Despite its realistic rather than supernatural context and plot, Dolores Claiborne does have a supernatural connection to Gerald's Game. During the total solar eclipse that passed over Maine, on July 20, 1963, while Dolores was watching Joe die in the well, Jessie Burlingame, age ten, was being sexually molested by her father. They both saw each other and knew they saw each other, though they were 165 miles apart. While some critics are disappointed with this "forced" paranormal connection between these two texts, King clearly designed them to be "bookend" novels, with related themes and social issues in women's lives.

Both women lives were eclipsed, overshadowed by horrific acts. When their stories are told 30 years later, they are still coping with these events. The differences in events, circumstances, and age between Dolores and Jessie suggest that careful readers will not conclude with a simplistic comparison.

Another strong woman is...