Have I accidently spoiled "Under the Dome" for myself?
August 25, 2010 10:28 AM Subscribe
Have I been spoiled? Question about "Under the Dome" by Stephen King - possible spoiler warning.
In my net travels I read something about this book and I'm not sure if it's spoiled the book for me or not. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
So basically it said that the people are living in a glass snow globe of sorts.
So my question is, have I been spoiled? Is this something that knowing ahead of time, I will not enjoy the book as much (like it's the moment when we found out Bruce Willis was dead) or is it something given and not really crucial to spoiling the story.
And if it is a spoiler, is it worth the read anyway? It's huge.
If it isn't a spoiler, please don't reveal any more than is necessary to answer the question.
TIA
In my net travels I read something about this book and I'm not sure if it's spoiled the book for me or not. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
So basically it said that the people are living in a glass snow globe of sorts.
So my question is, have I been spoiled? Is this something that knowing ahead of time, I will not enjoy the book as much (like it's the moment when we found out Bruce Willis was dead) or is it something given and not really crucial to spoiling the story.
And if it is a spoiler, is it worth the read anyway? It's huge.
If it isn't a spoiler, please don't reveal any more than is necessary to answer the question.
TIA
Best answer: It's not a spoiler. It is introduced early in the book and is an important plot element, but there is much else in the book that I found enjoyable that isn't driven directly by the dome's presence.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:32 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 10:32 AM on August 25, 2010
And the cover of the book! I gave up King a long time ago, and pay his new books no attention whatsoever, and even I know what you're calling a spoiler.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:32 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:32 AM on August 25, 2010
There's a dome. Something is under it. That's no more a spoiler than someone telling you that Bruce Willis is in a movie about ghosts.
posted by Etrigan at 10:36 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by Etrigan at 10:36 AM on August 25, 2010
Best answer: I don't think it's a spoiler. In my opinion, it's not a story about "why/how did some event happen" but rather about how King's cast of characters deals with the event.
posted by flipper at 10:37 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by flipper at 10:37 AM on August 25, 2010
Response by poster: Such quick replies - Thank you all so much!
posted by NoraCharles at 10:42 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by NoraCharles at 10:42 AM on August 25, 2010
The book is 1088 pages long.
The dome is introduced in the first chapter.
Trust me, it's not a spoiler.
posted by tdismukes at 10:58 AM on August 25, 2010
The dome is introduced in the first chapter.
Trust me, it's not a spoiler.
posted by tdismukes at 10:58 AM on August 25, 2010
Also, if you are a fan of King, it is worth reading. Yes, it's 1088 pages, but it is a quick 1088 pages.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 11:42 AM on August 25, 2010
posted by cottoncandybeard at 11:42 AM on August 25, 2010
Some time is spent in the early chapters determining exactly what nature of barrier (and that there is a barrier at all) but you as the reader have access to knowledge that some or all of the characters do not, so the fact that it is a dome that extends above, say, head-height is not a secret to you as a reader.
I think what you have stated represents more than first chapter knowledge (though I can't say why that is my opinion w/o potentially 'spoiling' more) but I don't think what you know will impact your enjoyment of the book.
posted by phearlez at 11:42 AM on August 25, 2010
I think what you have stated represents more than first chapter knowledge (though I can't say why that is my opinion w/o potentially 'spoiling' more) but I don't think what you know will impact your enjoyment of the book.
posted by phearlez at 11:42 AM on August 25, 2010
I think what you have stated represents more than first chapter knowledge (though I can't say why that is my opinion w/o potentially 'spoiling' more) but I don't think what you know will impact your enjoyment of the book.
This is true. There are connotations to being "like a snow globe" that go beyond the presence of a dome-like barrier. But even if you spin that out, it doesn't give away exactly how they are alike, nor, as flipper indicates, does it really have much to do with what the book is "about" (in a plot sense, although possibly not a metaphysical sense).
Was that vague enough for you?
posted by pardonyou? at 12:03 PM on August 25, 2010
This is true. There are connotations to being "like a snow globe" that go beyond the presence of a dome-like barrier. But even if you spin that out, it doesn't give away exactly how they are alike, nor, as flipper indicates, does it really have much to do with what the book is "about" (in a plot sense, although possibly not a metaphysical sense).
Was that vague enough for you?
posted by pardonyou? at 12:03 PM on August 25, 2010
Nthing not a spoiler, just the initial premise which is fairly clear if you look at the cover or read the jacket blurb. Nothing to worry about. Enjoy it, it's one of the better ones King has released in the last 15 years or so.
posted by yellowbinder at 12:23 PM on August 25, 2010
posted by yellowbinder at 12:23 PM on August 25, 2010
My personal spoiler threshold boils down to: "did it happen in the first half of the book/early on," and/or "was that mentioned on the freaking book jacket?" Or "is that spoiling a huge twist?"
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:38 PM on August 25, 2010
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:38 PM on August 25, 2010
Book jackets do not a good judge make - I've had a few books ruined by a cover image giving away the twist of the plot. Sometimes, the publisher (not the Author) goofs when choosing what goes on the cover.
(The same happens on DVD menus as well. The video sequence behind the menu of The Usual Suspects DVD contains footage that blows the entire movie if you pay attention to it. Someone goofed when they put it in there.)
posted by GJSchaller at 1:49 PM on August 25, 2010
(The same happens on DVD menus as well. The video sequence behind the menu of The Usual Suspects DVD contains footage that blows the entire movie if you pay attention to it. Someone goofed when they put it in there.)
posted by GJSchaller at 1:49 PM on August 25, 2010
(The same happens on DVD menus as well. The video sequence behind the menu of The Usual Suspects DVD contains footage that blows the entire movie if you pay attention to it. Someone goofed when they put it in there.)
This is also true of Barton Fink. So very, very true.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 5:26 PM on August 25, 2010
This is also true of Barton Fink. So very, very true.
posted by cottoncandybeard at 5:26 PM on August 25, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by griffey at 10:30 AM on August 25, 2010 [7 favorites]