Reading the Chunksters discussion

Please post your thoughts on this section. What did you think was the most dramatic moment?

I feel that the actions are speeding up in this chapter. Rusty is brave enough to cross the line of radiation that hides some unknown gadget, and this is the first supernatural thing we have come across so far. His determination, together with the will of the inquisitive minds of teens, can be a ray of hope for this community.

I also like that that the grass root movement is getting stronger. I like that Jackie's character is fleshing out in this chapter, and according to the new Big Jim's regime, she can not be a member of the PD.

At this stage, I am mostly worried about the Chef and Andy. They are both on drugs and their behavior is obnoxious - intoxicated, bigoted, religious, hypocrisy interspersed with hatred and a feeling of superiority. I really do not like them so far away from everybody, high, and in control of the propane that they need to manufacture meth. This thought makes me quite uncomfortable.

I liked the part where we got to see what Horace the Corgi was thinking about while foraging for food scraps - it brought me back to the beginning of the book and the point of view of the woodchuck walking along the highway and found it quite amusing. :)

Yeah, finally we are getting somewhere near the source of this Dome - >700 pages in. I am excited we are seeing something supernatural, but also am a bit disappointed that we are just now getting a glimpse of what this thing could possibly be. Rusty sure had the courage to be the one to investigate in his homemade radiation suit.

I agree with you, Zulfiya - the Andy and Chef situation makes me uncomfortable as well. Loads of propane, meth-lab, assault rifles, and two high-as-a-kite unstable men in charge of it all.

I liked the radiation suit - it was one of the rare comic relief moments. :-)

Anyone else find it suspicious that Cox claimed Wettington was recommended by Jack Reacher? A coincidence that his name happens to be the same as a famous fictional character, or is Cox just assuming Rennie doesn't read as much as I do (a good bet since he apparently doesn't know what a migraine is...) and won't recognize the trick? It jumped out at me immediately.

Lots more to say about this section but I am on my phone and it is annoying to type. more tomorrow, hopefully.

Rennie obviously is not King's favorite character. He is smart, but not book smart.

Based on my experience, King likes such literary allusions. Even in his Dark Tower, in books 5 and 6, he alluded to classical and popular characters and books.

I haven't read past this section, so I'm still not sure whether there is really a person named "Jack Reacher" in this book, or whether Cox was being funny and saying a fictional character commended Wettington.

Linda, I also loved the section from the dog's point of view, and kept rooting for him to pull that envelope out! I had forgotten about the woodchuck at the beginning -- thanks for reminding me about that parallel, how fun!

Andy and the Chef are definitely giving me the creeps as well. And I feel like the Chef seems to know more than he is able to communicate coherently. Makes me wonder if he is somehow involved in that ... thing .. that is generating the dome.

I hope it isn't aliens, that would ruin the book for me. Though things are pointing in that direction now.

I loved the radiation suit! It's really weird that the radiation just disappears when you get close enough to the thing. And that it just disintegrated the stuff put on top of it, but it isn't digging itself into the ground or anything. It's getting weird now!

Finally, I have a bad feeling about the kids coming forward to say what they saw regarding Mrs. Perkins (that was her name, right?) going to various homes as an alibi for Barbie... I have a feeling Big Jim will take revenge on them somehow for saying it and it will end badly for them. Though with Big Jim and Junior in the hospital, maybe they'll have some luck convincing others of what happened.

There is Jack Reacher in the book.Cox mentioned it to Jackie.I'm on that part of chapter.So far first actually conversation between Rennie and Cox is probably one of best moments in book.

I hope you are enjoying the novel, Veka, and our discussion.

I will try to respond if you comment regularly even if we read the book some time ago.

Do you like Stephen King in general?

Hell yeah as response to both questions. :) This is third Stephen King book this year.Andy Sanders becoming a meth addict is something I coudn't predict.First selectman drug addict,second one sells drugs and third one is recovering addict.This town has serious problems even without Dome.I'm already on next chapter.Like always I'm reading a book that has 880 pages for some reason(paperback with old man in plaid red shirt on cover) and listening to audiobook at same time.