Ants Under the Magnifying Glass: Book Review of Under the Dome

 

Under the Dome [UNDER THE DOME] [Paperback] by Stephen King

Gratitude

Thank you to Montgomery County Public Libraries for making Under the Dome by Stephen King available to the public for free.

Description

Okay, let’s start by talking about the elephant in the room—Under the Dome is an elephantine book. At 1,074 pages it is by far the longest book I have ever read. In fact, I started it last year and then had to return it to the library because I had to leave town for the summer. I signed it back out again this year and finally finished!

In Under the Dome, an invisible force field covers the town of Chester’s Mill so that nothing can get in or out. Not just people but air and water, too. While this is rough for everyone, it is an especially bad surprise for Dale Barbara, or as most people call him, Barbie, as has been been warned to leave town after a group of local toughs targeted him. Now he is trapped in Chester’s Mill and his chief aggressor is the son of the unofficial mayor. Unofficial, but Jim Rennie effectively pulls all the strings in the town.

Under these circumstances it’s not just Barbie who doesn’t stand a chance, but the whole town who will be even more under Jim Rennie’s thumb with no one to rescue them.

Very quickly lines are drawn between team Rennie and team Barbie. As the truth about Rennie comes out and he strengthens his police force, it’s unclear if team Barbie can save the people of Chester’s Mill.

Jim Rennie is one of scariest if not the scariest villain King has created. At least in terms of human villains, that is. Rennie easily justifies all of his decisions as Gd’s will. He has no regard for human life or sympathy for others.

Would I Teach This Book? 

Would I teach Under the Dome? I thoroughly enjoyed reading Under the Dome, though it was a time commitment. Due to the time commitment, though, it would not be the ideal novel to teach. It is not worthy of its own course, as much as I enjoyed it.

There are other King books that do similar things, such as Sleeping Beauties, which has the added appeal of being cowritten work. If you have time commitment phobia for the books you read, you might try Sleeping Beauties first.


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I Like My Coffee Black, Like My Soul: You Like It Darker Book Review

 

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Gratitude

A big thank you to Montgomery County Public Libraries for placing You Like It Darker by Stephen King on the Lucky Day shelves, where I found it, and giving me three non-renewable weeks to read it. And in my case, to review it.

 

Description

You Like It Darker is a collection of King’s shorter works, though King’s shorter works are sometimes longer than the average author’s regular-sized books. “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,” the longest of the works and the emotional center of the book, tells of a man who has the misfortune to dream of the location of a murder victim. Once Danny confirms that the woman’s body does exist in the location that he dreamed it, he calls the police to report it anonymously, but the police still manage to track him down, and they do indeed believe him to be the culprit. Thus follows a story that is anything but innocent until proven guilty.

In “Two Talented Bastids” we read of two friends who become famous later in life, one for writing and the other for visual art. As the story of their talent rolls outward, the question of the origin of talent is asked quite plainly.

King’s Author’s Note is gratifying to read after finishing the book, as is often the case for his books. His humble acceptance of his talent and prolificness remind me of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Ted Talk “Your Illusive Creative Genius,” in which she discusses the concept of genius choosing to visit a person versus the current day concept of a person being a genius.

 

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach Stephen King’s You Like It Darker? Perhaps. While I like other King collections more, for example Nightmares and Dreamscapes, it is good to teach more contemporary works. If I were going to teach this book, I would be more likely to teach it in a fiction workshop than in a literature course, as in many graduate workshops students are writing shorter works and it is important to examine them and use them to talk shop. I first read King in a graduate workshop, and I am fond of the idea of teaching it in one.

P.S.--My students recently found my blog--shout out to them! Thank you, reader, for visiting!     

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Who Doesn't Love a Good Conspiracy Theory?: Book Review of So Far Gone

 

So Far Gone by Jess Walter

Gratitude

Thank you to Harper and Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy of So Far Gone by Jess Walter, due out June 10, 2025.

Description

Rhys dropped out of the world after losing his job, getting dumped, and punching his conspiracy theory mad son-in-law. Believing that he was of no further use to society, Rhys rid himself of his phone and hopped off of the grid and onto his grandfather’s old sheep farm that never did support any sheep. Seven years later, Rhys is dumbfounded when he opens the door to see his granddaughter and grandson on his porch. They have been brought to his remote location by his daughter’s neighbor. His daughter Bethany has run off without telling anyone where she was headed and left instructions that if her husband follows her then the children should be brought to her father instead of left with the Army of the Lord (AOL). AOL is the military branch of the cult Rhys’s son-in-law has most recently involved his family in. Thus begins Rhys’s journey back into the civilized world--which may or may not be as civilized as he would like.

So Far Gone is told in third person, but looks over the shoulder of other characters in addition to Rhys, including as Bethany and his two grandchildren. From each point of view, we learn not just about Rhys, but about all of the different understandings that arrive at a situation, all of the people who have a stake and a history and an idea of what happened and how things should proceed. In the midst of all those other personalities and desires, Rhys is hoping he can find his daughter, save his grandchildren, and maybe win back his girlfriend—you know, make up for some of those lost years.

The story is a bit cooky and plays up the paranoia of the current times that intensified during Covid and the weariness and distrust many feel of those who are of a different political leaning or belief system. It is not lost on the perceptive reader that Rhys has behaved almost as drastically as his derided son-in-law. What is sane and insane may seem clear to you, but not quite as clear to anyone else. The grizzled Rhys, for instance, is not aware of how his unkempt appearance and gamy odor impact those around him.

I appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book—I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. At first it seemed mid—another story of a family disconnected due to politics. However, as I kept reading, I became more interested in the plot and invested in the characters.

Would I Teach This Book? 

Would I teach So Far Gone? It is a reasonable possibility. With all of the books now coming out that touch on the Covid pandemic and the intertwining politics, it is clear that our imaginative zeitgeist seeks to trod this path. Compared to some of the other books that explore similar territory, So Far Gone approaches with humility and humor. A book like this is a conversation opener, in particular an opportunity to discuss point of view and difficult main characters.

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In the Blink of an Eye: Book Review of It Goes So Fast

 

It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs by Mary Louise Kelly

Gratitude

Thank you to Henry Holt and Goodreads Giveaways for the review copy of It Goes So Fast by Mary Louise Kelly.

Description

Mary Louise Kelly, of All Things Considered fame, missed a lot of moments of her kids’ lives, in part due to her live radio show. Her eldest son was about to graduate from high school when she realized that she would not have another chance to make up for the times that she missed. At the same time, she happened to have a book deal on the table, and decided that she would write about her year of doing everything she could to be part of her sons’ lives, which turned out to be a lot about soccer games.

It Goes So Fast focuses on Kelly’s family experiences, including her father and his death. It is set in an anxious time in world politics, as this was also around the time that Russia invaded Ukraine. She also shares about her career, aging, friendships, and her passion for running.

The chapters are more like individual essays than an unbroken narrative, though the storyline of Kelly’s “Year with No Do-Overs” does carry through. Her prose is confident and friendly and her explorations avoid easy conclusions and simple truths. Instead, the difficulties of balancing career and motherhood, her identity as a woman, and her relationships are allowed ambivalence and gray areas.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach It Goes So Fast? It Goes So Fast is a good example of a memoir in essays and how to build a narrative through stories that overlap in time and experience. It is also allowed to wander a bit in terms of subject matter, though it always comes home to her sons.

It Goes So Fast, however, might not be as interesting to a younger college crowd as it would be to readers who have been out in the world a bit more. Especially to those who are parents. Kelly addresses the fact that her book is very much about motherhood early on, and points out that everyone must deal with the realization that there is only so much time in this life, and there are many experiences of “the last time” that we might not know are the last time until much later. I can identify with a lot of what she shares in her book.

Still, It Goes So Fast is so much about parenthood that while it felt relevant to me, I am not sure that I would teach it to a general audience. Perhaps in a gender studies class or in an essay writing or memoir class, but I am still not sure that I would choose this book over the many other memoirs available.

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I A-door You: Book Review of The Ten Thousand Doors of January

 

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Gratitude

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow was a book club pick. I can’t remember if I voted for this title, but I am glad it was chosen, as it has been my favorite thus far.

Description

The Ten Thousand Doors of January is about January, a girl who has been raised by her father’s wealthy employer, while her father finds travels the world tracking down artifacts for the employer. Mr. Locke, her guardian, seems to be grooming her in order to present her to society once she comes of age. What January doesn’t know is anything of her heritage, either about her mother or father’s sides, or what her guardian expects of her once he deems her ready for society. 

January is a creative and imaginative girl, and Mr. Locke seeks to reign her in and make her demure and obedient. As a child of color in the hands of a wealthy White man, she is not just a pawn but also an experiment in the possibility of including a person of color. Not at their level, of course, but below them and under their control, as well as at their mercy.

But with everything that January does not know about her past or her own capabilities, they might not be able to keep her at their mercy forever.

Luckily, January is not alone on her journey–she has Jane, her ally in Locke’s home; Samuel, her one childhood friend; and Bad, the best dog.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January ignited my imagination in a way few books have. Like Kelly Link and Aimee Bender, Harrow takes a world that is mostly ours and gives it a twist. As a young girl, January remembers writing in a diary and a door opening on an abandoned property. January was severely punished for making up such a story by Mr. Locke. Here began her wrestling with the imagination—as clearly a good girl was to stay grounded, to build a life of logic, not one of words or the life of the mind.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach The Ten Thousand Doors of January? That is an excellent question–I thoroughly enjoyed Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January and appreciated the socioeconomic discussion in the book as well as the commentary on colonialism. The book would fit into a Multicultural Literature class I taught and would pair well with the short story “This is Not a Wardrobe Door” by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor. Both use the portal trope and have more diverse casts. I can see including the book in a variety of different literature courses, including one on diversity in fantasy books.

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The Coal Miner's Daughter Is Blue: Book Review of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek

 

The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson

Description

In The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson, Cussy is a proud book woman–a packhorse librarian employed by the federal government during the Great Depression to deliver reading materials to people who would not usually have access to books due to their remote locations. She travels her route through rural Kentucky on her trusty mule and brings books, pamphlets, and scrapbooks she makes filled with interesting articles, cleaning tips, and local knowledge, such as how to divine a well or crochet patterns. While her patrons live in poverty and many are starving, Cussy believes that the service brings them comfort and fulfills a different kind of hunger.

Before her position as a packhorse librarian, Cussy found it even more difficult to fit in—she has blue skin, a real condition that a Kentucky family lived with. Many people treat Cussy as though she is repulsive and making a match has proven quite difficult. It has also encouraged creepers to hunt and threaten her. But on her librarian route, most are grateful, even elated, to see her.

Two main themes of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek are prejudice and poverty. Cussy suffers at the hand of both. Her father is a coal miner, which is difficult and dangerous work as well as paying below subsistence living.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek? This book gives an interesting snapshot of rural America during the Great Depression. It is fascinating to learn about the packhorse librarian program begun by the WPA. The genetic condition of the people whose skin appears blue added another level to the story. Ultimately, though, the book seems to rely more on historical aspects than creating a character with significant depth. Cussy is lovable—and, as a reader, it is easy to cheer her on—but she is far from being one of the great characters of literature.

It is unlikely that I would teach The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, though I do think there is plenty for a book club to discuss.

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A Real Gem: Book Review of The Last Legacy

 

The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young

Gratitude

Thank you to St. Martin’s press and GoodReads Giveaways for the review copy of The Last Legacy by Adrienne Young.

Description

When I received three books from Goodreads for the same drawing, Fable, Namesake, and The Last Legacy, I assumed they were all from the same series. However, once I started The Last Legacy I quickly realized that Bryn Roth was the star of the show, and she has very little in common with Fable, the main character of the first two books. The Last Legacy is set in the same world as Fable’s stories, and the Roth family plays a role in Namesake, including Bryn’s love interest, Ezra. Bryn’s background is extremely different from Fable’s. Fable was raised on a ship while Bryn was raised by her great aunt to be a debutante. Fable becomes a crew member on a boat while Bryn is forced to join the ruthless Roths in their homestead in the city.

The Roths, lead by Henrik Roth, will do whatever it takes to get ahead. And now that Henrik has his sights set on a merchant’s ring, he will require his family to go to any lengths to get there--and for Bryn, that includes marriage. Bryn realizes that if she wants to avoid the possibility of being given away in a trade deal, she will have to make herself indispensable in other ways.

Meanwhile, she finds herself sparking against Ezra, who apprenticed with the Roths and now is just as much a part of the family as any other member. He is also talented, and his skills will play a big role in the Roths' bid for a merchant’s ring.

I find Bryn’s crush on Ezra troubling, as he has learned to show no emotion as a result of Henrik’s strict rule. He seems to be guarded at all times and follows the instructions of Henrik without question. Indeed, he gives Bryn barely any encouragement. And yet, Bryn pines for him. Even when it is against his own best interests, she makes moves--even when he asks her to stop and tells her it is a bad idea. I am all for a lady making the moves and getting what she wants--but Ezra is a bad idea. He cannot talk to her, even if he wanted to, because Henrik's strict control, so all that Bryn really knows is that Henrik won Ezra as his apprentice in a game of dice. The Last Legacy would have been a better book without the romance. Or, at least with enough to go on to make Bryn's pursuing Ezra simply rash and not utterly dangerous. For all we or Bryn knows, he is actually a brute and a womanizer. 

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach The Last Legacy? The Last Legacy was an interesting read. Bryn is a strong character who is determined to find her own path. She refuses to crumble under the harsh will of her uncle or to give up hope that she will have some independence. Henrik is a good villain--impossibly controlling and seems impossible to beat. Plenty of page turning in the plot. Bryn, though, while I did root for her, is not as loveable as Fable. It is unlikely that I would teach The Last Legacy, because although I did enjoy the story, as both the world and character building were not as strong as in Fable and Namesake, which would be better choices to teach.


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