3 stars

“At three in the morning the blood runs slow and thick, and slumber is heavy. The soul either sleeps in blessed ignorance of such an hour or gazes about itself in utter despair. There is no middle ground.”

'Salem's Lot is a novel that holds great potential for many readers. It offers a plethora of elements that could be interesting and captivating. However, unfortunately, this particular book just didn't resonate with me. Stephen King's second novel delves into the lives of various characters in a small town called Jerusalem's Lot in Maine. As strange events start to unfold, people begin to disappear and die at an alarming rate, and their bodies seem to vanish without a trace. The question remains: will our main characters be able to uncover the mystery and put an end to the chaos?

I am well aware that this novel is adored by many. There are aspects within it that I, personally, didn't find as appealing, but I understand that others might have a different perspective. Let's take a closer look. The writing style of 'Salem's Lot is quite unique. It is highly descriptive and gory, effectively painting a vivid picture of the small town. King introduces us to even the most minor characters, such as the hunchback, which adds to the overall atmosphere. While many people appreciate this atmospheric writing, for me, it was a bit overwhelming. After a while, I found myself getting bored. Especially when we are bombarded with extensive descriptions of the Lot right from the start and in the form of info-dumps, similar to Primeval and Other Times. I struggled to determine which information was crucial for understanding the story.

Another aspect that I didn't quite enjoy, but which others might, is the slow pacing of the story. The first half is dedicated to planting clues and setting up the town. I was aware that it would be a slow burn, but it was almost painfully slow at times. King is a master of building suspense, but I felt that he executed it better in Carrie. In this novel, I found myself getting lost among the numerous random characters that were introduced. The slow burn, combined with the confusion, made it a less enjoyable read for me. However, for those with a good memory and the ability to fully immerse themselves in a story, this might not be an issue.

On a positive note, the character work in this novel was exemplary. Although it can be challenging to keep track of all the characters initially, once you do, you can truly explore their developments. This was an aspect that I really liked, but it didn't come into play until the second part of the novel, leaving me longing for more in the first part.

The introduction of the novel was also quite interesting. The intrigue and mystery are established right from the first chapter, where we follow an unnamed man and boy who are not related but travel together. It's clear to see how this influenced many subsequent novels. 'Salem's Lot has many redeeming qualities. It is original and engaging. Sadly, it just didn't click with me. I also just realised this is the first novel where the vampires are actually supposed to be scary *surprised pikachu face*

Actual rating is 4.5 stars.

This is one of Stephen King's earliest novels. In this captivating tale, an author makes his way back to a small town in Maine, attempting to come to terms with his inner demons. Little does he suspect that he will soon be facing actual demons, as a menacing vampire (not the glittery kind) takes up residence in the town simultaneously.

I was persuaded to read this book by a Goodreads friend, Gianfranco. He highly recommended it, stating that it was a terrific read and expressing his surprise that I had never picked it up before. He was absolutely right, and I am truly grateful to Gianfranco for the recommendation. This isn't just your typical monster book where the creature attacks everything in its path. Instead, it offers a fascinating look into small town America, where everyone is a neighbor, yet at the same time, they hide secrets behind closed doors. I have always believed that King is at his best when there is a subtle message underlying a story, and this book is a prime example of his excellence in this regard. The highlight of this book is the eerie atmosphere and the pervasiveness of the dire situation that the townspeople find themselves in. It is so palpable that it seems to leap off the pages, allowing the reader to truly feel it. I also adored the fact that this was a good old-fashioned vampire novel, clearly influenced by Bram Stoker's Dracula.

The only reason I couldn't give this a full five stars is that it was evident that it was an early work, and the writing wasn't entirely polished and refined. However, this did not in any way detract from my enjoyment of the story. I firmly believe that if King were to write this novel today, after years of honing his craft, it would easily earn a five-star rating.

This was Stephen King's second published novel.

The very haunting Salem's Lot takes readers on a journey as King delves beneath the surface of a small town for the second time.

What soon became a King trademark is on full display here. He描绘s an idyllic American town on the surface, but there is something much darker lurking beneath, seemingly emerging from an isolated mansion and the people within.

The story is told through the eyes of those new to the town.

After his debut novel explored the supernatural, King wasted no time in this second published work, going straight for the jugular... literally! :).

Rating: 8 out of 12.

2016 read; 2006 read; 2003 read

The last time I picked up a King novel, my penchant for critical analysis of a text was merely a nascent fixation. Now, it has become an abiding preoccupation. No matter how hard I try, I can no longer ignore the subtle flaws in King's plot construction and character portrayal. The predictability of women being typecast as lovers, abuse victims, or tactless ingénues truly challenges my fangirl status. (Not to mention the tropes of the'magical negro' and other cliched depictions of people of color.)

Yet, I cannot dispute the legitimacy of his reputation as a master storyteller. Even though it has been many years since I first plucked a King title from a friend's bookshelf, his words still send shivers down my spine in the dead of night. His narrative voice exercises a hypnotic pull, rendering me powerless to disengage from the world he painstakingly creates, a world ravaged by paranormal phenomena. The horror King evokes here is not just the direct result of the emergence of an unknown, malevolent force that disrupts the functioning of a secluded small town, but also the sinister darkness lurking within the human soul, which requires only the right trigger to be unleashed, silently eroding all capacity for reason and leaving in its wake a bestial urge for carnage. The supernatural forces that menace to shatter the lives of King's characters symbolize the evils that exist in the realm of reality - the ominous shadows of war, hunger, poverty, and totalitarianism.

All accusations of profit-making and sacrificing good writing for the sake of plot can be consigned to the abyss. King is capable of penning a verbose passage rife with profound philosophical musings when he so desires. He can still rescue me from a dismal reading slump and remind me of the emptiness of ritualism - that faith is not mindless prayer or the mechanical thumbing of rosary beads, but rather the mind harnessing an inner strength to expel the darkness within, professing unwavering dedication to a worthy cause.

Before the abomination known as 'Twilight' inspired the publishing industry to mass-market vampires as lustful, gorgeous, and harmless studs ready to gratify women on demand, there were fictional bloodsuckers like those in 'Salem's Lot'. And no, that's not a spoiler, considering most community reviews here contain more detailed spoiler-filled synopses in this regard.

In terms of thematic resonance and characterization, this is far from King's finest work. However, if you haven't yet familiarized yourself with Bram Stoker's masterpiece and wish to encounter vampires that inspire pure spine-tingling, bone-chilling terror, this is the book for you. Fans of 'The Haunting of Hill House' by Shirley Jackson will also discover something of value here.

I am simply glad that there are a great many King titles remaining for me to devour.

The note to my 13-year-old self: Thank you for being wise enough to choose this book and keep reading the King of authors’ books for years!

This was my first Stephen King book. I never was a fan of vampires! (I was a little clueless as to why the hell people lost their sh*ts when they read and watched the entire Twilight series, but there’s another review to tell that story.) But as you can imagine, I was drawn into King’s story from the very first read, and I suffered from nightmares for years, seeing Danny Flick floating outside my bedroom window!

Nearly three decades later, I’m rereading this beauty that made me one of the biggest fans of the King of the authors! Another sleepless night is probably waiting for me! But it’s truly worth it! Damn you, Danny Flick!

I recently watched the trailer of the latest movie adaptation! It seems so promising with its brilliant cast! It will be released on September 9, 2022. I loved Gary Dauberman’s previous King adaptations. (Even though the second movie of “It” was way too long.) I’m really looking forward to watching it!

Vampires.

Years after I first delved into it, I can unreservedly state that this remains on a shortlist of the scariest books I have ever perused.

King is truly at his finest here.

It is an American reimagining of Bram Stoker's Dracula. King adheres closely to the vampire myth, yet infuses it with some of his own unique storytelling and makes some subtle alterations that result in an original novel. I can't help but muse that Barlow played a significant role in ushering in a new era of vampire literature. And in the past few years, we have been inundated with an abundance of such works.

Horror Spotlight discord buddy read, and I'm very late to start. As usual

Spooky Suspense!


Small backstory:


Ben Mears, a horror author, is on his way back to Jerusalem's Lot, also known as Salem's Lot. He is determined to confront the old ghosts that haunted him during his childhood in this town. Ben hopes to draw inspiration for his new book from the place where he grew up. However, as he arrives, he realizes that not much has changed. The old Marsten House, which overlooks the town, still stands there, looking as eerie as ever.


When Ben discovers that the Marsten House has been purchased by someone the town hardly knows, his suspicions are raised. Why would an outsider want to buy this old, dilapidated house? As he delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of mystery surrounding the new owners. Their motives and plans for the house are worrisome, and Ben begins to fear what they might have in store for the people of the town. What's even more terrifying is when he realizes that they are not what they seem and that their true nature and plans are far more sinister than he could have imagined.


Thoughts:


I first read this book in the late 80's, and my memory of the story had become somewhat模糊. So, I decided to reread it to refresh my mind. I remember being spooked by it the first time, and I was curious to see if it would still have the same effect on me. To my surprise, it was even more suspenseful and full of spookiness this time around. The story sent shivers down my spine and kept me on the edge of my seat.


The author, the Master of Horror, has created a vampire masterpiece that delves deep into the human psyche and refuses to let go. I was captivated by all the characters in the story, although there are quite a few to keep track of. The main characters, in particular, gave a brilliant performance that made me turn the pages of my Kindle at a rapid pace, eager to find out what would happen next.


This book is definitely a keeper and should be read around Halloween for an extra dose of vampire flavor. I highly recommend it and give it five "Vampire Scary" stars!

The greatest fear is that I won't find a really scary book that truly terrifies me.

But after "The Shining", this is the best book I've read by King. It's considered the best experience of a bloody and terrifying story (book, movie, and game).

If you're looking for a well-calculated bloody story that vividly depicts the main essence and terrifying wildness, and if you're intrigued by stories where several young and new vampires, humans, mice, wolves, and so on get involved in a crazy love affair, I highly recommend this book.

Remember that King's stories don't have extraordinary ideas, but his storytelling and character portrayal are usually excellent, and this story is also very character-driven. At first, it annoys you, but as you progress, you get used to it, and soon you'll know who it's for.

One or two mini-series have also been made from this book, which wasn't too bad.

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Spoiler showing the owner of the vampires I was very disappointed that Barlow wasn't like this in the book :))




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My translation is good. Only the proper names were a bit annoying, and in the middle of reading, it would suddenly go silent.

2.0 Stars

It's time for an unpopular opinion. Honestly, I truly did not take any pleasure in this particular piece. The story seemed to drag on interminably before it even began to gain any momentum. And by the time it finally started to move forward, I had already become extremely bored and simply not invested in either the characters or the plot. It felt as if I was just going through the motions, waiting for something to happen that would capture my interest, but alas, it never did. The pacing was so slow that it made it difficult to stay engaged, and the characters lacked the depth and charm that would have made me care about what happened to them. Overall, this was a disappointment and not something that I would recommend to others.

A novel that delves into the eerie atmosphere of a creepy town and the menacing presence of deadly vampires. This should have easily earned a 5-star rating from me, yet I found myself slightly disappointed.

I truly wanted to fall in love with this novel, but it was just an okay read for me. An okay offering from the King. I'm absolutely certain that the issue lies within me and not with the novel itself.

My main gripe with the novel is that it took nearly 350 pages for it to truly grip my attention. The introduction of the characters and the plot felt a whopping 150 pages longer than it ought to have been. Besides that, the only character I really took a shine to was Ben Mears. I suppose it's a plus that I liked the main character, but it's a drawback that everyone else seemed a bit one-dimensional and lacking in vitality.

The plot wasn't bad, and the execution was quite good. This novel focused more on the mystery of the town rather than the sheer creepiness of the vampires. I do enjoy a good town mystery story, but the overall mystery of this town just didn't hold that much interest for me. I've heard that this novel is quite similar to Dracula, so perhaps I should have read Dracula first? Similar in the sense that the novel doesn't revolve solely around the vampires but rather the setting. King is known for his setting-centered novels (like Pet Sematary), so I'll repeat myself and say that I'm probably the problem here, not the novel.

I give it a 3.5/5 stars. I kept the review short because I know that my opinion of this novel will likely improve after a reread in the future. Looking back, I can vividly recall the violent scenes and picture the ending. As of now, I can't bump it up to 4 stars because it didn't completely blow me away. I'd be dishonest if I said I thoroughly enjoyed this. I did enjoy some parts, but most of it was a bit dull for me. Here's hoping for a better reread in the future. Go ahead and give this novel a try, and don't let my 3-star rating deter you.

At three in the morning, the blood courses through our veins slowly and thickly, and slumber weighs heavy upon us. The soul either succumbs to a blessed ignorance of such an hour, lost in the depths of dreamless sleep, or it gazes about itself in utter despair, trapped in the darkness of the night. There is no middle ground, no in-between state.

Once again, I find myself completely at a loss for words when it comes to King. I am truly speechless. I think that when a significant period of time elapses during which you haven't delved deeply into the works of the classic King, you tend to forget the sheer power and genius that he possesses. Rereading The Shining and ‘Salem’s Lot over the past two months has really driven home for me why King is rightfully regarded as the goddamn Master.

No one has the ability to bring a small town to life quite like King. The meticulous way in which he crafts and constructs a town, along with all of its diverse residents, is truly incredible. And ‘Salem’s Lot stands as one of his finest achievements in this regard. To immerse oneself in the details of this small town, to become a part of its fabric, only to witness it gradually disintegrate and fall prey to a dominant and malevolent evil force, is an utterly addictive reading experience! It's a slow burn, but it absolutely needs to be in order for King to expertly and gradually crank up the levels of dread and terror.

October is, without a doubt, the optimal time to read ‘Salem’s Lot, as it means that you'll essentially be reading it in real time. The descriptions of autumn that King provides are some of my absolute favorite passages in all of his writing. He simply nails it, capturing the essence and atmosphere of the season with such precision and vividness. In my opinion, he truly nails this entire book.

Prior to my recent reread, I often held Ben and Susan in a somewhat negative light, thinking along the lines of "oh Salem’s Lot is awesome, but some of the characters could be better." However, this time around, I have a newfound appreciation for them. Susan may be a bit one-dimensional, but I really admired the moments when she had the courage to stand up to her mother. And as for Ben, while he may not be the most exciting character, he certainly doesn't shy away when the horrors begin to unfold. In fact, he's pretty badass.

And let's not forget Mark Petrie!! He remains one of my all-time favorite King child characters. He endures so much throughout the story, and some of the sections that focus on him really tug at my heartstrings. And a shout-out must also go to Father Callahan, as well as Jimmy, Matt, and the whole crew! They all contribute to making this book the masterpiece that it is.

I also had forgotten just how chilling and spine-tingling this book could be. The moments when Matt hears someone upstairs, the childish giggle that echoes through the house, the visitor at the window, and the menacing knives all add to the overall sense of unease and dread. I loved the way in which I felt spooked at times, as if I was right there in the midst of the action.

‘Salem’s Lot is truly one of my favorite works by King. It earns a well-deserved 5 stars.