Confusion about ending *spoilers*

[entertainme]

I just love Stephen King books and this is no acception. From the moment I opened it I threw myself into it as if I were really there. I loved it, the characters, the situation, everything. The ending, however, very vague. As I reached the climax and the ending, I kept reading on and wondered if I had skipped a few pages and was missing something. Stephen King is so graphic and his stories and ideas usually plant some pretty good pictures in my head, but this ending didn't do it for me. I can visualize the town, what the people look like (hell, I even decided who all the characters should be played by if it goes to television, but the ending... just couldn't get a grip on it. This is not meant insulting, but I was confused and slightly disappointed. Unfortunately, I must be mean because I was hoping the terrors of the town would really get theirs in the end, but they didn't, really, did they? (personal opinions, I guess).
... and the leatherheads? someone please explain this. I hate that I've invested so much time into this book, and now I feel like and idiot because I don't understand the ending.
I love you, Stephen, but I just need a little translation!

[M-O-O-N that spells Nikki]

I was kind of confused too, but to my understanding it was a 'kids game' and 'The Dome' being their toy.
Google it.
Google is the answer.

[themadone06]

I agree, I did not like the ending very much. Sometimes I feel like Stephen puts so much into a book, but then just doesn't know how to end it, so he rushes to it.

The Leatherheads were an alien race, but they were children playing a game with the people of Chester Mills. It was compared to children burning ants with a magnifying glass... you know just to watch them burn. The aliens thought the town was just a false reality.

I personally was ready for the entire town to die off, and I thought that would be a better ending, leaving a huge cliff hanging of "what the hell happened".

[wally wonder]

dunno what to say. maybe read It and pay attention to the symbols, as well as the window metaphors. maybe read hearts in atlantis and pay attention to blind willie as well as the idea of what folk do when they're alone or in a group...even that one is giving me pause. or maybe wait for the crib notes to come out...do they still have crib notes?...and see what they have to say on the matter?

[danicus]

My best advise on understanding the ending: The ending is just part of the WHOLE story. There is an overall theme to the story, and the aliens at the end were only part of the lesson here.

[no bounce no play]

I'm a sci-fi reader and I used to keep expecting SK to explain the aliens he uses in his novels. It took me a while to accept the idea that SK merely uses aliens as a concept that drives the plot.

disclaimer: the above statement is just my personal opinion

[boogerb53]

I don't understand people not understand that people don't understand the ending.

[JohnDalglish]

I don't understand people not understand that people don't understand the ending.

Hi,

That's easy for you to say, Dee LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

[boogerb53]

Hi,

That's easy for you to say, Dee LOL

Long days and pleasant nights

Hehe...sorry...I was trying to write that while answering the phone. It should have read I don't understand why people don't understand the ending. It's not that hard.

[michal]

I'm sorry entertainme - you sound so unhappy about the whole thing. I did get the ending and thought that it was very Stephen Kingish, and while not ranking in my top 5, all in all I enjoyed the book all the way through.
But if you don't... Please don't feel bad. I never liked Christine much, and while I will probably be shot around these parts for saying it, I DON'T consider the DT series to be Mr. King's best work (I was actually close to giving up on it completely after the 3rd one and it took Wolves of the Calla" to get me back on track). My point is, not liking or not relating to a certain book doesn't make you a BAD constant reader, just an opinionated one and those, dare I say, are always welcomed on the board.