The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet include drawings, charts, and lists accompanying the written elements. These drawings are purported to be done by T.S. himself, who also provides each with an explanatory caption that deepens the book's narrative. This is designed to mimic T.S.'s own habit of quantifying the world around him using cartography. Larsen has stated that this technique was not originally intended to be included in the book's format, finishing a complete first draft of the work before he "discovered the margins as a playground of T.S.’s mind." Larsen's parents were both visual artists (his mother a painter and photographer, his father a printmaker),
Under the Dome (TV series) in some of the first season's absurdity and shows potential for improvement, "Under the Dome"'s second season still feels like a ride with no closure." Negative reviews included Hank Stuever of "The Washington Post", who wrote that "I just don't buy "Under the Dome," on any level. I think the story is a shambles and the concept is dumb", and Verne Gay of "Newsday", who wrote "Under the dumb". However, other critics were more positive; Mark Dawidziak of "The Plain Dealer" wrote that "If not top-tier TV terror fare, "Under the Dome" certainly is solid second-level stuff. And given the