Under the Dome by Stephen King (July/August 2025 SKS Book Club)

If Stephen King thinks it’s one of the best books of the 21st century, then we should probably read it…

For the last few summers we’ve tackled one of Stephen King’s “chonker” books. The ones that clock in at around (or more than!) 1000 pages. Previously we’ve read It, 11/22/63, and The Stand. In order to get the full Stephen King experience you need to read these gigantic tomes because Kind does an incredible job weaving so much story between the pages while still being incredibly readable. Plus, how accomplished do you feel when you’ve read over 1000 pages!?

This summer we’re reading Under the Dome, if only because Stephen King himself named it one of the best books of the 21st century when he, along with numerous other authors, were asked to share their ballot picks when The New York Times was rolling out their own Best Books list. (See all of King’s picks in the picture above)

Under the Dome didn’t make the NY Times cut, but we were curious about why King himself loved this book so much. There are others he has written post-2000 that have certainly garnered more critical and monetary success (11/22/63 for starters). So what is it about this book that makes it so important to King? 

Let’s find out!

Under the Dome is so long that we’ll need two meetings to discuss it (and you can find our full Stephen King Summer meeting schedule HERE). Lots more information below about this novel, including King’s motivations and its reception.