Lush Library discussion

This is a bit unusual but I have decided to open a thread for both books. There hasn't been much interest in Under the Dome and I have really tried to get in to it but 150 pages in I have to admit that I do want to know the reason for the dome but not enough to read another 922 pages. I do however want to get back to 11/22/63 and since there was some interest in reading it (I've already read over 100 pages and really didn't want to put it down) then I thought I'd start a thread for both of them. I hope no-one minds and anyone is more than welcome to start an individual spoiler thread for Under the Dome.

Under the Dome synopsis: (view spoiler)[On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out (hide spoiler)]

11/22/63 synopsis: (view spoiler)[On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy died, and the world changed forever.

If you had the chance to change the course of history, would you?
Would the consequences be worth it?

Jake Epping is a thirty-five-year-old high school English teacher in Lisbon Falls, Maine, who makes extra money teaching adults in the GED program. He receives an essay from one of the students—a gruesome, harrowing first person story about the night 50 years ago when Harry Dunning’s father came home and killed his mother, his sister, and his brother with a hammer. Harry escaped with a smashed leg, as evidenced by his crooked walk.

Not much later, Jake’s friend Al, who runs the local diner, divulges a secret: his storeroom is a portal to 1958. He enlists Jake on an insane—and insanely possible—mission to try to prevent the Kennedy assassination. So begins Jake’s new life as George Amberson and his new world of Elvis and JFK, of big American cars and sock hops, of a troubled loner named Lee Harvey Oswald and a beautiful high school librarian named Sadie Dunhill, who becomes the love of Jake’s life—a life that transgresses all the normal rules of time.

Explore the Possibilities... (hide spoiler)]

If you have a kindle here are the links so that you can download samples for free or in their entirity

Kindle link for Under the Dome


Kindle link for 11/22/63





So who's going to read Stephen King this month?

I found the ending of Under the Dome a real let down, especially, as you say, when you've read over 1000 pages to get there. I did feel it was worth reading for the story alone, though...you really get to know the people well, and it's both gripping and realistic from that perspective.

I loved 11/22/63 from the moment I started it. I've read a lot of Stephen King, but this has got to be one of my favourites. I've read both already, but it'll be nice to join in some discussion, and see what other people make of these books :)

Sarah wrote: "I found the ending of Under the Dome a real let down, especially, as you say, when you've read over 1000 pages to get there. I did feel it was worth reading for the story alone, though...you really..."

I even tried listening to it because I kept falling asleep when reading it. It just seemed to me that 11/22/63 seems like a book that will keep us reading (the size of them can be daunting) and there seems to be more to discuss. What do you think? Would you be interested in being discussion leader for more than 1 book since you have already read the SK?

There's more "action" in 11.22.63, if I can put it like that. Under the Dome really has to rely on you liking some of the characters, and so having enough investment in them to carry you through the whole thing. I'd say 11.22.63 is probably the easier book to keep reading, as it's more plot driven.

I might find it a bit tricky to be discussion leader for two books this month. I've just found out that I've got an interview for the Graduate Teacher Programme sometime after the 27th, and I'm woefully lacking in preperation. And I'm scared. I'm going to have to teach a class of teenagers for 30 mins, and I just don't feel ready. I'll contribute if I have time, though...I've already read them, as you say, so I'm sure I can come up with something. I just might not be overly reliable from a time perspective :)

Sarah wrote: "There's more "action" in 11.22.63, if I can put it like that. Under the Dome really has to rely on you liking some of the characters, and so having enough investment in them to carry you through th..."

how exciting - goodluck. I taught elementary for an hour a day for 2 years in Taiwan and I ended up really enjoying it.

I can be the discussion leader for this if you like? What would I need to do?

Becky wrote: "I can be the discussion leader for this if you like? What would I need to do?"

Whatever you want to:) Anything you can think of the encourage discussions - questions etc.

I'll start a spoiler thread for each tomorrow then?

Becky wrote: "I'll start a spoiler thread for each tomorrow then?"

Great. I'm enjoying is so far. It's not a spoiler (it's pretty obvious cause it's in the title) to say I'm enjoying reading about the 50s. It's the way he makes comparisons and sees it with fresh eyes rather than being from there and not really noticing the differences. It's really refreshing.

I am loving this book, nearly a third of the way through. My days SK knows how to make beast books 740 pages :O I do love how he describes things it really does feel like watching a film in my head and I don't forget details either. I don't need to try and remember which character is which eeeeeeasy read woohoo :)

I'm nearly finished, really enjoyed the book so far. I'd love to see it made into a film, most of the characters are very likeable. I'd love to see who would play Jake and Sadie :)