The novel has two great strengths that make it accessible to a variety of topics and discussion groups. First is its trenchant examination of various social issues; the second is its focus on the singular character of Dolores Claiborne and the unique narrative style that brings her into being.

1. Vera Donovan terrified Dolores with her hallucinations of haunting dust bunnies and live, creeping wires.

What does Dolores think these images mean to Vera?

2. Examine a passage of Dolores's narrative. What is King's narrative style: how does Dolores express her emotions, her reflections, attitude, or the facts regarding Vera or Joe's deaths? What qualities represented in the passage make Dolores feel real?

3. Examine the newspaper articles at the end of the novel. How do they close the action and conclude the novel? What do you have to infer or add to the articles to make meaning of...