I must say, I was quite surprised by the new Stephen King novel Under the Dome.  Not surprised by how good it was, because that is almost a given for anything he writes, but by how big it was, something I hadn’t realized until I went to pick the book up from the shelf at the bookstore and subsequently dropped on my toe due to the weight, which hurt even through my shoe (though it wasn’t as bad as the time an entire jar of mayonnaise  

holds the top spot).  Normally I have a pretty good idea of what to expect when going to buy a book that I have been eagerly anticipating, especially when the author is Stephen King, but this time around I just had no idea, mostly because it seemed like there wasn’t that much publicity for it and because my computer doesn’t seem to like the new Stephen King website so I wasn’t able to read much about it.  Also, when stocking the book on the shelf, the store had decided to put them facing out so one could see the cover, which hid the fact that I was about to pick up a cinder block.  Of course, this little misshape didn’t stop me from buying the book, and after reassuring the cute college age female employee who had been standing next to me that I was okay -- physically okay, my pride had taken a direct hit, one that would make Hiroshima seem tame (yeah, I’ll probably get emails for that one . . . oh well, they started it) -- I took the book to the counter, bought it, and then hurried home, my mind eagerly wanting to know what the hell this giant dome over the town of Chester Miller was, why it was there, and what would happen to those trapped
within it.  

Wait, back up, the story is about a town that has a dome trapping everyone inside?  Didn’t I see that in the Simpson’s movie?  Well, yes you saw a similar premise, but let me assure you that the two stories are completely different, and that comparing them is like linking together two movies because they share a vampire like creature, or have an alien encounter, or a war (I actually have heard people say that Saving Private Ryan was a rip off of The Longest Day due to the beach landing scenes, which, of course left me speechless).  Unfortunately this coincidental similarity will bring criticism, of this I’m sure, and for the most part it will be directed at Stephen King because for some reason celebrities of his stature seem a natural target when things like this happen, almost as if people are just waiting and ready.  The fact that he started writing the book back in the seventies while working on The Stand won’t matter either, because most of those doing the ranting won’t know much beyond the sensationalistic bit of gossip they hear and will toss the comments his way before doing any research.

Speaking of The Stand, this new novel reminded me of it given how well developed the characters were and how they made the story move along rather than the dome itself, something which Stephen King is an expert at, but which, unfortunately, non-readers never get to experience because this element is almost always lost when the story is translated to film.  Further, I think it is this ability to create memorable characters that keep people coming back time and time again to his stories.  Most people think it is because we love horror and disturbing situations, and while that is true, there is something else present within a King book, something that one can’t really find with too many other authors and which can’t really be explained because one has to experience it.

So, if you are looking for something to read now that winter has arrived (and boy has it here in Chicago), then go grab Under the Dome.  You’ll be glad you did -- unless of course you are on a budget that won’t allow you to buy anymore of his books, because believe me, once you’ve sampled the goods you’ll be wanting all you can get.  

fell from the fridge and shattered on my bare foot — that still