Loving it so far, but...

[kyle blake]

I'm loving it so far (on page 250) but I have 1 problem with it. SK makes every Republican as evil, and every Democrat as good. I even recall Barbie telling Julia that she acts less and less Republican every time she does something good. That is kind of wrong, don't you think? Both sides should be half and half. But other than that, good book.

[kyle blake]

Come on, nobody else felt like this? Not even a little?

Think about it this way, if the book had all the Democrats as evil and all the Republicans as good, would you be a little upset?

[POTUS]

I understand what you're saying, but it's one of those things where you have to throw your hands up and just accept the fact that it's a character in the story feeling that way, and not the author himself. Even though it's pretty obvious that the author isn't a big fan of the Republicans.

Sometimes it becomes distracting, but it's one thing for a character to say something negative, and another thing for the narrator to do it.

For example, a passage like this would be too much:

"Barbie stubbed his cigarette out in disgust. "Damn Republicans," he said, shaking his head at Julia. "They're the racists behind this Dome. Segregation at it's worst."

Julia nodded in agreement. Even a woman was capable of recognizing the horrors of the Grand Old Party. The fact that the 'pubs were a group of lying criminals was well known in the town of Chester's Mill. George W. Bush had been the worst President in the history of the United States, after all."

Something like that would probably make me put the book down, and I'm not even a Republican.

[Srbo]

This might sound weird, but there actually might be readers that agree with Big Jim and not Barbie...
Especially when Jim says that the letter from the White House was "signed with all three names, oncluding the terrorist one in the middle"...or refers to the president " as that thug in the White House".

Not every reader is a democrat...

Just a thought...

No offense to anyone...

[Doc Wilson]

Come on, nobody else felt like this? Not even a little?

Think about it this way, if the book had all the Democrats as evil and all the Republicans as good, would you be a little upset?

I did, but I'm afraid I've grown used to this kind of stuff from my favorite author. I was just thankful he put Julie (a decent person who happened to be a republican) in at all.

[JRM]

I see where you're coming from. I'm also around 250pgs, and I'm noticing it. It was kinda distracting at first, but with a King book, I've learned to keep an open mind about the story and characters, regardless of the content. I don't think it's gotten to the point of being offensive, like POTUS said, but I could see some people not particularly enjoying reading those passages.

[Bryan James]

There are definitely a few distracting pricks and barbs in the book.

[randallFlaggfan1]

I haven't picked up on anything. I think some of you are a bit too analytical.

[wally wonder]

i thought it was interesting, the name of the paper, the politics of the editor and owner of the local paper. i believe the paradox was pointed out to us, the reader, don't recall the exact page. i don't put much stock in what "party" big jim belongs to. in real life, the news is starting to recognize "climategate"--the washington post has front page stuff--but it seemed like, as the song goes, "there's a kind of hush, all over the world!" regarding the issue. have no idea of the politics of michael mann at the u of penn, but it's a real hoot that he hasn't been jumped on by all--so...anyone can be bad, and if the politics of that issue--the dems seem to be ignoring it, al gore?...well, he didn't lie this low until the time tipper caught him lip-sinking "me and my arrow" in the lincoln bedroom...but i'd hazard that it'll be curious to see how the issue plays out, related somewhat, to udt as it is. maybe everyone will get drunk, retire to their respective campfires, and sing "we are the champions"?

at any rate, julia, a republican i believe, as i read it, is a good character, though she is owner/operator of "the democrat" of that mills town.

[ginapenn]

Actually, I'm around page 100 or so and had put the book down to read The Road by Cormac McCarthy but now that you've told me about this, I think I'm going to pick it up again. I'm a Dem and I kinda agree with Sai King...

[Occam's Hedge Clippers]

This might sound weird, but there actually might be readers that agree with Big Jim and not Barbie...
Especially when Jim says that the letter from the White House was "signed with all three names, oncluding the terrorist one in the middle"...or refers to the president " as that thug in the White House".

Not every reader is a democrat...

Just a thought...

No offense to anyone...

Stephen King's audience is so large in number that it surely includes people of almost all ideologies, even the crazier ones. I found it interesting that one of the politicians who Big Jim reminds me of is a U.S. Representative from Iowa named Steve King. Here's what he said about Obama during the campaign:

"I will tell you that, if he is elected president, then the radical Islamists, the al-Qaida, the radical Islamists and their supporters, will be dancing in the streets in greater numbers than they did on September 11 because they will declare victory in this War on Terror."

[kyle blake]

Actually, I'm around page 100 or so and had put the book down to read The Road by Cormac McCarthy but now that you've told me about this, I think I'm going to pick it up again. I'm a Dem and I kinda agree with Sai King...

Now that's a bit low, do you think? That's like me saying all Muslims are evil. (Which I don't think, just an example). It depends on the person, not the religion, race, party, ect. Judge the individual, not the whole group.

As for the rest of you, thanks for understanding. I really love this book, but dang I wasn't prepared for it to be this political. I'm not really upset, just annoyed. I am able to look past it, but just wanted to see if anyone else felt this way.

[carmi]

a very fast reply...its a book, meant for our entertainment, so what if the politcal lines are crossed? They get crossed everyday in real life, this is why we read, its an escape! Take care all1

[wally wonder]

been thinkin on it and there's nothing left to do but march on sk's house, maybe occupy the foyer. i'm not a republican, registered democrat, if it matters to you, but politically, i'm leaning libertarian. but the armies of the night allusion in udt (alexander pope/norm mailer's story about the '67 pentagon occupation) demands that we band together, party lines be gosh-darned, as big jim might say, and occupy said foyer. anyone interested?

[guido tkp]

i'm gonna step out on a very big, but extremely weak limb, here: i am a registerd republican, have been for 29 years...

i find the 'average' republican today to be considerably too far right wing and immeasurably concerned with anyone who doesn't agree with them.

they have little regard for freedom, unless it is thier version.
they have no regard for religions other than their own.

they foolishly ally themselves with any republican they think can win an election, regardless of how off-the-wall idiocies they spew...

we, as republicans, argued convincingly, back in the '60's, '70's & early '80's that the dems were out of touch, wayy too liberal/left: they learned and became more centrist, though not middle of the road...

our party, on the other hand, has become increasingly embedded with racist, religious extremists, and nattering naybobs of taxpayer negativism, regardless of what is right, fair and just...

it is just possible, being a mainer, and a bit of an iconaclast, that mr king is not anti republican, but, like me, anti what the party is slowly turning into.

republicans would do better if they remember their roots, get out of people lives, bedrooms, libraries...stop complaining and start working with our fellow americans to build a better tomorrow.

as the eagles said...get over it

[Selena_Kitt]

been thinkin on it and there's nothing left to do but march on sk's house, maybe occupy the foyer. i'm not a republican, registered democrat, if it matters to you, but politically, i'm leaning libertarian. but the armies of the night allusion in udt (alexander pope/norm mailer's story about the '67 pentagon occupation) demands that we band together, party lines be gosh-darned, as big jim might say, and occupy said foyer. anyone interested?

Bwah! :D 'Tis the only answer! March!

FWIW I'm a registered democrat, but only because I had to declare myself to choose between the lesser of two evils... I'm Libertarian-leaning, tho...

[wally wonder]

hey! neat-o selene kitt! figure come summer--it's been snowing here nonstop for...three, four days?...wanted it, but now...:dunno: ding!...so yeah, maybe sk has some fritos in the pantry we can snack on while we're waiting to present him with our list? or should we pack a lunch?

[JohnK]

I'm loving it so far (on page 250) but I have 1 problem with it. SK makes every Republican as evil, and every Democrat as good. I even recall Barbie telling Julia that she acts less and less Republican every time she does something good. That is kind of wrong, don't you think? Both sides should be half and half. But other than that, good book.

I don't want to be too political here, but I have to weigh(spelling?) in a little.
I think, unfortunately, since the so-called Reagan revolution, that there are a lot more far-right republicans running the show in the republican party.
Moderate republicans seem to be an endangered species, especially since William F. Buckley died. With his death there is no intellectual leader strong enough to sway the party away from its current Palinmania. Any one with a modicum of intellegence is shouted down by the Becks, the Limbaughs, et al.
Republicans with moral authority like Mccain are now kowtowing to the born-again's who eschew any kind of rational debate. In addition, the rhetoric espoused by the radicals who speak currently for the republican party drowns out any civilized debate with the democrats. This drowning out of debate is causing the current crisis that is hamstringing any type of governance, and will, if we are not careful, cause our country to slip from power in the world.
We still (after the disasterous bush years) are the champion of human rights in the world, no matter how much we stretched the rules (and they were stretched). Those that want to assume the top power mantle (China, Russia) are not so reluctant to lose any moral authority and those governments don't give a damn about human rights. Boy, talk about long-winded.:smile2:

[jcadams]

Guess I was reading a different book than everyone else. I didn't see King's political views. I saw the character's views.
How could anyone not expect this book to be political? The town was cut off, of course they are going to squabble amongst themselves. The characters weren't split into Dems. and Repubs., they weren't even split into just good guys and bad guys. They were split into those that wanted power and control (and those that were following them were too weak or scared to oppose) and those that were trying to keep the town free from dictatorship. That sounds political to me. Rennie wasn't the only Republican, he was just the most outspoken. Doesn't make all Republicans power hungry killers. Julia didn't kill anyone and the only power she wanted was freedom of the press.

[Dinosaur]

When you have a book which is this long with as many characters as it does, it's hard for it to not have political aspects to it.

I don't live in the US, but I used to live in NC, and one thing I noticed was how divided people would get over politics compared to here (Australia). It also seemed there were people who were loyal to political parties and would vote for them every election there regardless of policy or certain leaders credentials. Don't get me wrong, there are people in my country who think like that, but in the US it was far more noticeable. So yeah, it's just my observation that political opinions are a lot more divisive over there then they are here. Though I am sure there would be people from the US who have lived here who may say the same things about us. :laugh:

[POTUS]

it's just my observation that political opinions are a lot more divisive over there then they are here. Though I am sure there would be people from the US who have lived here who may say the same things about us. :laugh:

Haha, you're giving us Americans too much credit-- we barely know a damn thing about our OWN system of government, let alone yours.

[wally wonder]

Haha, you're giving us Americans too much credit-- we barely know a damn thing about our OWN system of government, let alone yours.

true. how many knew that yesterday (actually today, the 15th) was the birthday of our bill of rights? :love:

[teejay17]

I'm loving it so far (on page 250) but I have 1 problem with it. SK makes every Republican as evil, and every Democrat as good. I even recall Barbie telling Julia that she acts less and less Republican every time she does something good. That is kind of wrong, don't you think? Both sides should be half and half. But other than that, good book.
Disagree. Julia,one of the story's heroines, one of the good gals, is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. Also, there is textual evidence to suggest that Democratic politics is also subject to the same scrutiny. I think King is examining the whole spectrum in Under the Dome.

[kellyw]

I'm on page 763 right now and have noticed a few remarks like that but I just over look it and figure it's a part of the book. SK tends to put little things like that in alot of his book and I still love them. So far I really like the book and want to read every chance I get to see what happens next.

[Treddleford]

I didn't see it that way. When Barbie remarked about Julia seeming "less Rebublican," that was the character's opinion. I think that the comment added some realism, since the nation is pretty divided right now and a lot of people are making such comments. And I did note that Julia, a key "good guy" in the book, is a Republican.

I looked at Big Jim's comments about the White House the same way: a lot of those comments going around in these fractious times.

Besides, if I thought of every comment form a character in a Stephen King novel as a comment from King himself, I'd send the guys in the white coats around to collect him. :biggrin2: (picturing the author screaming "Cockadoodie brat!!" at someone) :grinning:

[Kevrock]

Glad I held off reading this forum until after I was done. I was not distracted.

The only thing that I noticed was that the villain and the heroine were both Republicans... probably the only thing they had in common!

[eaglpaul]

One thing that you have to take into account is that for an author, one of the only ways to voice his opinion is to put it into his stroies. Many people read what an author writes, but not many people will pay attention if that same author goes to a political rally or publicly voices his political views. SK has stated on many occasions that he did not agree with the way that Pres Bush did things, so he voices his opinion in his novels. I have no problem with that, because when it is stated in a novel, it is seen as the opinion of a character. He does the same thing with views on God in several of his novels, ie The Stand, and Desperation to name a few. Just take it in stride, and if you don't agree with it, OK. I myself am a Republican, but I will agree with whoever I feel is going to do the best for our country.

[SmushingGnomes]

I didn't get the sense that SK was bashing all Republicans in general, just the right-wing extremists. As many others pointed out Julia is a Republican and she was portrayed in a very positive light.

And Rennie isn't exactly a completely fictional character made up by SK to bash Republicans. I know people like Jim Rennie (except I know nothing of any murdering they might have commited). I know these corrupt xenophobic religious zealots who spout God and righteousness at every opportunity but are rotten to the core. That's unfortunately the type that the GOP attracts nowadays and they are very high profile and vocal. And no, not every Republican is like that. My girlfriend, for instance, is conservative but moderate, sort of like a Julia Shumway.

*sort of spoiler alert*

Also, SK takes an amusing swipe at liberals as well. The old long haired naked hippie philandering professor farting and crying was not exactly a postive portrayal of a liberal.

[xP3AC3MAK3Rx]

My belief is, that with the specific line, or remarks made, especially with the one that the so called 'Democrat' newspaper was much more republican in it's opinion, Mr. King wanted to say (or play with the idea), what most people have already found out for themselves: "can you really tell the difference between a democrat and a republican these days?" Take a close look on what for example the current president is voting on, and you'll find out, democratic and republican party are now only sides in which a country can easily be devided. Look at what they are voting for. I believe, from my standpoint, the one of a tinfoil head, that Mr. King is half-way there ;]

Tommy

[teejay17]

Another thing is that King is a self-professed news junkie. I've scanned the sites he's listed in his Entertainment Weekly column and they do span the whole political spectrum. It's like in Under the Dome King has become a conduit for the zeitgeist of America.

[aneaglesangel]

Funny, I never take those comments to heart. I'm pretty far into the book now, I'd have to go check what page, but I just read the chapter, "Busted." Whenever SK makes a reference to something political, or even psychological, I always take it with a grain of salt. It's a made up story, and these little asides make it more real to me. People feel things, say things and do things that aren't always politically correct, that's life, and by doing this, I think that gives it more realism. If he didn't make these comments, or put these thoughts into the characters' heads, I think that would leave the story flat, the characters would have no personality. And I agree with treddle, if these were really SK's thoughts and opinions, they would haul him off and yup, he would call them cockadoodie brats! But it's all imaginary, people, and plots, and I think he does a great job making them that much more real with these types of comments/thoughts/actions. The real world is full of people and many of them probably do have these types of views on things, though they would never willingly bare this side of themselves to us. It takes SK to make us see this side of human nature and I think he does a hell of a job. But then again, I'm biased! :)

[wally wonder]

I'm loving it so far (on page 250) but I have 1 problem with it. SK makes every Republican as evil, and every Democrat as good. I even recall Barbie telling Julia that she acts less and less Republican every time she does something good. That is kind of wrong, don't you think? Both sides should be half and half. But other than that, good book.

i gave It a reread last week. came across this quote: if fiction and politics ever really do become interchangeable, i'm going to kill myself, because i won't know what else to do. you see, politics always change. stories never do. (bill wrote this on an anti-war cartoon on the bulletin board on his creative-writing instructor's door)

my experience has been that in small town politics, political parties don't matter, maybe the area is a "blue" area or a "red" area, or maybe one clique in one part of some gerry-mandered district/township/whatever sets to work for that area and that usually means grabbing all the $ they can, $ that has been stolen (taxes) from others so they can install speedbumps out front of the house to slow the traffic, redefine what can and can't be done in that neighborhood. so yeah, to make a point of what political party these small town folk are a part of, well......meh.

[twickhamcsr]

That's funny, I did the same thing. Then when I was done with The Road, I could not put The Dome down! I read all 1000 pages in two days and said STEVE IS BACK!! I've been disappointed in some of his "recent" stuff but this book held me down and forced me to read it. I am a diehard King fan and this is definitely a must-read in my humble opinion. But your blog was 3 weeks ago, so maybe you've read it by now & can tell me what you think...

[ice]

as i was reading this there was something very familiar about it all. i watched the simpsons movie yesterday and bang there it was! under the dome is the simpsons movie!

[freud1977]

I'm loving it so far (on page 250) but I have 1 problem with it. SK makes every Republican as evil, and every Democrat as good. I even recall Barbie telling Julia that she acts less and less Republican every time she does something good. That is kind of wrong, don't you think? Both sides should be half and half. But other than that, good book.
I have been with Mr. King since the very beginning. I have read every novel he has written and consider him to be the greatest story teller of all time (well equal to Charles Dickens anyway). He is far and away my favorite author. However, he is not a political satirist. I found the political references distracting. He is taking the chance of offending 50% of his loyal fans by interjecting his political opinions.

Personally, I am a libertarian and do not like republicans or democrats. I think money and power has corrupted them all. That said, I don't believe anyone should vilify a President of the US whether he be Bush or Obama.

Notwithstanding any of the above, UTD was mediocre by SK standards. I was disappointed.

[Sigmund]

Definitely more pricks than barbs.

[marv4213]

I think Under The Dome is one of the best books Stephen King has ever written. I loved it and can't wait to read it again. And this is coming from a total Dark Tower fanatic who has read that series at least five or more times. He just keeps getting better, in my opinion, and I can't wait until the next one. After reading it, I was wishing I had taken the day off of work so I could have tried to get the signed edition. Oh well, I guess there is always e-bay and my tax refund:>

[freud1977]

Definitely more pricks than barbs.

Does this mean you think Barbie was outnumbered?

[SouthSideShorty]

Sadly, ever since old Uncle Stevie got clipped by some moron's van and was seriously injured, his writing has taken on a barbed, vicious tone. Angry? No doubt. Bitter? Probably. Was the van's driver a Republican? Seems likely. Regardless, his leftiness has greatly influenced his writing in the last 15 years, resulting in over-the-top caricatures like Jim Rennie, whose evilness is personified with the disclosure that he is greedy and selfish, fat, religious, a thief, Republican, a liar, elitist, a drug-runner, has "piggy" eyes, and is a multiple murderer. How much more villainous can a Stephen King villain be? Oh yeah, he had his picture taken with Sarah Palin. 'Nuff said.

I must say, however, wiith the exception of all the liberal jabs, this was his most enjoyable work in nearly 20 years.

[Flayer]

It's one of my favorite books now, but I have to agree I got annoyed with the political remarks. I don't mind when they come up in dialogue - characters have political opinions and it's realistic for them to voice them. But the anti-Republican jabs kept slipping into the narration as well, where I feel that it doesn't belong. Stephen King has always said that he considers telling a good story to be the most important thing. The politcal jabs, pricks, barbs, whatever you call them in an attempt to minimize them, are not contributing to the story and feel out of place and annoying when he uses them in the narration, which should be neutral.

[sandynose]

I'm loving the book -I'm a Dem & I take offense to "Tweekers" & "Grateful Dead" showing up in the same sentence. (pg 471)....

[sandynose]

nyuck-nyuck-nyuck

[vslayer]

Just joined this forum so I’m late to this thread, but I had to weigh in!

Kyle, did you ever get to the end of the book? A republican saves the day!!!
‘Half and half?’ SK is not a news organization, he’s an author and his characters can be as politically incorrect as he creates them to be.

It can be difficult though, someone lent me a book once by Frank Peretti because I had said I like epic battles between good and evil. However I soon gave the book back when I realized he was writing the ‘bad’ guys as new age non Christian heathens. As a new age non Christian heathen I found this offensive, but I don’t think he should have to include ‘new age’ characters on the good guy side just to please all the new age people out there. And when Anne Rice had her ‘conversion’ and starting writing about Angels instead of Demons I quit reading her books.

At the end of the day, writing is art and it absolutely does not have to be politically correct, if it was it wouldn’t be art.

I loved the book, and as another member said, ‘The King is back’! As a liberal I especially enjoyed hating Jim Rennie and seeing him get his just rewards. If only real life were really like a SK novel!!!