UNDER THE DOME by Stephen King

King, Stephen, Under the Dome (Scribner, 1994).

Available in hard cover, paperback, Kindle and Nook.

Reviewed by Kevin Penrod, Jr.

Imagine you lived in a nice small town. Now what would you do if without warning or explanation an invisible barrier appeared around the border? That is exactly what happens to Chesters Mill. A day that started like any other turned into a morning of critters cut in half, car crashes, plane crashes, and "alotta dead birds" as the entire town is, for lack of a better term, sealed off. This book is Mr. King at his best. A thing that I can't even begin to fathom is how one person could come up with so many different characters and keep them straight. He does that and so much more in this novel that I believe will become a classic.

The best way I can describe it is that it is like a roller coaster but instead of going up the giant drop at the beginning, you start at the top and just get thrown in then after all the twists and turns you find yourself at another giant climactic drop at the end. This book will keep you guessing till the very end who (or what) is behind this mysterious dome. As the characters try to find out the same they also deal with corruption and deceit inside the town. Stephen King does great in this book where the scariest part is the people and how they react to the dome and each other.

In this book, being sealed off from the world and whatever has caused this isn't the worst part. The worst part is the people that are sealed inside with you. I say with you because you do feel the terror and emotions of these characters as only Stephen King can make you. If you need a good book to read on a rainy day, or any day for that matter, I recommend you make it this one.

BLOG EDITOR’S NOTE: This review was written early in 2013 and somehow lost in the shuffle. Subsequently, the novel was turned into a television series that ran for three years (39 episodes). Apologies to Kevin Penrod for delaying publication of his review.

DOCTOR SLEEP: A NOVEL by Stephen King

Stephen King, Doctor Sleep: A Novel (Scribners, 2013).

Also on Nook, Kindle and Audiobook

Stephen King reads an excerpt on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATChLGnJLrg&noredirect=1. 

(THRILLER)

Reviewed by Kevin A. Penrod, Jr.

So after a discussion with my Gramma, who worked hard to teach me the magic of books, we discussed my favorite author Stephen King. She told me that she doesn't have a review for one of his amazing books (the word amazing is my words, not hers). Here it is: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King.

From the author who has done so much, here is his first ever sequel. Doctor Sleep reintroduces us to Daniel Torrance, the little boy from The Shinning who is now an adult. And has followed in his fathers footsteps in the way of alcohol. After hitting bottom and starting AA he volunteers at a hospice where he uses his shinning to help the old residents pass on.  He then gets a psychic message from a girl named Abra. Abra had a vision of a group of people calling themselves the True Knot torturing and killing a young boy who also has the shinning to suck up his steam, which children with the shinning give off when tortured. They do this to stay young and always young. The leader of this group becomes aware of Abra and tries to hunt her down. So it's up to Dan and Abra to stand up to this evil group and end their reign of evil. This culminates in the ultimate battle of good vs evil.

This book is a great read from the master storyteller who never disappoints. I tore through these pages on the edge of my seat. Stephen King delivers with not only a great suspenseful thriller; he puts you in the middle of all of it. You feel the characters’ joy, fear, anger, disappointment, and depression. I didn't think it was a good idea for Mr. King to write a sequel to such a great and terrifying novel as The Shinning, but he blew all my doubts and expectations out of the water. This is a must read for fans of Stephen King and fans of suspense alike. I once again, as with all Stephen Kings novels, short stories, and essays, highly recommend this book. Happy reading to all.