Story Had Potential

Under The Dome

By: Stephen King

Simon & Schuster 2009

On a crisp fall day a mysterious dome descends on a small Maine town, trapping all its residents like prisoners.

This book has quite a simple concept; however the story is anything but simple. Filled with more characters then most or any book I have ever read, Stephen King’s new novel Under The Dome is less about the dome as it is about how people react to catastrophe and the lengths they will go to for survival.

I, admittedly, am not a Stephen King fan. But I read this one due to the interesting premise. My first feeling while read this book was that I could see this as a made for TV mini-series.

As I mentioned before there are so many characters, so many in fact that at times it is difficult to remember who everyone is and to really develop an intimate relationship with them. King even felt he needed to place a cast of characters page at the beginning of the book.  

And even though I think King was making more of a statement on humanity’s instincts in crisis’ situations and how these things can bring out the worst in the worst type of people, instead of actually explaining why the dome came to be, I was very disappointed in the resolution of the book. The story had major potential but I was left with a feeling that it could have been 500 pages shorter than it was. When you read a novel that is 1000 plus pages, you are expecting a satisfying payoff.

If you’re the type of person who doesn’t read a lot of books, I don’t feel like this is worth spending your time on. If you’re looking for an interesting scientific or science fiction thriller with smart and creative storytelling, this is not your book.

Story                           **

Characters                   **

Readability                  ***

Overall rating               ***

www.stephenking.com

A Great First Lady

Spoken from the Heart

By: Laura Bush

Simon and Schuster 2010

Laura Bush grew up as an only child in the oil town of Midland Texas.  So begins the memoirs of the First Lady who many thought brought dignity back to the White House.

In a detailed and almost poetic ode to her home state, Laura Bush writes about her early years in Midland, surviving a devastating accident at 17, being a teacher in the inner city, her early marriage to George Bush and their journey together from the Texas Governor’s mansion to the White House.

I think Laura Bush is one of the most misunderstood First Ladies, due, in part, to her private nature. Spoken from the Heart really shows what it’s like for the President and his family. Whatever you may feel about the Bush administration, she did many good things in her time as First Lady. Including starting programs to aid with literacy, speaking up for breast cancer education in the Middle East, and starting programs to help HIV/AIDS victims in Africa.

Laura Bush is a strong independent woman. A true role model and I was surprised at how much I related to her.

She made me see what it is like to live under a microscope and what it was like for them and their family after 9/11. The peril and danger they felt on a daily basis.

At times I did feel as if I was reading an expose of all the good things her and her husband did in their time in the White House, considering the fact that their administration was so criticized and mocked. But this book makes you see the Bushes a very really humanized way, which is something I think we forget about public figures. A really interesting story by a woman who held her dignity through the criticisms and held her strength through disaster. A woman to be respected and a great role model for younger generations.

Readability          ****

Overall rating     ****

http://www.laurabushfoundation.org

http://www.whitehouse.gov/