A review by nichole_of_numenor
Under the Dome, by Stephen King

challenging dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

One of the things I love about King's works, especially the later ones, is you never know what you're going to get. He has been boxed into the "horror" genre for things like "It" and "Pet Sematary" but I'm not sure if I could place Under the Dome there. If anything, I could be considered apocalyptic, albeit on a small scale.

This is a character study on steroids. Not just for the sheer volume of characters (around 100?!?!?) but the way the small town being trapped under an impentratable dome accelerated the paths each character was already on. The ultimate character crucible. Trapped in such a finite space, this work is also a commentary about how fast we are accelerating our own ending -- between emissions, thoughtless consumption of resources, and general disregard for an environment that is perhaps more fragile than would seem.
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