Under the Dome is a more recent King novel, and unlike many of his recent books is set in what was the contemporary present, now the very recent past. It's set in a post-9/11 world, and it works to blend the realities of modern life with the small town, personal, often low-tech world that King's characters typically inhabit.

This book takes us through the set-up and into the first 3 days of life in Chester's Mill after an inexplicable dome cuts off the inhabitants from the outside world. It's also been a masterwork of King's parallel stories style. You follow a series of main characters, each taking the reigns for a few short chapters before passing them off, and you see the plotlines begin to build. King's drawing the net ever tighter with each loop through, and Under the Dome follows the old storytelling instruction that things can only go from bad to worse. There are plenty of upticks in tension and fear in this story; every section ends with the story in a seemingly much different place than it was before, while still following horrible but logical conclusions.

I wish that I could rate this book as one thing; the way this plot ends could still influence this 5-star rating. As the first half of this book worked as a function of gripping story structure, however, it was a first class example.

Cannot wait to continue this series. The writing, of course, was absolutely phenomenal. Stephen King is a genius. The way this ends leaves you guessing, and I love how you're left with zero optimism from our characters. I need to find part 2 and read it asap.

Reread 2019 :

Buddy read with Jo' (:
22 days to read this first part, reading 25-30 pages a day.. it was definitely a whole new experience than the first time round. I might have enjoyed it more this way.
In the last 2 years, I've read many King, and it was nice to get back into a favourite; definitely still is.
The tension is so high, this second part is gonna be explosive.

A lot happened in this book and it was only part 1! I have no idea how this is going to end but I'm itching with anticipation to see how the book turns out. This is my 3rd Stephen King book and it's a very messed up book containing a lot of messed up characters!

Excited to see where the second half takes us. :)

Read my review here: http://monicalaurette.blogspot.com/2017/12/under-dome-part-1-2-by-steven-king-book.html

The reason I decided to just "like" Under the Dome, instead of "really liking it", or even "loving it", is because King pulled what I like to call a "George R. R. Martin": giving the story too many characters, many of whom die, most of them unimportant.
That isn't to say the story doesn't deserve to be liked. It does. I just can't stand reading about certain characters that seemingly have no purpose.
That being said, the main characters you do get to know throughout the story are well rounded and have good development. You do care about the protagonist, even if you don't care about the 30 other side stories trying to steal his spotlight. The antagonist is justifiably hated. The relationship between the two is tense. It's good. It's just not great.
I'm really hoping Part 2 offers up an interesting and unexpected climax. I'm hoping King doesn't decide to pull a "George Lucas"; "aliens did it" is not a satisfying ending to a 1200 page book. Here's hoping ...