Just finished it...

[djadis]

Wow... for a huge tome (both in pages and weight... couldn't read it casually, it hurt my lap!!!) I devoured Under the Dome.

Now I'm sad that I finished it so quickly... but I've felt that way about the great books I've read.. this was definitely one.

There were annoyances about characters, but I think I was annoyed at them because I was supposed to find them irritating.

Mostly, just wanted to say that I really enjoyed it... and almost wish it had been longer or taken longer for me to finish!

In not wanting it to end, decided to join this forum to see what others are saying... so I'll be looking through comments.

[NDFan4ever]

Me too!

I didn't want it to end...I tried to ration it out...about 200 to 300 pages a night...but at the end I just had to keep going! It's always sad when a terrific book ends, and this one is no exception. I guess I'll just have to re-read some of SK's other big books...I haven't re-read the original The Stand for a couple of years...

[Jay P Lang]

I loved the book too. It was a page-turner. Took less then a week and I normally take a very long time to read. Since then I have realized it made me a faster reader. Got almost halfway through the first dark tower book today. Considering the difficulty of the first book it’s a huge leap for me. I wish I could sit and discuss the finer points of his book with him to get better insight to why he made certain choices in the writing. I think it would certainly help myself in the writing of my own books. Something like a director’s commentary during a movie. Is there any chance we could buy a 'collectors edition' of the book with notes after chapters about why decisions were made and perhaps less cut out of the book and deleted scenes? I'd pay handsomely for that, not so much as a reader (and the reader side of me would pay too) but more as a writer wanting to know the process he went through. I've bought his On Writing book and it was great. There’s just so much to learn from this book and others he has written. I'd love to just sit with him discussing the finer points of sentence structure, the language he used (he seldom used the same description more then once for anything (which is amazing for the size of the book)) There’s just so much to ask I would love to pick his brain.

[rcalvinwade]

I loved Under the Dome. It was perfectly paced and I didn't find myself taking many breaks in finishing it. That means a lot for someone who can pick up and put down a book at will for lack of interest.

Even though we get 1000+ pages over a span of 10 days, I would have loved to see what life would have been like a year Under the Dome without the cataclysmic ending. I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters.

[karend3]

It was a long book but I couldn't put it down, the story was just so awesome. I was glad to see Big Jim get his due in hell. Using Gods name to make and sell methamphetamine "For the good of the town", did he reall think he was going to heaven? Actuallythe second he had that last heart murmur he was sent to hell. This book took me 4 days to read, could not put it down.

[Edward]

I stand in awe of Stephen King's body of work and indeed his vision for Under the Dome. But I have to say I will did not love it. It is a good book but I'll not recommend it to outsiders (that is say those of us that aren't addicts to his work).
I guess you can say that I failed to find Stephen King in this work. Now I know that you are all getting ready to burn me, but hear me out. In most (not saying all) of King's work there are parts, whole chapters, paragraphs simple random ideas thrown into the universe - that are pure magic, pure King, that stay with you through the book, even through your life. The parts that make feel alive and awake. That you are part of the story and at the same time part of King's world, that you truly understand something greater. I didn't find one in this book. At the expense of sounding cliche - where was the King magic, I hold so dear?
I didn't like the characters. King's characters become your friends, their enemies your enemies. I thought these characters were stereotypes. I would have saved the corgi and let the others fry.
I don't look for plot in novels, I want a good story. The story was simply okay. I'm sorry. I intend rereading it at some point, but it is never going to be a favorite.

[maynardgkrebs]

Just finished it, as well. The man knows how to make you turn the pages. I was getting up an hour early just so I could read some more before going to work. If anyone's familiar with the original Star Trek, the plot parallels an episode called 'Cat's Paw' where an alien was toying w/the crew & was pulled back at the end by it's parents.

[Mobe1969]

Yeah, I just finished too. Kudos again to Mr King.

Man, that Big Jim Rennie was by far the most despicable character I've ever read in a book.

[maynardgkrebs]

Was hoping for a showdown between he & Barbie. Alas, not to be.

[guido tkp]

funny, ed...but i found this to be one of the more king-esque books lately...

it took me awhile to get into 'duma key', but i ended up loving it, same for 'liseys story'...

but this one swept me away from word one: quite the old-fashioned rollercoaster we all know and love, from the master; great, distinctly drawn characters, an intrigueing, life-threatening (i'll say !) situation..

it was all there, a wonderful canvas, beautifully executed strokes..and, viola !

been reading king since 'salems lot' came out...i'll rank this as one of the better ones...

for the record..it took me a little over a week to devour it...i didn't get my mailed copy until friday after publication, finished the book i was almost done with over the weekend...and spent every moment that i could (between work & life) peeking into the dark house of terrors chesters mills became when the dome landed