Under the Dome *SPOILERS*

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I won't actually be starting it till tonght but I figure we need a place to discuss it as we finish, and for those who've already read it to post comments.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Bryan James]

I just have a hard time at the end when The Dome collapses into a singularity, causing another Big Bang and an alternate universe.

At least that guy and that girl and her turtle were ok.

[ally88]

I just have a hard time at the end when The Dome collapses into a singularity, causing another Big Bang and an alternate universe.

At least that guy and that girl and her turtle were ok.

For once I really can't tell if you're joking!
Oouuu nasty man. :(

[RichardX]

I'm a hundred page in - when does the action start? Just kidding...spoiler... plane crash, murder, helicopter, car and truck crashes etc. Anderson Cooper I could do without, but where do I get a Sea Dogs cap? Any chance SK will buy the Sea Dogs and improve the look of their uniforms which are awful?

[aptpupil]

"Under The Dome"?

What's that?

Is there a new SK novel out? :eyebrow:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

First impressions (page 309) -

Beautifully written (surprise, surprise!), and I particularly like the way Sai King has broken the narrative into chunks of about two thousand words or so - very user-friendly IMO, and also very pacy!

First DT connection, page 9 UK, 'a ticktock under nineteen'

Long days and pleasant nights

[jules17330]

John-I caught that "ticktock" reference too! I'm only about 50 pages in so far but plan on killing a lot of it this weekend. Two sprained ankles means quite a lot of lounge time.

[knittinjen]

I'm 25 hours and 48 minutes into the audio book - and I love the story itself, but the narrator is annoying me a great deal. All the young people seem to have horribly stuffed up noses, the french guy sounds Jamaican, and anybody who is a "good guy" sounds like a California surfer dude - even though they are all from a small Maine town! Ummm....it irritates me that the stupid accents he uses pull me out of the story once in awhile. A good narrator makes you just forget you are listening to a person, a bad one, well, really, they should pick people who can do the accents right! Other than that, I like this book a lot! The older he gets, the better he gets at character development. And he started out pretty well, right? I'm waiting to see if the Tommyknockers are coming or what...haha.

[djbeilstein]

I'm loving this book so far–––as I've skipped the "Spoilers" up top.
However, I have an issue with Big Jim Rennie's overdone 'give your heart to Jesus' evil personage. Seems a little dated to me–––like the 1970s. In our post-Christian age–––an age in which wide amounts of the population believe Jesus Christ & the bible are myths–––plus an increasing secularzation of rural populations–––Big Jim Rennie's evil Christian personage is 'forced' to me. People who are what Big Jim Rennie is are typically estranged from Church or anything 'Jesus' or 'I'm saved' kind of vibe. Yea––Christianity has it's Abortion doctor killer nuts, but how many mass murdering, drug dealing, nutcases go around professing Churchy (and superficial religious notions)? Not many! Also, the "fascist" authoritarian mold of Big Jim Rennie–––in historical and recent past–––has been an arm of anti-Christian sentiment, much more than Christian–– After all thru the Reformation and onward, Christian teachings opened up the whole spectrum of a "free market" free ideas, the freedom of the individual. As Christianity limits the authority of man over other men. it does not bolster it–––our Constitution is evidence of this. Other then that (And I do think Big Jim Rennie is comical about victims eating dinner with Jesus) I find this book a great story and am engulfed in it. I just feel Mr. King's biased Anti-Christian views (in regards to political ideology as well) to be a little overdone. I don't care if he dislikes or even hates Christianity, but the point is to create a world that reports on where a culture is at (and it is progressing away, not toward Christian thinking) not a pretext to use ideas or whatever as props for personal biases. Mr. King is a fantastic story teller, but I believe he put ideological fronts before story on some of UTD characterization. :)

[JoeSherry]

Just finished. Holy cow, what a great story.

[Cisco_Kid]

Hi,

First impressions (page 309) -

Beautifully written (surprise, surprise!), and I particularly like the way Sai King has broken the narrative into chunks of about two thousand words or so - very user-friendly IMO, and also very pacy!

First DT connection, page 9 UK, 'a ticktock under nineteen'

Long days and pleasant nights

He also makes a reference to a "dead zone" which I thought was pretty funny.

[BTRNYC]

Just finished! Slow reader, so 18 days for 1000+ pages is lightning for me...

I also second what JD said about 2000 word blocks being great, especially for subway reading.

Now for the book...
I think it was a haunting, thrilling roller coaster... The end... I felt was typical, but I liked it. I loved the journey, and of course the characters, good and bad. Barbie and Rusty are great heroes, as are Julia and Piper. But I don't think I've ever been enthralled with a character as much as I was with Big Jim Rennie. Well, excluding everybody in DT of course... And the rest of the dirtbags at the PD. I wanted to reach into the pages and strangle them.

Anyone interested in organized religion, the enviroment, political corruption or mob mentality should read this book. I think it says important things about all of those topics and more.

And I remember burning ants in the backyard years ago... I'm scared to look in the mirror. Might see a leather face. :eyebrow:

[Jay P Lang]

Just finished it last night (well now that its past midnight a couple nights ago). It is a great book and I hope HBO not only bought a option but fully commits to doing a series. I also hope they give you a wide range of creative control because I think it could be really messed up if they try to drag it on to far or make it go to fast. This story, I think at least, needs a perfect combination.

If they have open castings in portland, oregon for it let us know. I'd play Barbie to a T, x army and all.

If you haven't read it yet get to it.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

I reckon quite a few will have finished it by now, so I thought I'd bring up the spoiler thread.

In a word - MAGNIFICENT"

Long days and pleasant nights

[bopropadop]

Hi,

I reckon quite a few will have finished it by now, so I thought I'd bring up the spoiler thread.

In a word - MAGNIFICENT"

Long days and pleasant nights


Agreed, John! And as is typical of a Stephen King work, much too short. I wanted another 500 pages.

[Doc Wilson]

I greatly enjoyed it. There were a number of small things that bugged me, like that dopey song everyone kept quoting and the occasional plunge into that weird first person plural narrative mode from Black House, but overall it was a great piece of work.

These huge stories SK writes are devilishly hard to end satisfactorily, I'd give the ending of this one a 'B'.

[Bryan James]

I'm happy with the way it's "chunked," because I don't feel compelled to read a hundred pages at a time. I enjoy the complicated, intertwining stories, and I want to learn the ultimate secret...but I've had it since before it was released and I'm only halfway through. I won't stick my neck out and review something I have not finished. I will do both...eventually.
~BJS

[Bluey Lunger]

I'm loving this book so far–––as I've skipped the "Spoilers" up top.
However, I have an issue with Big Jim Rennie's overdone 'give your heart to Jesus' evil personage....Big Jim Rennie's evil Christian personage is 'forced' to me. People who are what Big Jim Rennie is are typically estranged from Church or anything 'Jesus' or 'I'm saved' kind of vibe. Other then that (And I do think Big Jim Rennie is comical about victims eating dinner with Jesus) I find this book a great story and am engulfed in it. I just feel Mr. King's biased Anti-Christian views (in regards to political ideology as well) to be a little overdone. I don't care if he dislikes or even hates Christianity, but the point is to create a world that reports on where a culture is at (and it is progressing away, not toward Christian thinking) not a pretext to use ideas or whatever as props for personal biases. Mr. King is a fantastic story teller, but I believe he put ideological fronts before story on some of UTD characterization. :)

you should come live w/me for a week. i won't say i know folk like big jimmie, but i know a share that come awful close. i'm self-employed, but there are people around here that will not call me cause i'm not a member in good-standing of their church, not a catholic church. but i gave the catholic church some flack about the sins of their fathers once upon a time and i'm still paying the price for that. in that case, relocation of the fadders seemed to be the order of the day...we all support the team... was down in baton rouge for a bit, this around the time that guy got caught w/the whore at the airport hotel. he had a big plantation, golden gates--though they were painted black at the time--remember him? jimmy swaggert was it? and who can forget tammy faye? cinderella's evil step-sister?

i don't think sk hates christianity. thought i read an interview where he seems to take issue w/those who think they're the only ones going to heaven and the rest be damned and good thing too!

'bout 50 pages shy of a second read of udt. mind-boggling. he makes it seem so easy.

[Blackbeard]

Wow! Great book. It's getting hard to rank his books because so many of them are so awesome. This has got to be near the top of my list, but what books do I bump down the list? My top five is getting kind of crowded.

[misterwoe]

It took me around two weeks to finish ... and wow ... I found myself not wanting to do anything else but read UTD. So I was grouchy and frustrated whenever not reading! Anyone else have this problem?

I think Rennie was an awesome antagonist, and I was a not a bit put off by the extremes in his character. It is not all that unbelievable for someone, especially in politics, to be twisted in so many ways. And it seems to me that King was likening him more to the Cheney's of the world than to Christianity in general. (At one point one of the characters is donning a Cheney mask!)

Of course, it can be argued that when the characters second-guess their notion of God with the aliens responsible for the dome, that maybe King is saying something about the sensitive foundations of what we think we truly believe.

But again I don't think he uses Rennie's character to attack Chrisitianity in general. It just so happens that Big Jim called himself a Christian and used the religion for his own gain. This is evident when the reader witnesses Big Jim goes to hell at the end.

[jchanic]

Big Jim has as much relation to Christianity as the Al-Quida terrorists have to Islam.

John

[Bryan James]

Some of the "I'm updating this story for the Now" bits are kinda (sometimes lotsa) cheese-tinted.

~BJS

[JohnK]

Took me 4 days to read and am I bleary eyed. Once again Stephen King keeps me up late into the wee hours. Damn you Stephen King you've done it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. It almost collapsed my book shelf when I placed it there.

[mojomofo]

My all time favorite thing about stories with large casts is that you can go back a bit later on a re-read and it is just as enjoyable because there is so much going on that part of me is just focused on keeping everyone straight.

Or maybe that is just me...

[PatInTheHat]

I think Rennie was an awesome antagonist, and I was a not a bit put off by the extremes in his character. It is not all that unbelievable for someone, especially in politics, to be twisted in so many ways. And it seems to me that King was likening him more to the Cheney's of the world than to Christianity in general. (At one point one of the characters is donning a Cheney mask!)


Exactamundo!!!

I have never had a fictional character I've loathed or despised more than Big Dick Chen...uhh, Big Jim Rennie....and only one in my current reality..wanna guess who:eyebrow:?
But me thinks there may have been more than a likening of the two, the parallels in attitudes & being control freaks with power is frightning in the accuracy.

My only complaint would be, that ending was waaayyy too easy on him...I like my bullies getting their azzzes handed to them all proper like, and in direct proportion to the steam coming out of my punkin' head over their personal moral righteousness and greed driven, fear whoring ideological antics.
(and yes, these people do in fact exist in the right here and the right now, all flesh & blood like, from small rural communities, all the way to "C" Street in D.C....this book couldn't have been more timely!)
Slooowwwww roasted like a big fat beef (oh yes, with mashed please) I wish I wish he was, or shoved into a sour grape cobbler, and then fed to rodents I probably would have enjoyed, except well, I much more enjoy the company of rodents!
And even those infested with flea bearing plague, deserve better than that for a last meal is what I'm thinkin':glare:.

Oh my word what an exquisitely painful emotional ride that ends justify his means, chronically cruel creep rat bastid gave me...that was a most excellent job is what I'm sayin':oops:!
There were times that sumbitch made me want to chuck the whole damn thing across the room, but I was afraid of giving myself a hernia:laugh:.
(and 'ol Big Di...uhh, I mean Jim, woulda just loved nothin' better you just bet he would..uh uh, no way he was gettin' any satisfaction from me..just ain't how we cowboy it up here in The Mighty BlueGrass:biggrin2:)

[JohnDalglish]

Big Jim has as much relation to Christianity as the Al-Quida terrorists have to Islam.

John


Hi

Exactly.

p 562 UK -
'I saw your kind again and again in Iraq. They wear turbans instead of ties, but otherwise they're just the same. Right down to the blather about God.'

Long days and pleasant nights

[Jay P Lang]

Question
When Big Jim sent people out to check for radiation with the GC, did I miss something or did they never explore that? I don't remember anyone finding the radiation area. I remember him sending someone out, but nothing about it afterward. I just think that would have played a bigger part, so I must have missed it.

[Jay P Lang]

Also, for some reason I kept picturing Doyle Brunson as Big Jim. Though I pictured him younger, but still just like Doyle Brunson and I can't say why. Especially his speach pattern I guess.

And Barbie as the lead character in Jerihco. There was a guy I pictured as Randolph too, kind of like the guy who plays the drunk cop in True Blood. I didn't really get a clear picture of other characters. One of the ******* cops came out like Mario Lopez for some reason, and Junior came out as the guy who plays Lex on Smallvill, but with hair of course.. Dunno, just how it came out to me I guess.

[RJ Sevin]

I finished it a few days ago, and quite literally can't decide how I feel about it. The climax may be one of the most harrowing things King has ever written, and it left me a little frazzled.

I'm not sure I'm entirely pleased with the explanation behind the Dome, though I do appreciate that the heart of the book's theme lies in this explanation -- the pity of the individual vs. the cruelty of the mob.

I'm thoroughly dissatisfied with Big Jim's fate, however. It's an intensely allegorical book (easily King's MOST allegorical book), and I understand that Chester's Mill's Little Hitler had to die in his bunker, I just wish it hadn't been in such an EC Comics/Creepshow fashion.

[bookworm101]

I loved it.... One of my top three favorites at this point....I sunk my teeth into Sunday afternoon after meeting SK that previous Friday, and did not come up for air ( no pun intended ) till Tuesday when I finished it. I could NOT put it down. Funny note. When someone would call for me my husband would say Teresa can't come to the phone right now she currently Under The Dome. LOL My daughter knew exactly what was going on, my Mama on the other hand was confused. LOL. What a ride.

[karend3]

Yeah it came out November 10th.

[karend3]

If you look back in history many wars were started in Gods name. Hitler had the jews killed in Gods name. Slavery was started because white man convinced himself and others they were doing it to teach the black man how to be a good Christian. Even today our wars are fought in Gods name, each nation calling each other "The Devil" of "Infidel" telling them selves and others it is what GOD wants. Also remember Jim Jones,Davi Koresh one claimed to poison his people in GODS name, and David Koresch claimed to be Jesus Christ returned to earth for judgment living the sinful ways so that when it came to judgement day he would have more sympathy. Rennies attitud and actions are still around and will be until Judgement day.

[Doc Wilson]

My fave scene - the chef and andy embracing as they are going down like butch and sundance and kissing, with Mel calling them 'fags" as they push the white button. Incredible image.

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Bob Dylan had something to say on the subject in 'With God on our Side'.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Jay P Lang]

I had a question posted on page 3. Did anyone have a answer?

[Bluey Lunger]

I'm thoroughly dissatisfied with Big Jim's fate, however. It's an intensely allegorical book (easily King's MOST allegorical book), and I understand that Chester's Mill's Little Hitler had to die in his bunker, I just wish it hadn't been in such an EC Comics/Creepshow fashion.

big jim's use of that proverb, 'the guilty flee where none pursueth' is interesting. he uses it twice, the second time, he mentions leviticus. while there's some sentences in leviticus that sound like it, the proverb from 28:1 uses a different adverb, as well as a degree or condition. there, the proverb says, (and i might be wrong so check), 'the wicked flee when no one pursues.' i misquoted the same proverb once upon a a time, as well. seems to be a well-known proverb?
when/where, interesting, is all. some versions of the b-i-b-l-e might have other wordings.

you have to ask yourself, though, what about the ghosts? a figment of guilty big jim's imagination? a symptom? after his fears of what the populace of chester's mills might do, seemed fitting that that paranoia of his follow him to the bunker where he fled. and a nice contrast to his son, who liked enclosed spaces, w/ghosts/dead bodies.

[fredo]

Have we ever read one that moves like this? No ups and downs for me, just up and kept climbing. Great story. Bruce ain't the boss. Steve is.

[mstay]

I just finished it tonight and I liked it a lot! I was a little disappointed in the alien theme but I thought the social allegories were fantastic. I wish Big Jim's ending was a little more spectacular than just dying alone in the shelter. Great story though!

Did anyone else pick up on the bookstore owners name? "Towle" I think that was one of the other names that meant "Tower" mentioned in the DT books.

[Patricia A]

When the dome finally lifted I actually took a big involuntary deep breath and felt like I had the weight of the world lifted off of me. I suppose I was getting really claustrophobic and kind of smother-y toward the end.
Whew what a great ride that was.

About the fanatical religiosity aspect of the story, it's really here under our own big dome and when they start mixing in politics it with it, it becomes a dangerous game, no matter what team they're playing for.

That was my deep thought for the day.

[Patricia A]

Exactamundo!!!

I have never had a fictional character I've loathed or despised more than Big Dick Chen...uhh, Big Jim Rennie....and only one in my current reality..wanna guess who:eyebrow:?
But me thinks there may have been more than a likening of the two, the parallels in attitudes & being control freaks with power is frightning in the accuracy.

Yup I was thinking that too, then I stared being grateful that Dick never got a hold of a meth pipe, then I started to wonder if I was so sure he hadn't. It would explain a lot. :eyebrow:

[Ravenreader]

Somebody expressed dissatisfaction with Big Jim Rennie's ending. I will admit that I read UTD in much bigger chunks than I intended to, thinking, "please oh please tell me something awful happens to that rat bastid". I was afraid that he just might get away scott free, the world of the Dome being what it was.

When I read far enough to reach Big Jim's demise, though, I have to say I was pleased with it. I found poetic justice in the idea that Jim's followers, even his right hand man Carter Thibodeaux, turned on him; otherwise he would have known not to flee the fallout shelter, that the air wasn't safe. I also liked the idea that there were some things even Big Jim was afraid of. (Junior and his "girlfriends." Brrr.) For some reason, though I caught all the obvious references to the Hitler youth and brownshirts (or blueshirts, if you like), I didn't think of the parallel with Hitler's bunker until someone mentioned it here on the forums. Guess I was too wrapped up in the novel to see it.

From the beginning, Big Jim had nothing but contempt for love, pity, mercy, humility, and just plain humanity--those were for weaker people, emotions he could manipulate. He had no real idea of teamwork, either. And all the things he scorned so much were the very qualities he needed to survive. Even though he was absolutely vile, that made him one of the more pitiable characters in my opinion, at least at the end. He had all the answers right there in front of his face the whole time and was absolutely incapable of seeing them.

It makes me think of what Julia and Barbie had to say at the end about the difference between pity and being sorry; between regret after an act and true remorse. Big Jim was incapable of true remorse.

I have to disagree with previous posters. I think Big Jim Rennie's end was just about perfect. Especially his prayer for help at the end, and, "Feed me. Feed me. Feed me." I think it will be a long while before I forget it.

[PatInTheHat]

Yup I was thinking that too, then I stared being grateful that Dick never got a hold of a meth pipe, then I started to wonder if I was so sure he hadn't. It would explain a lot.

:eek:
You win you win, you think the scariest!!!
Oh my word, if I'd have let my mind go there, I'd still be digging a bunker under my bed (:oo:did I just experience a Freudian slip?...hmm, maybe sometimes a bunker is just a bunker and being under something doesn't have to be bad..does it?)!
I'd much prefer to just stick the standard explanation (mine anyway), that he's simply an mentally unbalanced greedy $*&#, who cares for nothing or no one except his perception of the privileged ruling class...that and he has some seriously childish control freak & moral(less) certainty issues, not to mention I suspect he always wanted to be a genuine big bully, but alas, he's never really had any actual stones...well, that helps explain a lot to me anyway:wink2:.
(His "The Penguin" like face kept poppin' in my head when I read Big Jim...that would be the TV series Burgess Meredith's Penguin by the way..wwooonnk ice is nice..wwooonk...Ha! Scared ya didn't I?!)
Unholy Smoke, the Deadeye Dickster a tweeker, gee whiz, now I'll never get any sleep:eek2:!
(afterall, proper boudoir bunker excavation takes some time...ya gotta put some 'o that lovin' into it)

I sincerely hopes he reads this book (yeah right), he might find it quite humblingly & cathartic...oh crap, that or use it as a manual for even loftier ideas, complete with your handy dandy step by step trouble shooting guide:biggrin2:!

[JohnK]

My fave scene - the chef and andy embracing as they are going down like butch and sundance and kissing, with Mel calling them 'fags" as they push the white button. Incredible image.

I can almost see Giovanni Rabissi as the chef:smile2:

[boogerb53]

I'm loving this book so far–––as I've skipped the "Spoilers" up top.
However, I have an issue with Big Jim Rennie's overdone 'give your heart to Jesus' evil personage. Seems a little dated to me–––like the 1970s. In our post-Christian age–––an age in which wide amounts of the population believe Jesus Christ & the bible are myths–––plus an increasing secularzation of rural populations–––Big Jim Rennie's evil Christian personage is 'forced' to me. People who are what Big Jim Rennie is are typically estranged from Church or anything 'Jesus' or 'I'm saved' kind of vibe. Yea––Christianity has it's Abortion doctor killer nuts, but how many mass murdering, drug dealing, nutcases go around professing Churchy (and superficial religious notions)? Not many! Also, the "fascist" authoritarian mold of Big Jim Rennie–––in historical and recent past–––has been an arm of anti-Christian sentiment, much more than Christian–– After all thru the Reformation and onward, Christian teachings opened up the whole spectrum of a "free market" free ideas, the freedom of the individual. As Christianity limits the authority of man over other men. it does not bolster it–––our Constitution is evidence of this. Other then that (And I do think Big Jim Rennie is comical about victims eating dinner with Jesus) I find this book a great story and am engulfed in it. I just feel Mr. King's biased Anti-Christian views (in regards to political ideology as well) to be a little overdone. I don't care if he dislikes or even hates Christianity, but the point is to create a world that reports on where a culture is at (and it is progressing away, not toward Christian thinking) not a pretext to use ideas or whatever as props for personal biases. Mr. King is a fantastic story teller, but I believe he put ideological fronts before story on some of UTD characterization. :)

Obviously you have never hung around the "Bible Belt" much, hun...

[NDFan4ever]

I loved Big Jim's ending...the fact that he was left in the dark because he was too cheap to approve the upkeep...although he was worth millions in ill-gotten drug money. You reap what you sow!

[runningman]

I loved Big Jim's ending...the fact that he was left in the dark because he was too cheap to approve the upkeep...although he was worth millions in ill-gotten drug money. You reap what you sow!

That's how I felt about Big Jims ending. Part of me wanted him to suffer and I loved the fact that he could have held on for weeks or even months if he hadn't stolen from the town.
UTD is a great book even if the end felt a little weak.

[Doc Wilson]

I can almost see Giovanni Rabissi as the chef:smile2:

ooh and maybe William Sanderson as Andy?

[Jay P Lang]

still no answer for my question on page three of this post. it has spoiler tags.

[jchanic]

still no answer for my question on page three of this post. it has spoiler tags.

It's post #27 in this thread. Just listing the page number doesn't help because you can change the number of posts you can see on each page. I have mine set at 40 posts per page.

To answer your question, I've read the book twice now and I don't think anything was ever done regarding that search. I think events overtook that effort.

John

[M-O-O-N SPELLS MY NAME]

GREAT BOOK! Knocked it out in 8 days, (I get to read all day at work) and was totally hooked from the gate! Up there among my list of SK favs, and Big Jim and his "police force" have to be some of SK's greatest villians...and Chef and Trash Can Man seem to have fallen off the same branch of the family tree! Will be re-reading soon!

PS
I pictured Brian Dennehy as Big Jim Rennie immediately, and about half way through Gary Sinise was how I pictured Dale Barbara....how 'bout you guys??

[BTRNYC]

GREAT BOOK! Knocked it out in 8 days, (I get to read all day at work) and was totally hooked from the gate! Up there among my list of SK favs, and Big Jim and his "police force" have to be some of SK's greatest villians...and Chef and Trash Can Man seem to have fallen off the same branch of the family tree! Will be re-reading soon!

PS
I pictured Brian Dennehy as Big Jim Rennie immediately, and about half way through Gary Sinise was how I pictured Dale Barbara....how 'bout you guys??

I also saw Barbie as Sinise!! But Sinise during The Stand mini-series.
But, I'd say James Gandolfini for Big Jim. I can just imagine him pounding his chest to get his heart back on track. Not to mention grabbing ahold of poor Mrs. Everett's face... [[shudders]]

[Patricia A]

Isn't it funny how Big Jim wouldn't swear because it wasn't "Christian", and yet he didn't have a problem killing people? Weird guy. I was kind of looking forward to seeing MP's dragging him out crapping his pants but I think he got it good in the end. Rat-fasterd!

Ollie, and Pvt. Ames were great. I was so relieved they found each other again. I was so sure Ollie was going to bite it, I was tuning up to cry for the poor dead boy, but then I had to change gears and cry when Ames pulled him out. Yippeee! He got out!
I hope they adopt each other and Ollie goes to live with Ames's Mom and Dad while he finishes his tour. It's happily after from then of for those guys, at least in my head.

Piper was one of my favorite characters. Her and her faithful lack of faith, her temper and her kindness gave her a real depth IMO.
She didn't mourn Clover as much as I thought she might have. But then again it's not like she had nothing else to do aye?

Andy and Chef were excellent! They went out like true Methslingers. THIS IS SPARTA! KISS ME YOU FOOL! Sorry, that wasn't necessary.
Seriously their last scene together was really moving. Great bad guys, the kind you kind of feel sorry for.

Sloppy Sam, love that guy. Gotta keep him away from the big rocks though.

Anyhow... I wish there were more. Please excuse me I have a really bad, really good story hang-over.

[Jay P Lang]

Gandolfini, good choice for big jim.

I had some trouble with them not addressing the Geiger counter again, nor trying to find Barbie. Barbie was there to find the generater, big jim knew that and did not want it shut down for any reason at all AND he's not stupid AND Cox called him to warn him about the radiation, something that should have been a big DUH moment.
If he was not going to go after Barbie, why go through the trouble of getting him in the first place? And if he really thought it was better to have him out there for a while, why even put the part about Cox calling him with info on the radiation, I mean Barbie was smart enough to figure out to look for radiation, the newspaper woman--the PA and the thirteen year old kid all thought it was a smart idea and knew imidiately why he was looking with the counter, so why wouldn't jim have thought about it. HELLO! Theres a big ass dome over your town and theres radiation somewhere. Can you think of any other possible reason for it? Big Jim didn't care about peoples lifes enough to not have people running there to gaurd it, at least find out what the generator was. That was my biggest problem with the book to be honest

[NDFan4ever]

I loved how the whole story took place in a week. SK talked about how he was originally going to make it a month, then kind of laughed and lifted the book...he also said he likes to "show everything" meaning he enjoys creating huge books...and we love it, too!

[NDFan4ever]

One more thought, since I've had my 3 cups of coffee today: Did you guys feel the way the situation started out kind of, well, we're not too bad off, we'll pull together and get through this, and how fast it changed to "us against them"? I'm surprised SK didn't put in more suicides, especially as the air was getting worse.

[Ageless]

Just finished it! I really loved the entire book, and I expected the somehow un-climatic ending, the way IT and The Stand ended. What you're left with is not only a good book, but an experience! I felt the same when I dived into IT and The Stand, Sai King really pulls you into a universe, it's incredible rewarding.
Like the rest here, I eagerly anticipated Rennie's demise, and I loved the poetic justice in it! A hell of a novel!

[Mary Strickland]

Gandolfini, good choice for big jim.

I had some trouble with them not addressing the Geiger counter again, nor trying to find Barbie. Barbie was there to find the generater, big jim knew that and did not want it shut down for any reason at all AND he's not stupid AND Cox called him to warn him about the radiation, something that should have been a big DUH moment.
If he was not going to go after Barbie, why go through the trouble of getting him in the first place? And if he really thought it was better to have him out there for a while, why even put the part about Cox calling him with info on the radiation, I mean Barbie was smart enough to figure out to look for radiation, the newspaper woman--the PA and the thirteen year old kid all thought it was a smart idea and knew imidiately why he was looking with the counter, so why wouldn't jim have thought about it. HELLO! Theres a big ass dome over your town and theres radiation somewhere. Can you think of any other possible reason for it? Big Jim didn't care about peoples lifes enough to not have people running there to gaurd it, at least find out what the generator was. That was my biggest problem with the book to be honest

This is the greatest story in print since DT. Can't we just enjoy it. How many writers can turn out such a huge story and absolutely nail all the characters--the ones we love to hate and the ones we love.

[Giuly]

I just finished to read it.
Meraviglioso!!
It left me breathless... ...
Stephen king, this is a masterpiece, i love it.

[mstay]

Ollie, and Pvt. Ames were great. I was so relieved they found each other again. I was so sure Ollie was going to bite it, I was tuning up to cry for the poor dead boy, but then I had to change gears and cry when Ames pulled him out. Yippeee! He got out!
I hope they adopt each other and Ollie goes to live with Ames's Mom and Dad while he finishes his tour. It's happily after from then of for those guys, at least in my head.




This is exactly what I thought! I hope that's what happened too.:smile2:

[Derwood]

I thought it was a masterpiece. I've read several complaints about the ending (re: the explanation of the Dome), but I think the origin of the Dome is entirely beside the point. The sociological implications of the Dome are far more important than the Dome's origins. In fact, I would have been fine if it had never been explained, but just disappeared as quickly as it had arrived.

As an aside, funny that someone mentioned Doyle Brunson as Rennie. I had that thought as well, though Fred Thompson's face/voice often came to mind as well.

I think Rennie resonated so strong with me because he's a bully, plain and simple. Bully villains always resonate with me. Rennie is the grown up, King version of a character like Draco Malfoy; always causing trouble, always with his goons to back him up, and always with powerful allies in his back pocket.

[jchanic]

You know, it's funny, but I always pictured Chicago's old mayor, Richard J. Daily, (the current mayor's father) as Big Jim. The size, the attitude--maybe it's just my age showing, but that's who I pictured.

John

[Sugar Marie]

Isn't it funny how Big Jim wouldn't swear because it wasn't "Christian", and yet he didn't have a problem killing people? Weird guy.

That seems to be the tricky thing about God, that I think SK captured perfectly: Even if you aren't feeling it(:wink2:), you can talk yourself into believing that you are, and then feel justified in bending morality into any ol' crazy shape that might suit your purposes. Swearing just doesn't sound good when you're trying to sell a car (or yourself), therefore it's not only wrong, but it's also an affront to God. You get to be both on sound moral footing and self-righteous at the same time. Win-win.

[JohnDalglish]

Isn't it funny how Big Jim wouldn't swear because it wasn't "Christian".

Hi,

Yeah, wasn't that a rhymes-with-witch?

Long days and pleasant nights

[jchanic]

:rofl:

John

[Steve Li]

I recently finished. I'd call Under the Dome flawed but interesting enough to motivate me to join the boards.

The politics of the book made me continually think of a quote from The Tommyknockers. "Poetry and politics rarely mix; poetry and propaganda — never." And I'd say that was the book's biggest distraction.

Otherwise, I'd grade it out like this:

A for effort. It's over a 1,000 pages, so how can it get less?

B for the writing. The writing was perfectly workman-like but rarely went above that. Only twice did I find myself drawn into the book to a deeper level: when Ollie found his dad and Julia's childhood story.

C for the concept. I like the concept, but since it has been done before, I don't think it can get anything more than an average grade (and I'm not talking The Simpsons movie; the concept has shown up in various short stories and such that I've seen reported here and there). I don't think that is a bad thing. I don't really think there are any original ideals, just individual interpretations of those ideas.

D for the characters. Sorry, but I found most of the characters truly one note, and it seemed many were deliberately given IQs below 70 to make their actions somehow believeable. Part of it too is I live in a small town like the one displayed. I know the people. I know the authorities. I know the pastors in the churches etc., so the world of the book is hard for me to swallow.

All in all, I believe that averages out to about a B-. So what would I have done if I was the editor (and this is just fun speculation because I enjoy the written word), I'd try to knock about 300 pages out of the book and about half the characters, so each character can have more time and do more things. It seemed like so many where there just to die. And I'd dial what appears to be bias down a couple notches. I don't care if the bias itself is in there. Bias appears in my writing. It's normal. I only expect journalists to be objective (which is an expectation not often met). I'd also make King find a different solution to that fans thing at the end. That came off as awkward and wonky to me.

Anyway, like I said. It was an interesting effort by King. In some ways, I think it is one of his more personal works when it comes to how he views the world, whereas many of his other works are how he views people. I felt this was his most detached story, almost like he was in the place of the aliens as the narrator.

[Jay P Lang]

I loved the book, I wasn't saying I didn't. I was only commenting on one small section of the book that seemed like a chapter was cut out is all.

[Bluey Lunger]

i liked the oy-like qualities of the dogs. horace, harmonizing when need be. think it was horace anyway. that was a hoot! we need a dog smiley, howling, so's we can commiserate when need be? :y:

[lrstahl]

I agree, I plan to re-read later, when I believe I will catch more and comprehend much better after getting to know the characters.

[Bluey Lunger]

Hi,

Yeah, wasn't that a rhymes-with-witch?

Long days and pleasant nights

seems like as good a place to post this as any. rereading hearts in atlantis , maybe cause of the lord of the flies, no exit, udt, somthing...but i came across that "rhymes-with-witch" phrase there, when sully-john, bobby, and carol are walking to school early on in the story, s-j does his gangster act, "falls dead on mrs. conlan's lawn...that lady, a grumpy old rhymes-with-witch of 75 or so, cried, boy! youuu boy! get off there! you'll mash my flowers!

[Shauna]

I absolutely loved this book. I've been done with it for weeks and am still thinking about it, so that certainly says something. I don't know exactly why, but one of my favorite characters was The Chef. I keep randomly saying, "Yea verily, Sanders." lol

[ally88]

I'm no doubt going to be shot down in flames here so give me a second to adjust my flame retardant suit. ;)
Anyhow, I was extremely unimpressed with UTD. Phew, I've finally said it!

It started fantastically. I was captivated by the amount of action and characters we were introduced to in the first few chapters, and especially intrigued and awestruck by Juniors introduction. That boy had issues, and I'm pretty sure the nastiness was simply inbred within him and not a direct result of the brain tumour. Big Jim on the other hand didn't work for me. Everytime I read of his "dictatorship" I felt like laughing. He appeared to be a fat, arrogant, moderately intelligent man, nothing spectacular, and I could not see any reasoning as to why he would/could wield so much power over the townsfolk. Yes maybe with Andrea and Andy, they're both weaker characters and in any partnership or venture there always tends to be a Top Dog to lead the puppies. But most of the town? Fuhgeddaboudit! I surmise Rennie was the Shepherd, the townsfolk his sheep, but even under extreme pressure and duress it would take a longer timescale to brainwash so many people and make them bleat along to his tune.

Without doubt an impenetrable invisible forcefield would create fear, people will be scared. Yet the timescale felt wrong. The rate at which the majority turned to Rennie, mostly without questioning his motives, seemed implausible. Especially since he was largely mistrusted due to previous misdemeanours. It was widely known that the President himself goddamit had appointed Baaarbie as the man in charge. He may have been a short order cook, but it was stated quite emphatically that the townsfolk liked him...he was the obvious one to side with.

Rennie using the kids/police brutality to bring people into line and follow him didn't work for me. There's no reason why since a line had clearly been drawn early on in the sand with good and bad on opposing sides, the "good guys" couldn't have taken control. Baaarbie had the backing of the big man in Washington, if HE had to use brutality to gain leadership he wouldn't have been questioned outside the Dome. He was a soldier, taught to take any advantage he was given. Yet he didn't use any of these skills to command and lead. I did like him, he was the typical, familiar good guy, and every story needs one of those.

The Leatherheads actually didn't bother me. This is King, we expect explanations like that. It's plausible but I was unsatisfied with Julia being the one who pleaded for their release. Her apparent shame which she lived through since childhood was NOTHING compared to Barbie's shame. His actions, or lack of, plagued him and in his heart he wanted forgiveness. The Leatherhead girl wouldn't have provided that as she was impassive to suffering, but surely seeing Barbie stand by and watch the death of an innocent man when he could have acted would have been more fitting. Especially since the Leatherheads were causing the deaths of a whole town. His shame should have been what was projected into her mind, not some childish de~panting of a young girl.

I'm not implying the whole story was bad. If there had been more scenarios like the Cow~Kid I would have been impressed. Ollie was such a small character but he displayed more tenacity and strength than any of the good/bad guys. I would have been satisfied with him being the only survivor, he deserved it.

Anyway folks, just wanted to give y'all my--long~winded--opinion. I've been sitting on it for quite a while and analysed it inside out, upside down AND sideways...and it still comes out the same. We're all entitled to our individual opinions and no~one has the right to suggest that to dislike the story is the wrong way to feel. I am a very competent reader and capable of forming my own viewpoint. I respect people's right to enjoy the story for what it's worth, there's no right or wrong way to feel with literature. It's like art, it needs to speak to you to fully enjoy and appreciate its beauty. However, for me the story of Under The Dome was not the KING. Thankya. :)

[Patricia A]

I'm no doubt going to be shot down in flames here so give me a second to adjust my flame retardant suit. ;)
Anyhow, I was extremely unimpressed with UTD. Phew, I've finally said it!

Nope no flame-shooting here Ally.
Personally I loved it, but to each his own. We are all entitled our opinions, and this entitlement obligates us to respect the opinions of others whether we agree with them or not, so there. :biggrin2:

[PatInTheHat]

I'm no doubt going to be shot down in flames here so give me a second to adjust my flame retardant suit. ;)
Anyhow, I was extremely unimpressed with UTD. Phew, I've finally said it!



I'm not implying the whole story was bad. If there had been more scenarios like the Cow~Kid I would have been impressed. Ollie was such a small character but he displayed more tenacity and strength than any of the good/bad guys. I would have been satisfied with him being the only survivor, he deserved it.

:)

And the groundhog just lumberin' along, just thinkin' his little groundhog thinkin's part until phfffffft, was pretty kickin' kewl too wudnit...well unless of course your part of some anti-groundhog defamation league or somethin':eyebrow:..in that case I humbly beg your forgiveness:down:!
:wink2:

[ally88]

Nope no flame-shooting here Ally.
Personally I loved it, but to each his own. We are all entitled our opinions, and this entitlement obligates us to respect the opinions of others whether we agree with them or not, so there. :biggrin2:

I couldn't agree with you more Patricia, but some of the responses I have read towards any criticism haven't sat well with me. Maybe I'm a sensitive soul though.:blush:

I actually did question myself as to whether I was disappointed due to all the hype and suggestions it was an epic to rival the Stand. I will still re~read it in the future as I may see it all differently then. No matter what, King has always been and will always be my favourite author and I eagerly anticipate his next novel...hopefully Dr Sleep. ;)

[JohnDalglish]

I couldn't agree with you more Patricia, but some of the responses I have read towards any criticism haven't sat well with me. Maybe I'm a sensitive soul though.:blush:

I actually did question myself as to whether I was disappointed due to all the hype and suggestions it was an epic to rival the Stand. I will still re~read it in the future as I may see it all differently then. No matter what, King has always been and will always be my favourite author and I eagerly anticipate his next novel...hopefully Dr Sleep. ;)

Hi,

But yours was a well-considerate and literate response, Ally, despite the fact that I don't agree.

And I thought it was a bit crass for Hodder to put on the front of the UK edition 'His finest epic since The Stand', much as I enjoyed UtD I'll make my own mind about that in thirty years when I've read it as often as I've read/seen The Stand.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Jay P Lang]

I know it sounds odd, but the book seemed to short :P I loved it, thought the story was great, but I think King could have done a month like he had originally planned and it would have played out better. It would have been 3 or 4 books long, but I bet you every one of the books would have sold and the series would be better for it (once its made, and I don't have doubt that this one will. It was written like a series) There were scenes that needed to be put in, like the gieger counter scene, an explanation to how the orchard wasn't discovered when so many different people went around the dome in the first 1/10th of the book, more scenes about the suicides, more scenes about those who died and lived and another week or two of the town dealing with Rene and the political struggle. The book was good but I think the serries might turn out to be better.

[Danivan]

Hi Ally, I just wanted to mention that Barbie's memory of the incident in the gym was used (perhaps inadvertently) by Julia when begging for their lives, and she apologized for it, to Barbie after the fact.

[adamdean]

I'd like to chime in with Ally88 and a few others expressing some hesitance about the book. I enjoyed it, and I've got a view of humanity that's just low enough to believe a quarantined town with finite resources could delve this spectacularly low eventually. But in the days of ubiquitous entertainment I scoff at the suggestion that most of the town would not simply hide away in their digital caves, catching up on Mad Men and eating cartons of ice cream before the freezer kicked. Further, I believe James gosh darned Rennie would be perfectly happy to leave them alone.

Just look at us for example. How many of us would be perfectly content to raid the fridge, the bookshelf, and Uncle Stevie's message board until the crisis lifted? Sure, if days turned to months I'd grab the conch and go on a food raid, but one week in an entire town stuffed with resources?

The premise of The Cannibals (thanks very much for sharing, by the way, Mr.King) makes a much more believable case for such immediately poor behavior. Apartment dwellars don't tend to have well stocked pantries, all animals act up when over crowded, etc.,etc. I'm left with the thought of what could have been. Anybody else pining for the residents of the Tennis Club Apartments one week on?

Thanks for listening folks!

Adam

[Danivan]

I agree Ally, Ollie was one of my favorite characters, I was glad he survived.

[ally88]

Hi Ally, I just wanted to mention that Barbie's memory of the incident in the gym was used (perhaps inadvertently) by Julia when begging for their lives, and she apologized for it, to Barbie after the fact.

Hi Dani, yeh I recognised that fact when reading but since it was projected through Julia's mind it wouldn't have had the same impact had it been Barbie himself. Julia couldn't feel Barbie's shame, that was personal to him and only he could display the emotions he felt due to that one incident. Even if Julia had been an actual eyewitness to the event, which she wasn't, she still couldn't adequately project his memory. Memories are personal, and it should have came from Barbie himself for it to hold any strength and merit.

[JohnDalglish]

I'd like to chime in with Ally88 and a few others expressing some hesitance about the book. I enjoyed it, and I've got a view of humanity that's just low enough to believe a quarantined town with finite resources could delve this spectacularly low eventually. But in the days of ubiquitous entertainment I scoff at the suggestion that most of the town would not simply hide away in their digital caves, catching up on Mad Men and eating cartons of ice cream before the freezer kicked. Further, I believe James gosh darned Rennie would be perfectly happy to leave them alone.

Just look at us for example. How many of us would be perfectly content to raid the fridge, the bookshelf, and Uncle Stevie's message board until the crisis lifted? Sure, if days turned to months I'd grab the conch and go on a food raid, but one week in an entire town stuffed with resources?

The premise of The Cannibals (thanks very much for sharing, by the way, Mr.King) makes a much more believable case for such immediately poor behavior. Apartment dwellars don't tend to have well stocked pantries, all animals act up when over crowded, etc.,etc. I'm left with the thought of what could have been. Anybody else pining for the residents of the Tennis Club Apartments one week on?

Thanks for listening folks!

Adam

Hi,

I take your point and I think Sai King probably telescoped a realistic time span for dramatic reasons.

Another 500 pages about them sitting eating, reading and on the web wouldn't have made for riveting reading IMO.

And I agree about The Cannibals - would a petition do any good, I wonder?

Long days and pleasant nights

[brunelloboy]

I'm loving this book so far–––as I've skipped the "Spoilers" up top.
However, I have an issue with Big Jim Rennie's overdone 'give your heart to Jesus' evil personage. Seems a little dated to me–––like the 1970s. In our post-Christian age–––an age in which wide amounts of the population believe Jesus Christ & the bible are myths–––plus an increasing secularzation of rural populations–––Big Jim Rennie's evil Christian personage is 'forced' to me. People who are what Big Jim Rennie is are typically estranged from Church or anything 'Jesus' or 'I'm saved' kind of vibe. Yea––Christianity has it's Abortion doctor killer nuts, but how many mass murdering, drug dealing, nutcases go around professing Churchy (and superficial religious notions)? Not many! Also, the "fascist" authoritarian mold of Big Jim Rennie–––in historical and recent past–––has been an arm of anti-Christian sentiment, much more than Christian–– After all thru the Reformation and onward, Christian teachings opened up the whole spectrum of a "free market" free ideas, the freedom of the individual. As Christianity limits the authority of man over other men. it does not bolster it–––our Constitution is evidence of this. Other then that (And I do think Big Jim Rennie is comical about victims eating dinner with Jesus) I find this book a great story and am engulfed in it. I just feel Mr. King's biased Anti-Christian views (in regards to political ideology as well) to be a little overdone. I don't care if he dislikes or even hates Christianity, but the point is to create a world that reports on where a culture is at (and it is progressing away, not toward Christian thinking) not a pretext to use ideas or whatever as props for personal biases. Mr. King is a fantastic story teller, but I believe he put ideological fronts before story on some of UTD characterization. :)
I guess you have never been to a small town in New England. These Christian values that you speak of are still very much alive! Given that, I think that it allows you to hate Rennie and his followers that much more.

[adamdean]

Hi,

I take your point and I think Sai King probably telescoped a realistic time span for dramatic reasons.

Another 500 pages about them sitting eating, reading and on the web wouldn't have made for riveting reading IMO.

And I agree about The Cannibals - would a petition do any good, I wonder?

Long days and pleasant nights

I agree with you. My idea is a real snoozefest, and should NEVER be made into a book or movie. King knows drama and he dialed up the pressure, but good. There's a point at which, however, you're going to detract from your story by stretching credulity. And yes, I realize what a ludicrous statement that is. Stretching credulity in a story about an impenetrable dome of unknown origin trapping an entire town.

Perhaps my approach should be "In for a penny..." Once I believe the dome all bets are off, right? Who knows, maybe something about the dome (other than its presence) caused the rapid destabilization.

As for the Cannibals I think Uncle Stevie should dig it out of the chest of Richard Bachman's effects he keeps in the attic. Dome and Cannibals can coexist a la Desperation and The Regulators.

[JohnDalglish]

As for the Cannibals I think Uncle Stevie should dig it out of the chest of Richard Bachman's effects he keeps in the attic. Dome and Cannibals can coexist a la Desperation and The Regulators.

Hi,

What a great idea!

From your keyboard to Gan's ears .....

Long days and pleasant nights

[Danivan]

Hi Dani, yeh I recognised that fact when reading but since it was projected through Julia's mind it wouldn't have had the same impact had it been Barbie himself. Julia couldn't feel Barbie's shame, that was personal to him and only he could display the emotions he felt due to that one incident. Even if Julia had been an actual eyewitness to the event, which she wasn't, she still couldn't adequately project his memory. Memories are personal, and it should have came from Barbie himself for it to hold any strength and merit.

I'm not sure Barbie would have made as great an impact on the leatherhead. I Found Julia to be more passionate and in touch with her feelings, perhaps the better of the two candidates for entreaty.

This brings up something that has bothered me about Barbie. I understood his reasoning for trying to wait things out, but he was appointed by the President to take over and he just was not aggressive enough. Throughout the book it's almost like he just wants to shirk everything. Understandable enough, but under the circumstances he could have done better at rising to the task. He should have taken Rennie out right at the beginning, there would have been hell to pay, but as it was things turned out pretty bad on their own.

[Danivan]

I'd like to chime in with Ally88 and a few others expressing some hesitance about the book. I enjoyed it, and I've got a view of humanity that's just low enough to believe a quarantined town with finite resources could delve this spectacularly low eventually. But in the days of ubiquitous entertainment I scoff at the suggestion that most of the town would not simply hide away in their digital caves, catching up on Mad Men and eating cartons of ice cream before the freezer kicked. Further, I believe James gosh darned Rennie would be perfectly happy to leave them alone.

Just look at us for example. How many of us would be perfectly content to raid the fridge, the bookshelf, and Uncle Stevie's message board until the crisis lifted? Sure, if days turned to months I'd grab the conch and go on a food raid, but one week in an entire town stuffed with resources?

The premise of The Cannibals (thanks very much for sharing, by the way, Mr.King) makes a much more believable case for such immediately poor behavior. Apartment dwellars don't tend to have well stocked pantries, all animals act up when over crowded, etc.,etc. I'm left with the thought of what could have been. Anybody else pining for the residents of the Tennis Club Apartments one week on?

Thanks for listening folks!

Adam

If they had been snowed in or quarantined, or under some natural disaster that cut them off from the rest of the world it should have taken longer for a meltdown. The alien (unknown) nature of the dome, along with the rapid realization of the hopelessness of rescue could conceivably act as a catalyst in bringing things to a head as quickly as they came to one here. Not to mention Big Jim's orchestration and manipulation of events. There was a lot to fear, in a short period of time.

[Danivan]

I'm not sure Barbie would have made as great an impact on the leatherhead. I Found Julia to be more passionate and in touch with her feelings, perhaps the better of the two candidates for entreaty.

This brings up something that has bothered me about Barbie. I understood his reasoning for trying to wait things out, but he was appointed by the President to take over and he just was not aggressive enough. Throughout the book it's almost like he just wants to shirk everything. Understandable enough, but under the circumstances he could have done better at rising to the task. He should have taken Rennie out right at the beginning, there would have been hell to pay, but as it was things turned out pretty bad on their own.

Then of course we would have missed all that great bad stuff he did! What was I thinking? I sure did love to hate him...great character!

[Danivan]

I also wanted to give a nod to the soldier character that stood by Ollie (his name escapes me) That little snippet of a relationship was extremely touching. I kept wanting to go back to the other side of town to check on them.

[Bluey Lunger]

I'm not sure Barbie would have made as great an impact on the leatherhead. I Found Julia to be more passionate and in touch with her feelings, perhaps the better of the two candidates for entreaty.

This brings up something that has bothered me about Barbie. I understood his reasoning for trying to wait things out, but he was appointed by the President to take over and he just was not aggressive enough. Throughout the book it's almost like he just wants to shirk everything. Understandable enough, but under the circumstances he could have done better at rising to the task. He should have taken Rennie out right at the beginning, there would have been hell to pay, but as it was things turned out pretty bad on their own.

plus she was acting less like a something and consequently she was able to beg for us all...where's all the pubbs on dat! seems like everyone giving sk a hard time for his politics ought to recognize a nod, even though it's a nod in a direction they might not recognize...she was, after all, acting less, probably the operative phrase here.

[Danivan]

plus she was acting less like a something and consequently she was able to beg for us all...where's all the pubbs on dat! seems like everyone giving sk a hard time for his politics ought to recognize a nod, even though it's a nod in a direction they might not recognize...she was, after all, acting less, probably the operative phrase here.

She was personifying humility. Barbie hadn't got that yet.

[SusanNorton]

What a great book! And Patricia, I know what you mean - I could almost feel/breathe/taste the clean air as the dome was lifted.

I loved all of it, the characters (good and evil) most of all. And I was completely satisfied with the deaths of Big Jim and Junior; I was keeping my fingers crossed that they would die horrible deaths, and they did! Yipee!! :biggrin2: The only thing that would have satisfied me more was to have actually seen them shoveling coal in hell.

All through the book, I kept thinking of Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter. I guess it was the same feeling of frustration and helplessness. And, of course, Abu Ghraib, and the feeling of "Hey, I thought we were supposed to be the good guys. Who put the stupid bullies in charge?"

Someone said above that they never got clear pictures of the characters, but I did right away.

Julia Shumway - Bonnie Bedelia from the Die Hard movies.
Barbie - sometimes Johnny Depp, sometimes Keanu Reeves.
Andy Sanders - William H. Macy
Big Jiim Rennie - Barry Corbin
The Chef - John Bedford Lloyd

The rest of the characters I imagined as people I meet in my everyday life.

I was really sad for the book to end. Thank you, Stephen King, you done good. Again.

[randallFlaggfan1]

Even with a small cast, rereads are great (especially with Sai King.) I always discover little things that I initially missed.

[jackson992]

I'm loving this book so far–––as I've skipped the "Spoilers" up top.
However, I have an issue with Big Jim Rennie's overdone 'give your heart to Jesus' evil personage. Seems a little dated to me–––like the 1970s. In our post-Christian age–––an age in which wide amounts of the population believe Jesus Christ & the bible are myths–––plus an increasing secularzation of rural populations–––Big Jim Rennie's evil Christian personage is 'forced' to me. People who are what Big Jim Rennie is are typically estranged from Church or anything 'Jesus' or 'I'm saved' kind of vibe. Yea––Christianity has it's Abortion doctor killer nuts, but how many mass murdering, drug dealing, nutcases go around professing Churchy (and superficial religious notions)? Not many! Also, the "fascist" authoritarian mold of Big Jim Rennie–––in historical and recent past–––has been an arm of anti-Christian sentiment, much more than Christian–– After all thru the Reformation and onward, Christian teachings opened up the whole spectrum of a "free market" free ideas, the freedom of the individual. As Christianity limits the authority of man over other men. it does not bolster it–––our Constitution is evidence of this. Other then that (And I do think Big Jim Rennie is comical about victims eating dinner with Jesus) I find this book a great story and am engulfed in it. I just feel Mr. King's biased Anti-Christian views (in regards to political ideology as well) to be a little overdone. I don't care if he dislikes or even hates Christianity, but the point is to create a world that reports on where a culture is at (and it is progressing away, not toward Christian thinking) not a pretext to use ideas or whatever as props for personal biases. Mr. King is a fantastic story teller, but I believe he put ideological fronts before story on some of UTD characterization. :)

I couldn't disagree more. Since when are we moving away from Christianity? I thought Big Jim Rennie was very believable. The one I had a problem with was Piper. How can you pray to something you do not believe in.