tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post3381194356767489123..comments2024-03-22T19:07:21.790+00:00Comments on The Wertzone: Under the Dome by Stephen KingAdam Whiteheadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-90416711344138738762013-11-28T15:05:58.368+00:002013-11-28T15:05:58.368+00:00I didn't hate this book. It's not among K...I didn't hate this book. It's not among King's best, and for a book so long to be so mediocre is a crime in itself, but the pacing was quite good, and I never had any trouble turning the pages. Strictly middle-of-the-road King, but better than his snoozefest FROM A BUICK 8 or the disappointing later DT books.<br /><br />In regards to the quality of King's writing dipping after the accident: if so, it's back now. He hasn't written a bad book since DOME. 11/22/63; FULL DARK, NO STARS; JOYLAND; and DOCTOR SLEEP all ranged from good to excellent.The Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06995038596311181381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-79285142979327206972012-04-06T14:00:18.733+00:002012-04-06T14:00:18.733+00:00If you want to read a far-fetched, even cartoonish...If you want to read a far-fetched, even cartoonish novel about the breakdown of civilisation, there are vastly superior works (Justin Cronin's excellent THE PASSAGE immediately comes to mind). Or just read King's THE STAND, which wipes the floor with this book.<br /><br />UNDER THE DOME is an easy read, sure, but it's ultimately a highly unintelligent and dumb novel. It's nothing to do with 'realism', it's to do with the story making sense (or hanging together just enough that you can paper over the problems). In this case it's ridiculous. Society collapsing in four days when they have no idea when the Dome will be lifted makes no sense. A corrupt politician who has spent decades carefully covering his tracks and is already the ultimate power in town 'going public' after the Dome comes down is nonsensical when it might be lifted at any time and he would then go to jail. And he doesn't really gain anything out of it either.Adam Whiteheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11383677312079611311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-79814257897783735522012-04-06T12:22:55.438+00:002012-04-06T12:22:55.438+00:00Putting my stamp on this page.
I completely disag...Putting my stamp on this page.<br /><br />I completely disagree with this review. However, I am certain I would disagree, again, with the above reviewer about a book he would find wildly entertaining and a solid read. Everyone has their own cup of tea.<br /><br />This is the first novel I have read in quite some time now. I am itching to pick up my next one.<br /><br />Great read! That is if you can put aside the realism about the premise and focus on the events that take place when a society is cut off and striving to survive. But do we not read to stretch our imagination? Imagine reading nothing farfetched? Only reading novels with complete realism? I would find it bland and boring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-41807567745086583332012-03-10T20:19:03.184+00:002012-03-10T20:19:03.184+00:00I totally agree that his writing lost something af...I totally agree that his writing lost something after his accident. And yes, the fifth Dark Tower book may be the starting point of the downhill road; it was in that book I remember thinking "Oh no, a typical American who just can't deal with the fact that he is a mortal!"...putting himself INSIDE the story, basically killed what was supposed to be one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time and after that -as a long time reader and fan - I never quite forgave him. <br /><br />That being said, your review actually made me buy Under The Dome (I'm not sure why), this is the first book of him I'm reading after forcing myself to finish last Dark Tower book years ago (boy, those last 3 Dark Towers book do suck, wish we had a Wert review of those series), and I'm enjoying the book so far...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-70922307069773437502012-02-28T22:13:53.987+00:002012-02-28T22:13:53.987+00:00Never did like king.Alot of his male characters no...Never did like king.Alot of his male characters no matter what there attitude are always completely irresistible to women.They just blink at a woman and she starts taking her clothes off.Dont know if there is a lot of wish fulfilment going on there.Being a big Richard Laymon fan im really not being ironic or calling pots & kettles here when i say that i always found king incredibly sexist in his attitude towards women.If you dont like king i heartily recommend Richard Laymon.A lot of people cant stand him either but i much prefer him.Give him a go.You could only end up being slightly disappointed lol.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-54874201089088336362012-02-28T16:24:34.564+00:002012-02-28T16:24:34.564+00:00I did not read this one, nor any SK novel since th...I did not read this one, nor any SK novel since the concluding DARK TOWER novel. <br /><br />I just went to Wikipedia only b/c I was curious as to the source of the dome which turns out to be SF-nal in nature. <br /><br />This just further cements my thoughts that King's novels with an SF MacGuffin or conceit (TOMMYKNOCKERS, FROM A BUICK 8, DREAMCATCHER) are his weakest.RobBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014122096561992311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-16011408171830382182012-02-28T13:46:19.563+00:002012-02-28T13:46:19.563+00:00Not surprised that he started writing it in the &#...Not surprised that he started writing it in the '70s. <br /><br />What's with the '70s and this assumption that civilization's collapse was going to happen in the course of a couple hours (SPOILER ALERT FOR ARIEL: like in Ariel, where a girl is assaulted and gang raped by the neighbors a few hours after the change)?<br /><br />I have absolutely no faith on the nature of human beings, but, come on, people are not going to become barbarians after a few hours without electricity. At least give them a few days to understand that things aren't going to go back to normal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-16281012203761005002012-02-28T09:36:26.192+00:002012-02-28T09:36:26.192+00:00Well I take the point about the caricature charact...Well I take the point about the caricature characters but I lapped it up anyway, a fine easy escapist read, no worrying about "back-stories" and who begat who back in the day etc.<br />I thought the ending was fine, pretty plausible given the complete implausibilty of the entire concept! <br />I think with this, Duma Key and particularly the highly recommended 11-22-63, SK is back in fine form. <br />I normally agree with your reviews, but it's good to disagree sometimes, that's why the world goes round...Davieboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01774099178107611712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-109051871041192462012-02-28T07:14:35.313+00:002012-02-28T07:14:35.313+00:00I've always been less than impressed by King&#...I've always been less than impressed by King's writing. He seems to indulge in particularly nasty bits of sexual humiliation. I feel like I need to take a shower after reading some of them, so I gave up on him.Scrotobagginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15924238860170065145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-44823420297168426582012-02-28T02:26:22.292+00:002012-02-28T02:26:22.292+00:00I haven't really enjoyed any Stephen King book...I haven't really enjoyed any Stephen King books that were written after he got hit by that car. I really loved most of his older work, and the Stand may be in my top 10 but starting with the fifth book in the Dark Tower series, it seemed to me that the magic was gone. The end of the Dark Tower was still readable but after reading Cell and a few other novels written post-accident, I had to give up and never even read Under the Dome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-55868729031158428942012-02-28T02:13:05.118+00:002012-02-28T02:13:05.118+00:00I'm beginning to wonder if the break down of l...I'm beginning to wonder if the break down of law and humanity is one of King's favorite subjects, as he also captures it (much better) in The Mist.Raquelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17181855641076360454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7703856341303488608.post-48405844401699454682012-02-27T23:23:24.163+00:002012-02-27T23:23:24.163+00:00This was very much my sense of this book, although...This was very much my sense of this book, although I put it down for good before I was out of the introductory arc. It didn't seem like so much a *novel* as a technical exercise conducted by King to explore how big of a cast he could jam into a single narrative (That is, it strikes me as ambitious from a technical standpoint, but not otherwise).James Prayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12509353283987908424noreply@blogger.com