#60 – Under The Dome

Plot

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day, a small town is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and rain down flaming wreckage. A gardener’s hand is severed as the dome descends. Cars explode on impact. Families are separated and panic mounts. No one can fathom what the barrier is, where it came from, and when—or if— it will go away.

Now a few intrepid citizens, led by an Iraq vet turned short-order cook, face down a ruthless politician dead set on seizing the reins of power under the dome, but their main adversary is the dome itself. Because time isn’t just running short, it’s running out.

Review

When I was in high school, I wrote a short story about a bubble that encapsulated a small town. You can imagine my reaction as I discovered King had penned a massive 1100 page epic centered around the same premise eight years later. And you know what? I loved everything about the book. It has tremendous character development, tells a wide – and yet focused story. However, it clocks in at #60 because it has – hands down – the single worst ending I’ve ever experienced.

My first gig when I moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Columbus, Ohio was at Delaware County Bank in Marysville, Ohio. It was a brand-new branch – super slow – and staffed with too many bodies. A lot of down time was available – much of which I spent reading this novel. Work smarter, not harder folks.

“Big Jim” is one of my all-time favorite literary characters as I despised him to no end. In my mind, I pictured Donald Trump while reading about James “Big Jim” Rennie.

This is a great novel and a masterpiece in storytelling, but after reading 1000 pages its conclusion left me upset and betrayed. All the collateral that it had built was instantly ruined.

Details

Pages: 1074

Dates Read: January – March 2010

Quote: “She can’t help it,’ he said. ‘She’s got the soul of a poet and the emotional makeup of a junkyard dog.”

Best Part: Everything about “Visitors Day” was outstanding.

Hint for #59: Its initials match a common smoke-signal for help.

 

Until next time, peace be the journey.