Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Under the Dome


GR summary:
On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.
Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

I read this for my Stephen King Challenge. I started to watch the series when it was first released and did not really care for it, so I was hesitant to pick up this doorstop. The book is wonderful though. There is so much going on but it is not overwhelming or difficult to keep track of.

4/5

Manda- I’m curious what a Stephen King challenge is. All of his books or a certain number? Do you have a favorite? I liked the book much better than the TV series.

Hi Pam, It's a challenge I put together to read everything King wrote, and a semi-spinoff challenge for the Dark Tower Series to read it in a particular order incorporating other King books that are not part of the DT series, but connect in the greater universe.

Manda- Wow! Have fun with that one! I started reading the Dark Tower series in the early 90s but quit because it was too long between books being published. 6 years is too long! I lost interest and couldn’t remember what was happening. You have the benefit that the series is done! Enjoy.

Wow Manda, reading everything King has written is quite a challenge to set for yourself. Good luck!

I watched this series and it quickly went from moderately interesting to bat sh*t crazy very quickly! lol I am adding the book to my TBR though because I did like the premise.

Just finished going through this on audiobook. Second time I've read it, it's not a bad tale, but I can't help but feel its potential was wasted. None of the more interesting aspects were really explored in favour of Big Jim's reign of terror. It all just feels too one-sided for my liking, but then I guess that's sort of the point considering who is behind the dome at the end.

Still, rereading it did allow me to catch an IT connection I hadn't noticed before which was pretty interesting.