King or not) but I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. This book goes non-stop. It's simultaneously terrifying, infuriating, mesmerizing, funny and thought-provoking (What the heck would I do in that situation??). And really, what more could you want in a book?
Helpful Score: 2
If you can get past this book's 1000+ pages, you will find another jewel of a saga by Stephen King. In the line of The Stand and It, Under the Dome brings us along while catastrophe and heartache afflict this small Maine town. By the 500 page range I was wondering what else could possibly happen to these to people! And then, Stephen went on to answer that question. The ending is almost anti-climatic after all the people endured but it was heartening to know that somehow, a small group did survive. If you don't mind humanity being likened to ants, then you just might enjoy this whale of a tale by Stephen King.
It has been a very, very long time since I've read the works of Mr. King (I'm thinking Needful Things or The Wasteland from the Gunslinger series were among the last, not long after their respective publications). At first, it felt different than how I remembered his writing to be, but I recognized his style and felt a great comfort in it, once I settled in. I cut my reading teeth on King's novels, coupled with being from Maine, myself, reading this book was like "home".
Enough of the author, though, the story had me enthralled from page 1. There were few, very few, slow spots and they didn't last long (not common from what I remember of King's other books). His character development was fantastic and having skipped right past the map at the beginning of the book, I was able to picture the town's layout, quite well. A large cast of characters seems daunting, but, having gotten used to this on Martin's Song of Ice & Fire books, I didn't struggle with that (there's a helpful list at the front of the book, though I also didn't see it until I finished it).
Weighing in at a whopping 1000+ pages (still finished in less than a week, though, very fast-paced, intriguing story), I was glad I was reading on my Kindle, holding this massive book would have made my hands numb by page 5.
Loved the story, the characters and this fictional town of Maine (I promise, we aren't really like that!), I would heartily recommend this book to neighbors, friends & family! Enjoy!
Enough of the author, though, the story had me enthralled from page 1. There were few, very few, slow spots and they didn't last long (not common from what I remember of King's other books). His character development was fantastic and having skipped right past the map at the beginning of the book, I was able to picture the town's layout, quite well. A large cast of characters seems daunting, but, having gotten used to this on Martin's Song of Ice & Fire books, I didn't struggle with that (there's a helpful list at the front of the book, though I also didn't see it until I finished it).
Weighing in at a whopping 1000+ pages (still finished in less than a week, though, very fast-paced, intriguing story), I was glad I was reading on my Kindle, holding this massive book would have made my hands numb by page 5.
Loved the story, the characters and this fictional town of Maine (I promise, we aren't really like that!), I would heartily recommend this book to neighbors, friends & family! Enjoy!
Helpful Score: 1
After a very slow, character building first section of the book, the rest went quickly. The idea is intriguing, the underlying thought frighteningly simple. I loved this book, and know that SK first builds his characters and then quickly moves on with the story. Slogging through the first section is well worth it and be prepared to not be able to put it down!! Loved it!
Helpful Score: 1
I had not read a King book in a very long time. Was given to me by a friend so I thought what the heck and dove in.What I love is how he continually comes up with these creative story ideas. I so admire his imagination. What I don't like is how he seems to come through so much in his characters. His bad guys seem like all the same person. So much evil in one small town. Same odd inner dialogues etc. Same style of speaking. Not enough difference from one character to the next.Too many similarities. I got bored with the characters one sided personalities. Good verses bad. Don't some people have a bit of each in them?
Helpful Score: 1
I've been reading SK works for 30 years now. I find him to be the master of his genre. Over the years, I've been less enthusiastic of his more recent books, but was excited to see that he returns closer to his roots in this one. There are two ways to think about rating this book. The first 80% or the last 20%. This 1,000+ page read had me totally engaged from the very beginning. First let me say a 1,000+ page SK book is not off par for this author...his true fans will never care about page count. If I were to rate it on the last 200 pages (or the ending), I'd give it low stars. The first 800 pages I give 5 stars. The ending was just so far out there and not even in keeping with the book itself, that I was disappointed. The ending felt a little rushed, almost as if he didn't even know how to explain the dome in the first place. A prolific writer like Mr. King could have easily brought better closure to this. I give it 4 stars because the ending just took away the 5 stars I was prepared to give it.
Helpful Score: 1
An excellent sci fi scenario and a study of human behavior under strain. A great read!
Helpful Score: 1
I have not read a Stephen King novel in a very long time. But I'm glad I read this one! One of the best book I have read in a long time. Right from the beginning it grips you. The characters are all very well written, and I know I became attached to a few. But word of warning to do not get to attached, the people drop off like flys! The massive size seemed daunting in the beginning, but by the end you will be sad that it is over. King definately still has the "it" factor when it come to suspense. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone that loves a great story with lots of action, suspense, and lots and lots of mystery!!!!
This is his best book yet!! A real page turner!
Absolute pedal-to-the-metal non-stop action throughout this huge tome. (120 MPH down a dead-end street!) As I suspected, book and TV mini-series are quite divergent. The book has a huge cast of characters with different motivations, different fates, different ages, and different characteristics. And, of course, the book is much more graphic, violent and horrific.
I am not really a Stephen King fan, but then I am not a "Horror" fan either. He scares me too much. Probably a sign of an excellent writer. His books with a SciFi bent, I can manage to read. So if you want to be scared out of your boots this may not be the book for you, but it is a thriller from start to finish.
I am not really a Stephen King fan, but then I am not a "Horror" fan either. He scares me too much. Probably a sign of an excellent writer. His books with a SciFi bent, I can manage to read. So if you want to be scared out of your boots this may not be the book for you, but it is a thriller from start to finish.
I experienced this book in audio format. (about 34 hours). I enjoyed the story, speculating all the way through to the end on just what exactly the people of Chester's Mill, Maine were going through. The psychology of the neighbors, I think he got just right. Watching the story unfold is a little like watching a captive ant hill, except you have the benefit of understanding what they think say and do.
As I understand it this is his longest story, but I found myself continuing to stay interested, unlike my first reading of The Stand where I had to put it down to trade off for other books every few hundred pages.
As I understand it this is his longest story, but I found myself continuing to stay interested, unlike my first reading of The Stand where I had to put it down to trade off for other books every few hundred pages.
To start I have never been a Stephen King fan, but when this book came out I spied it at the local K-mart and glanced at the first few pages. I was intriged with the beginning. After looking and reading another page or two (was on page 28 when I decided I had to have thtis book) everytime I saw this book on the shelf so I finally purchased it. The story had me hooked after the first page! This 1000 page book got read in 5 evenings. The story is very believable till the end.
Very good but long book. King even references it's length in the course of the story. A lot of characters to keep track of but all are well developed. A very good story with for me a somewhat disappointing ending
This is my first Stephen King book. I had to read it because the plot really intrigued me. Overall it was a good read and I enjoyed it. The characters were awesome and the ending was somewhat predictable after the first half of the book. The book was very sexually descriptive and gruesome but I think that was necessary to make the book seem real. You never know what people would turn into given this type of situation in real life. I would recommend to anyone who gets into this genre of books.
Pretty good! He could have left most of the political mud slinging out but its King...
I really enjoyed this book though the reading was full of frustration for me as well. This is a lonnnng entry for King, a huge sprawling story with a large cast of very well established characters. The problem is they were a little too well established for me. Usually I am a very patient reader- I very much enjoy 'the journey'- but in this book I caught myself 3 different times reading the final paragraph looking for reassurance that the 'villain' would be properly dealt with. Which information, by the way, is not in the final paragraph. Dang it.
The premise here, without giving away to much of the plot, is that the little area of Chester's Mill is put under a massive stress and a microscope. Throw in a few good guys and a few bad guys (and a few blurring the lines), mix them up well and observe the interactions (from a safe distance if you're smart).
As I said above, this is a very long book but don't let that dissuade you because it keeps moving and, in fact, King uses a 'snippet' style of writing here so that you are able to set it down and pick up again easily. Also, it's very simply an absorbing book- in my opinion King is always at his best when he simply writes about people (Dolores Claiborne, anyone?), their relationships, their interactions and their motives and this book does that extremely well.
The premise here, without giving away to much of the plot, is that the little area of Chester's Mill is put under a massive stress and a microscope. Throw in a few good guys and a few bad guys (and a few blurring the lines), mix them up well and observe the interactions (from a safe distance if you're smart).
As I said above, this is a very long book but don't let that dissuade you because it keeps moving and, in fact, King uses a 'snippet' style of writing here so that you are able to set it down and pick up again easily. Also, it's very simply an absorbing book- in my opinion King is always at his best when he simply writes about people (Dolores Claiborne, anyone?), their relationships, their interactions and their motives and this book does that extremely well.
Stephen King is my favorite writer. He can spin a tale and have you believing every word! The sky has no limit with King...
This book reminded me of "The Stand" because it was more heavily focused on the characters. Like "The Stand," this book begins with a sudden, mysterious conflict- in this case, a dome clamps down over the town, shutting it off from the rest of the world. What follows in a great psychological read of the tensions that accelerate within the townsfolk. The good/bad conflict of a power-hungry car salesman/pseudo town leader and the ex-military diner cook is wonderfully drawn out. Where this book goes wrong is Mr. King's desire to throw in the "weird" element. The dome needs some sort of explanation, but the one Mr King offers is just too weird and disjointed; it does not fit in with the book at all. However, I also had the feeling he was trying to avoid the "government conspiracy"/bad military coverup controversy. Oh well, the coverup conspiracy would have made more of a fit than the ending he chose.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
I rarely read Stephen King because I have been very disappointed in some of his endings and I don't particularly like his style, at times. I decided to give this one a chance and found I was pleasantly surprised. It is fast-paced and there are many subplots so even though it is a very long book, it feels like a quick read. It never bogs down and it is very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, start to finish!
It's been a long time since I've read any Stephen King. I loved his novels as a teenager, but got distracted by other authors as I got older and haven't been back to him for probably twenty years. But "Under the Dome" showed up on some "best of 2010" lists, and so I picked it up to give this new one a shot.
It's pretty damn wonderful. The action in just the first few pages *really* drew me in, as the titular dome comes down and slices a hedgehog in half while a small plane above slams into an invisible force field. And it didn't let up. There are characters to hate; there are characters to love, and their interactions are what makes the book really shine.
The story, in essence, is how bad things can go when a small Maine town is cut off, in a physical sense, from the rest of the world. It's got power-hungry town government, crazy people with guns, and an environment where things go from fresh air to stale air (literally and figuratively) in a week's time. It's a bit like "Lord of the Flies" that way, in truth, only we have adults here as well.
The only real problem I have with the novel is the rationale behind the dome generation itself. The book kind of has to end with the answer to the question of "who's behind the dome?" and the answer to that question is very unsatisfying to me. And the thing is, the answer to that question is really, truly, not significant to the story at all. There's a lot of novel with lots of great stuff, and to end with an unimportant and poorly designed "big reveal" is kind of a let down.
4 of 5 stars.
It's pretty damn wonderful. The action in just the first few pages *really* drew me in, as the titular dome comes down and slices a hedgehog in half while a small plane above slams into an invisible force field. And it didn't let up. There are characters to hate; there are characters to love, and their interactions are what makes the book really shine.
The story, in essence, is how bad things can go when a small Maine town is cut off, in a physical sense, from the rest of the world. It's got power-hungry town government, crazy people with guns, and an environment where things go from fresh air to stale air (literally and figuratively) in a week's time. It's a bit like "Lord of the Flies" that way, in truth, only we have adults here as well.
The only real problem I have with the novel is the rationale behind the dome generation itself. The book kind of has to end with the answer to the question of "who's behind the dome?" and the answer to that question is very unsatisfying to me. And the thing is, the answer to that question is really, truly, not significant to the story at all. There's a lot of novel with lots of great stuff, and to end with an unimportant and poorly designed "big reveal" is kind of a let down.
4 of 5 stars.
Love the way King draws his characters! Even though the book was over 1,000 pages, I couldn't put it down.
Steven King at his best, spinning an engaging if lengthy tale of ever-increasing suspense; believable if quirky characters; and ideas worth pondering about both humans and the universe.
Very slow moving book. Tons of characters and King describes what is happening to each in lot of detail, so you'll go through loads of pages and feel like nothing has really happened. Great idea, but since it was so slow moving, I couldn't come close to finishing it.
This was a huge book at a 1000+ pages. Took me forever to finish, about 3 months total. This was a very good story and read a lot like a movie. I thought it was great up until the very end. Didn't care for the ending at all, thought it kinda ran out of steam. But the rest of the book was very much in Stephen King style that we all know and love. I hear they may make this into a mini-series for HBO. I will definitely be watching it and maybe they can interpret the ending better than I can.
Another great epic by the King! This is not so much a horror tale as a tale of human nature. Unfortunately, to do a true review would give too much away. Let's just say, over 1000 pages goes by really, really fast! Thanks Stephen for a really great read and I can't wait for more!
P.S. I'm a Jack Reacher fan myself!
P.S. I'm a Jack Reacher fan myself!
This is my first read by Stephen King. I only read it because it was chosen by my book club, so I may have a different opinion from those who frequently read his books.
The book is about how people behave when in a crisis situation.
It took me about 300 pages to even become remotely interested in the storyline. King is great with description and it felt like you were really there, but I didn't really care to be there. I really liked some of the characters, and really detested the ones I was supposed to, so he did his job in that arena. I guess this just wasn't a story that interested me.
King also uses so much description that it took him 1,064 pages to get through 6 or 7 days. The first 300 pages covered approximately 10 minutes in "real" time in the book. I found myself frequently thinking, "okay, I get it already, let's get on with the point." Since I have no previous experience with King books, I can't say if this is his norm or not. The book was also quite violent. If you enjoy that kind of thing, you will like this book. I don't, particularly. Again, just not my thing.
Additionally, I felt that the end of the story just sort of fizzled out. Like he didn't know how to end it and he was running out of space or something. My book club friends agreed, for the record, though they loved the rest of the book.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
I wondered the entire time if it was going to be aliens controlling the dome. I hate alien stories. I don't know why, but I do. It was aliens, which annoyed me, but it still wasn't what the story was about, so it didn't really matter.
The book is about how people behave when in a crisis situation.
It took me about 300 pages to even become remotely interested in the storyline. King is great with description and it felt like you were really there, but I didn't really care to be there. I really liked some of the characters, and really detested the ones I was supposed to, so he did his job in that arena. I guess this just wasn't a story that interested me.
King also uses so much description that it took him 1,064 pages to get through 6 or 7 days. The first 300 pages covered approximately 10 minutes in "real" time in the book. I found myself frequently thinking, "okay, I get it already, let's get on with the point." Since I have no previous experience with King books, I can't say if this is his norm or not. The book was also quite violent. If you enjoy that kind of thing, you will like this book. I don't, particularly. Again, just not my thing.
Additionally, I felt that the end of the story just sort of fizzled out. Like he didn't know how to end it and he was running out of space or something. My book club friends agreed, for the record, though they loved the rest of the book.
SPOILER ALERT!!!
I wondered the entire time if it was going to be aliens controlling the dome. I hate alien stories. I don't know why, but I do. It was aliens, which annoyed me, but it still wasn't what the story was about, so it didn't really matter.
First Line: From two thousand feet, where Claudette Sanders was taking a flying lesson, the town of Chester's Mill gleamed in the morning light like something freshly made and just set down.
Under the Dome is huge. I never did get around to weighing the thing, but if you chucked it at someone, you could cause some real damage. It comes with a map and a cast of characters. I went through it like a house afire, and the only thing I got tired of was the feeling that I'd strapped a sleeping toddler to the end of my arm.
A dome comes down over the small town of Chester's Mill, Maine. If you're inside the dome, you can't get out. If you're outside the dome and want in, you're out of luck. If you happen to be caught halfway, you're really out of luck. You can't dig under the dome, and you can't fly over it, and used car salesman Jim Rennie thinks all his prayers have been answered. The town and the people of Chester's Mill have been put right in the palm of his sanctimonious, greedy, power hungry hand.
Although the cast of characters is huge, and the action continuously shifts from place to place, after the initial inspection upon opening the book, I never referred back to either the map or the cast of characters. I grew up in a small town, and I think I mentally put Stephen King's dome down over my own home town and called many of its people by King's names. I would imagine that I'm not the only one who did this. For those who didn't, the map and the cast list will probably come in very handy.
The dome immediately becomes a media event, and the military shows up even before CNN and Fox. It doesn't take long before people realize that the dome has an ecological effect on the town, and as people feverishly work to get rid of it, King's characters became etched in my mind: Big Jim Rennie and his spoiled son, young Rennie's pack of no-good friends, "Barbie" the Iraqi war veteran, the newspaperwoman, the minister who isn't so sure she believes in God... it's a large cast, and each character remained clear in my mind.
As the pages flew by, character after character paid dearly for hasty decisions, and I didn't always like the consequences. Fortunately King provided just enough comic relief for Under the Dome to avoid becoming overwhelmingly dark. His opinion of the human race isn't very kind; unfortunately, it's often right on the mark, so if you like reading a fast-paced novel about good and evil filled with memorable characters, pick up Under the Dome. With its heft, you'll also be giving yourself a workout.
[Note: if you have a low tolerance for gore, I'd advise you to avoid this one. I normally don't think about this because I have a high gore tolerance. Must come from going hunting with my grandfather and cleaning what was brought home to eat.]
Under the Dome is huge. I never did get around to weighing the thing, but if you chucked it at someone, you could cause some real damage. It comes with a map and a cast of characters. I went through it like a house afire, and the only thing I got tired of was the feeling that I'd strapped a sleeping toddler to the end of my arm.
A dome comes down over the small town of Chester's Mill, Maine. If you're inside the dome, you can't get out. If you're outside the dome and want in, you're out of luck. If you happen to be caught halfway, you're really out of luck. You can't dig under the dome, and you can't fly over it, and used car salesman Jim Rennie thinks all his prayers have been answered. The town and the people of Chester's Mill have been put right in the palm of his sanctimonious, greedy, power hungry hand.
Although the cast of characters is huge, and the action continuously shifts from place to place, after the initial inspection upon opening the book, I never referred back to either the map or the cast of characters. I grew up in a small town, and I think I mentally put Stephen King's dome down over my own home town and called many of its people by King's names. I would imagine that I'm not the only one who did this. For those who didn't, the map and the cast list will probably come in very handy.
The dome immediately becomes a media event, and the military shows up even before CNN and Fox. It doesn't take long before people realize that the dome has an ecological effect on the town, and as people feverishly work to get rid of it, King's characters became etched in my mind: Big Jim Rennie and his spoiled son, young Rennie's pack of no-good friends, "Barbie" the Iraqi war veteran, the newspaperwoman, the minister who isn't so sure she believes in God... it's a large cast, and each character remained clear in my mind.
As the pages flew by, character after character paid dearly for hasty decisions, and I didn't always like the consequences. Fortunately King provided just enough comic relief for Under the Dome to avoid becoming overwhelmingly dark. His opinion of the human race isn't very kind; unfortunately, it's often right on the mark, so if you like reading a fast-paced novel about good and evil filled with memorable characters, pick up Under the Dome. With its heft, you'll also be giving yourself a workout.
[Note: if you have a low tolerance for gore, I'd advise you to avoid this one. I normally don't think about this because I have a high gore tolerance. Must come from going hunting with my grandfather and cleaning what was brought home to eat.]
I really enjoyed this book once I got past the first 50 pages. I did not think I would remember all the characters but they are so fitting and so strong I did. It was a long book but I enjoyed it very much. Good story.
Excellent! Plot within a plot, hard to put down.
Stephen King has done it again! A small town has suddenly been sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible dome. The author again walks you through the unexplainable events taking place as the town realizes its fate. A must read for any avid Stephen King reader.
Awesome Book! Stephen King does a fantastic job making his characters come to life. There is never a dull moment in this story.
What I absolutely loved most about this book was that it is not a typical "horror." This was the story of what fear and panic can do to people, whether they use it to torment the masses or whether they allow themselves to believe the lies of those in power. Steven King does a brilliant job of building up the characters and developing a fantastic, detailed story that draws you in to every chapter. My biggest disappointment was the ending. Although it ties in to one of the overall themes of the book, it seemed completely random in the face of what he had created in his story. Overall, it was a great book that I enjoyed, but the randomness of the ending makes my rating a 4/5 stars.
I love Stephen King! I could not wait for this book to come out! That said, the first two thirds of this book were torture to get through! I did not feel interested in any of the characters or the story line. It almost felt like two different books or styles glued together. Then all of a sudden it gets the feel of the "Dark Tower" in the last third of the book and I did not want to put it down - true to fashion for me and a SK novel. Thank goodness! Waiting for more...
Tried to get this book before the season started last year - FINALLY got it a short while ago - just about in time for this years season. (I missed last nights premier due to storms in the area).
So far, I'm only about half way through, has met my expectations. Stephen King always outdoes himself!!!
The very first chapter began with many differences from the tv show, as expected. So am super excited to learn how the book ends!!! As usual, the tv show goes on!
So far, I'm only about half way through, has met my expectations. Stephen King always outdoes himself!!!
The very first chapter began with many differences from the tv show, as expected. So am super excited to learn how the book ends!!! As usual, the tv show goes on!
I've had this book on my shelf for several years and got around to reading it after watching the TV series which was supposedly based on the book. The series seemed to be dragging on and on without an end in sight so I thought by reading the book I would at least get to see how King envisioned the story. Well, I am definitely glad I read it (all 880 pages). In my mind the TV series has little relationship to the book (it must have received good ratings because Season 2 just ended with a cliffhanger which means there must be a Season 3 in store). I believe the TV series is just being dragged out because of the ratings -- it should really die a quiet death! On the other hand, the book was excellent. Some of King's best writing reminiscent of "The Stand" and his other lengthy tomes. The premise of the book (and the TV show) is that a dome falls onto a small town in Maine and then the town folk have to fend for themselves to survive. The bad guy in the book is Big Jim Rennie, a town selectman who has also been stockpiling propane to feed a large meth cooking operation on the outskirts of town. (The propane stockpiling is hinted at in the TV show but never explained.) When the dome comes down, Jim wants more and more power which leads to mass destruction within the dome. At the end, there are only a few survivors out of over 2000 residents. So what caused the dome? This may be a spoiler but it was caused by a group of alien children, called leatherheads by the towns people, who are playing with the town like burning ants with a magnifying glass. (There is no "egg", no paintings by Big Jim's wife, no reappearance of a long-dead student, etc. as in the TV show). Overall, I would recommend this but stay away from the TV series!
King maintains his reputation as one of the U.S.'s great mystery writers with this book. The story while not as scary as some of his previous works, really keeps you guessing. If you're one of those who worries about aliens, this book will keep you looking over your shoulder. This book is a great read!
Unable to really start the book, too many unnecessary curse words.
Stephen King creates characters and story better than anyone I have read. Under The Dome is no exception. Those of you with a military background will recognize the terms CLUSTER F--- and FUBAR. Train wreck comes to mind. This is not to imply that the book is in any way military.
The story is LARGE. At 3 pounds 10 ounces and 1074 pages it is typical Stephen King and a good BIG read.
The usual elements appear: A supremely evil human being; Some otherworldly components; An expected cast of characters with down-to-earth gritty attributes complete with hard edges.
The original story was conceived in 1976 and has been very well adapted to today. If there is any place on earth that is like Mr. King's fictional patch of Maine, I certainly do not want to experience it. It IS fun to read about though.
All in all a good story and a good read.
The story is LARGE. At 3 pounds 10 ounces and 1074 pages it is typical Stephen King and a good BIG read.
The usual elements appear: A supremely evil human being; Some otherworldly components; An expected cast of characters with down-to-earth gritty attributes complete with hard edges.
The original story was conceived in 1976 and has been very well adapted to today. If there is any place on earth that is like Mr. King's fictional patch of Maine, I certainly do not want to experience it. It IS fun to read about though.
All in all a good story and a good read.
Welcome back, Stephen King. Wow.
In Under the Dome, readers are treated to a return to the old-school mega horror novel that King does so well. It's a long-overdue refrain for King fans -- like me -- who have missed those epic, layered, character-rich orgies of imagination.
In books like IT and The Stand (incidentally, my favorite King tomes), the characters anchor a story that is equal parts believable horror (focusing on a disaster and the darkness of mankind) interwoven with a supernatural/sci fi thriller.
It would be impossible to summarize the full plot of Under the Dome, and I would hate to ruin any of the fantastic twists and turns that fill the book's 1,000-plus pages. In short, Under the Dome follows the lives of the residents of a small town that is mysteriously cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible and impermeable Dome. From the small-town power grabs of Second Selectman Big Jim Rennie -- one of the best baddies written in ages -- to the environmental ramifications of a Dome that doesn't let anything in or out, the book is layered with horror after horror.
The cast of characters is rich and diverse, full of flawed heroes and complex villans. Among my favorites were Col. Dale Barbara, a former war hero and current drifter short-order cook on his way out of The Mill when the Dome drops; Julia Shumway, the tenacious small-town newspaper editor bent on uncovering the truth of The Dome; and Junior Rennie, recent police deputy, severe migrane sufferer and possible serial killer. But honestly, there are scores of engaging characters wrapped up in the saga that is The Dome.
I can't recommend this book enough if you're a Stephen King fan, a horror junkie or a sci fi nut. My biggest con of the book was that its size made reading it a little uncomfortable. It was heavy, so I had to prop it up on a pillow and it was too big to fit in my purse. Time for a Kindle, I guess.
One final note: I'd love to ask King about the symbol repeated in this book, first seen in IT (marking the tunnel that lead to IT's place -- it's home) and illustrated again in Under the Dome on the side of the mysterious device our heroes discover in the orchard. Sneaky, Mr. King. Very sneaky. That should be food for the message boards.
In Under the Dome, readers are treated to a return to the old-school mega horror novel that King does so well. It's a long-overdue refrain for King fans -- like me -- who have missed those epic, layered, character-rich orgies of imagination.
In books like IT and The Stand (incidentally, my favorite King tomes), the characters anchor a story that is equal parts believable horror (focusing on a disaster and the darkness of mankind) interwoven with a supernatural/sci fi thriller.
It would be impossible to summarize the full plot of Under the Dome, and I would hate to ruin any of the fantastic twists and turns that fill the book's 1,000-plus pages. In short, Under the Dome follows the lives of the residents of a small town that is mysteriously cut off from the rest of the world by an invisible and impermeable Dome. From the small-town power grabs of Second Selectman Big Jim Rennie -- one of the best baddies written in ages -- to the environmental ramifications of a Dome that doesn't let anything in or out, the book is layered with horror after horror.
The cast of characters is rich and diverse, full of flawed heroes and complex villans. Among my favorites were Col. Dale Barbara, a former war hero and current drifter short-order cook on his way out of The Mill when the Dome drops; Julia Shumway, the tenacious small-town newspaper editor bent on uncovering the truth of The Dome; and Junior Rennie, recent police deputy, severe migrane sufferer and possible serial killer. But honestly, there are scores of engaging characters wrapped up in the saga that is The Dome.
I can't recommend this book enough if you're a Stephen King fan, a horror junkie or a sci fi nut. My biggest con of the book was that its size made reading it a little uncomfortable. It was heavy, so I had to prop it up on a pillow and it was too big to fit in my purse. Time for a Kindle, I guess.
One final note: I'd love to ask King about the symbol repeated in this book, first seen in IT (marking the tunnel that lead to IT's place -- it's home) and illustrated again in Under the Dome on the side of the mysterious device our heroes discover in the orchard. Sneaky, Mr. King. Very sneaky. That should be food for the message boards.
Loved alll 500+ pages with the exception of the last chapter. Too "and-the-moral-of-the-story-is..."
Typical Stephen King fashion, this book certainly was not a disappointment. It's a huge book, both in page numbers and storyline, with many characters, twists, and turns... all coupled together with King's sense of direction and storytelling. Excellent read! If you like Stephen King, this is a must read!!!
FANTASTIC, What A Ride!! I LOVED this book and so sorry to see it end.....all 1100 pages of it. Another one for my "keeper" shelf!
Now I will watch the TV Series starting tomorrow and can't wait to see how it's portrayed! Highly recommend this book.
Now I will watch the TV Series starting tomorrow and can't wait to see how it's portrayed! Highly recommend this book.
AS others have said, don't let the 1,000 plus pages put you off, the book did not seem that long. I enjoyed the book for the most part, but did not care for the ending. I thought it should have been more apocalyse-like. The ending was a let down for all that build up.
This is a good book but much too long, It is over 1,000 pages.
I loved this book. I found it hard to put down. It has been a long time since Stephen King wrote something like this. This book had me enthralled until the end. I felt that he had this great thing going and could not figure out how to end it so he just did. Still it was worth it. This book reminded me of his other classics like IT, TOMMYKNOCKERS and DREAMCATHER.
Awesome book! My first Stephen King book as I'm not into horror as he's categorized by I have to say I loved this one and will be at least checking out his books from now on.
If you want to be sucked into a world that is under a dome that is ruled by a control freak and see what happens then this one is for you.
If you want to be sucked into a world that is under a dome that is ruled by a control freak and see what happens then this one is for you.
OMG! need I say more, this was an awsome book. I could not put it down.
ick...got 350 pages and quit, not for me!
I liked it very much. Not King's usual story line....
some very interesting characters.
some very interesting characters.
This is a fabulous book. I am reading it right now.
I bought 2 copies because one of the copies has been autographed by the master himself (King)and I have that one wrapped in plastic and stored away in a lock box!!! I got to meet him at a book signing here in Maryland, and he is the sweetest, nicest man ever.
It is VERY rare to come across an autographed Stephen King book, but I made sure I got one, because I read only his books. I never read a novel unless it is a King book.
I bought 2 copies because one of the copies has been autographed by the master himself (King)and I have that one wrapped in plastic and stored away in a lock box!!! I got to meet him at a book signing here in Maryland, and he is the sweetest, nicest man ever.
It is VERY rare to come across an autographed Stephen King book, but I made sure I got one, because I read only his books. I never read a novel unless it is a King book.
