Reviews with content warning for Addiction - Under the Dome

This is one of King’s best. Engaging from page 1 to the end. Even with the few weak spots, I come back to this year after year for the study of humanity and the consequences of no consequences.

Even 15 years later, it feels fresh and pertinent and subversive and possible.

Of note, due to its scope, there are many (every?) triggers so take care.

Content Warnings

hocuscrocus's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

I finished this book out of spite, I'm not going to lie. Even when this was published, Stephen King had been in the game far too long to lean on his tired shock value routine. The acts of fictional characters do not reflect on the author, but the author's choices on how those acts are told certainly does in this case. It's lazy storytelling at best.
For a man who has made money offering advice to writers, you'd think he'd a) understand how human beings speak, b) put some respect into writing women, c) learn how to tell a shocking story without slurs, random gross out "humor," and graphically described sexual assault.
This book is a remarkably weak story hiding behind cheap, edgy humor and good worldbuilding.

Content Warnings

chloerom's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

seeker42's review against another edition

Go to review page

Too disturbing in describing a gang rape scene.

Content Warnings

becky_97's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

*light spoilers below*

I went into my read of Under the Dome well aware that Stephen King is a phenomenal writer, and that thought was upheld as I dove into over 1,000 pages of well-built tension and horror in a story where, after a mysterious dome locks the townsfolk of Chester's Mill away from the rest of the world, everything starts to descend slowly into carnage and chaos.

Under the Dome is a monster of a book, but each of the well-written chapters fleshes out the cast into a believable collection of townsfolk, each of whom gets to tell their story throughout the novel. Having such a massive cast for a book seems daunting, but their stories and the stretch of their lives before the start of the fateful October Dome Day makes them feel real.

It's a brilliant book that made me sad, thoughtful, angry, and downright disgusted at times. Stephen King has such a talent for writing antagonists, and

when a murderer isn't the most morally grey character,

you know quickly that this town is doomed.

I wish there were more to the ending. The book is well-written and drawn out, but the last few pages fly by. Overall, though, Under the Dome is another of Stephen King's masterpieces, and I imagine it'll stay with me for a long time.

Content Warnings