A review by becky_97
Under the Dome by Stephen King
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
5.0
*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 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.
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, andÂ
Spoiler
when a murderer isn't the most morally grey character,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
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Sexual assault, Rape, Animal death, Police brutality, Car accident, Gun violence, and Gore