Sunday, February 23, 2014

Book #4 - Under the Dome

51v7ioHHeaL._SY344_PJlook-inside-v2,TopRight,1,0_SH20_BO1,204,203,200_An audio book for me, but I went through the whole, unabridged version across a few weeks. Tia and I had started Under the Dome on a trip, but she didn't love it. However, I became fascinated. It's Stephen King, but not as much a horror story as it's a societal collapse.

The Dome appears over a town, matching the borders exactly. The story wanders, seemingly randomly through the town's characters. A plane crashes, killing a few people and leaving a streak on the dome. It also provides a time marker for the rest of the story. A car crashes into the dome from the inside, the cook from the local restaurant misses a ride hitchhiking and sees a lumber truck from the outside crash as well. A woman dies when her hands are cut off, as does a squirrel.

The next few days are amazing. The town struggles as it degenerates into a Lord of the Flies type of situation. The corrupt selectman takes over, with force of will, getting his son and other kids onto the police force. It's a wild ride as old wounds are opened and people take advantage of the fact that everyone is trapped.

The end wasn't what I expected, but it was a good one (I think).

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