Another Day, Another Gigundo Stephen King Novel

I had never read "Under the Dome" by Stephen King, so when the commercials for the TV version, which begins tonight, started to show up , I got interested.  I decided to buy myself a download of "Under the Dome" for Father's Day.  My gift to myself on my Nook turned out to be as daunting in length as is the norm for Stephen King novels:  1357 pages.  Granted, these are 1357 Nook pages, but still it is one lengthy e-tome.

My old school ways struck me this morning.  I had this desire to pre-teach or introduce this TV series/novel to the Stephen King aficionadoes out there.  I won't, though, spoil anything.  I promise.  Just a couple suggestions and a question.  Watch out for a couple of Stephen King riffs from the past, such as a character who would be great friends with Trashcan Man from "The Stand" and a sort of similarity to "The Tommyknockers."  Also, the ending was a real disappointment for me.  So eight weeks down the line I'd like to hear people's reactions to it, if, in fact, the TV ending is the same.

I enjoyed the book even though it was way too long.  In an "Afterword," King mentioned that the final version had been cut tremendously by his editor.  I can't imagine what else he would have had to say.  It's what King fans expect, I think.  Length, lots of characters, terrific dialogue, and a creepy time in rural Maine.