Salem's Lot > Likes and Comments

Erin (Paperback Stash) wrote: "Costas wrote: "In case you guys haven't read it, Night Shift has both a prequel and a sequel to Salem's Lot (named Jerusalem's Lot and One for the Road respectively). They are short st..."

Salam's Lot is pretty close to the top of my list of king books. The same day I bought it someone gave me a copy of Twilight. I read the intro to SL then switched and read all of Twilight very quickly. No comments about that one except that it's the only book in the series that I read. Compare the first few pages of each if you want to know just how great a writer Mr. King is.

I started this book over the weekend. I wanted something that I would actually find scary. I did not think It was scary at all, and found the movie quite humorous. And I am a HUGE chicken. I was told this one might give me the chills, so I am looking forward to it. So far The Snowman is the first book in years to give me a bad feeling. Come on, Stephen King! Bring it on.

Autumn wrote: "I started this book over the weekend. I wanted something that I would actually find scary. I did not think It was scary at all, and found the movie quite humorous. And I am a HUGE chicken. I was to..."

Horror changes as the years go by. I saw the original mini-series when it first aired in 1979. I was eleven and it scared me. But in 2014 it's more of a classic horror novel but not very creepy. What scared folks fifty years ago doesn't seem so bad now. I also saw the original "Dawn of the Dead" in 1979. Scared the hell out of me and the gore was horrific. Now you see worse gore on CSI during prime time television and it isn't really all that scary. But 35 years ago........

Checkman, you hit the nail on the head. It's the cheap 80's effects combined with made for TV. Now, I am the first to say when they make an It remake, I probably will not be able to watch it. I will be too scared. Criminal Minds scares me every episode, and you are right... they can be very gory.

Autumn, Salem's Lot is my favorite not because I found it scary. Creepy, spooky? Yes, but certainly not nightmare-inducing. I enjoyed the layers to the story, how it slowly developed and you could feel it building into something sinister. I know many people found it boring. And that's fine. People will have different expectations and reactions to them. I found the 2004 (I think it was 2004) Salem's Lot movie with Rob Lowe more in keeping with the novel, but not perfect.

Matt wrote: "Autumn, Salem's Lot is my favorite not because I found it scary. Creepy, spooky? Yes, but certainly not nightmare-inducing. I enjoyed the layers to the story, how it slowly developed and you could ..."

Yes the Rob Lowe version was truer in spirit to the novel then the Tobe Hooper (director - Texas Chainsaw Massacre) version was from 1979. But in 1979 there wasn't as much to choose from on television (that's an all encompassing term now). So more people would see a broadcast. Like me I think many of Goodreads members saw the 79 version when they were kids and teenagers. Perhaps it was destined to become legendary. Good or bad.

Matt wrote: "Autumn, Salem's Lot is my favorite not because I found it scary. Creepy, spooky? Yes, but certainly not nightmare-inducing. I enjoyed the layers to the story, how it slowly developed and you could ..."

You are so right! I love all the backstory, and how there is this slow build to something completely sinister. When I am reading I feel like I am constantly on the edge of my seat. Something was just found in the basement, fellas, and I feel like it's not something good. Plus, there is going to be a creepy kid, I just know it, and I do not like creepy kids.

Also, I imagine Straker as a young Vincent Price. Tall with long graceful fingers.

Listening to the BBC adaptation as a little primer for WotC in the DT Buddy (re)Read. :D

I just finished my first re-read of 'Salem's Lot in 10 years. I had completely forgotten almost every detail and how scary/creepy it is! The last 200 pages especially flew by. Very intense. Definitely one of the best King books.

Chanss.alexandria wrote: "I just finished my first re-read of 'Salem's Lot in 10 years. I had completely forgotten almost every detail and how scary/creepy it is! The last 200 pages especially flew by. Very intense. Definit..."

I recently re-read it as well. It had been probably 35 years since my first read when I was about 13. I remembered the details pretty vividly since I was young and impressionable then it it affected me greatly. However re-reading it with my adult perspective was a different experience. I more fully understood the more subtle aspects of the characters and their motivations. It still held the terrifying nature but I was not terrified by it. Not sure if I am conveying what I mean here. What I mean is that I can handle the scary stuff differently now because the ultimate evil in the world no longer holds the same unknown power over me. I can more fully appreciate the "good" over "evil" now.

Yeah! I totally get what you mean! I also read it when I was 13, I'm 24 now, so I suppose it's been 11 years. It was not an unbearable terror. It was the build up to the last 200 pages or so that was beyond creepy. Imagine having to do half of the things that they had to deal with?! *shivers*

Father Callahan is one of my favorite King characters.

after almost 20 years I'm reading this again

Took my time reading this and I really enjoyed it

SPOILER alert!

Ok, now that that's over, can anyone chime in on who bites Danny Glick and when? I'm assuming it's Barlow (um, since he's a vampire), but am confused because those delivery guys had yet to pick up that huge crate at the dock. Now, if Barlow was in that crate, how can he bite Danny?

Or, was Barlow's coffin in that crate, and Barlow holed up in the Marsten house? Meaning he's free to roam and bite little boys.

That scenario has bugged me for the longest time! Thanks!

Oh no! Now you've made me want to go back and revisit !

This is prototypical King. It's ALL here--every idea he would ever explore, every relationship. 'SALEM'S LOT echoes throughout nearly all of his work.

It's a perfect horror novel, too--one of the finest examples of the form in the latter half of the 20th century.

Matt wrote: "SPOILER alert!

Ok, now that that's over, can anyone chime in on who bites Danny Glick and when? I'm assuming it's Barlow (um, since he's a vampire), but am confused because those delivery guys ha..."

Matt, it's been awhile since I read it but if I recall, I thought Danny was brought back to the house for a later feast. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly, my mind does fail me occasionally.

Sergio wrote: "Father Callahan is one of my favorite King characters."

I learned to know him in the DT saga, and yet I read Salem's lot just a few months ago. It would've been better if i did it the other way around.

I just cleaned out my entire stack of Stephen King novels today and kept only my favorites. Salem's Lot is absolutely haunting...there are entire scenes that I can visualize completely and I think this book is one of the creepiest he has written in that I can believe this really could happen. It's so much more real than his other novels set in the northeast (like IT).

'Salems Lot is one of King's earlier works, a Master from the jump, this as well as all the rest of his books is an incomparable read. He did plastic surgery on the Vampire story, he has not only his finger on the pulse of horror but his fangs as well. 'Salem's Lot is a indelible tale, over & over it withstands in this genre as well as just being a killer book. I've not had any luck finding the original film (not the book standard 2bsure) it seems only the TV version is widely available...

Stephan King is a writer so masterful that even though I'm 63 and well past the Boogeyman stage of life, King creeps into my room with that BOOBEYMAN and scares the bejesus out of me!

Debra

Danny Glick scratching on the outside of the window. OMG

reading ur post gona have to go find this book today

I'm 19. I read this book few weeks ago. I stay alone in my room in college so it scared the crap out of me. I was literally dreaming about vampires every night yet I couldn't stop reading. This book gave me chills at night! Those chills that scare you yet you love them.
I dreamt vampires, woke up in the middle of the night, shivered, yet I was loving it!

Haha nice one pal, Salems lot was first King I read and was not much younger than 19.....similar reaction though! Make sure you read It!

I read this book last month but watched What We Do In The Shadows (nz vampire comedy movie) while I was halfway through, ruined the scariness a bit because I kept laughing at the thought of vampires.

I have a question though - in the extended edition, are the short stories the ones from Night Shift? I didn't get the extended one, but I want to read those stories. Thanks guys!

I have to say that the first half of this book really freaked me out but as it went into the conclusion I found myself a bit bored with the whole thing. The action just seem laborious.

I enjoyed it front to back.

Just finished Salem's Lot. I was a kid when the TV movie came out (1979) and the window scene with the Glick brothers was so scary.

After reading Night Shift I enjoyed this big slow novel with lots of characters and Father Callahan's ruminations on evil. But I didn't bother with the deleted scenes. I like the novel the way it is.

:æ: wrote: "Just finished Salem's Lot. I was a kid when the TV movie came out (1979) and the window scene with the Glick brothers was so scary.

After reading Night Shift I enjoyed this big slow novel with lo..."

Wait! There's a version with deleted scenes?!

Kandice wrote: "Wait! There's a version with deleted scenes?!"

This one 'Salem's Lot: Illustrated Edition which I read on kindle.

I think the rerelease back about ten years ago was extended, as I remember. I could be wrong.

It was an awesome rerelease though because of the amazing illustrations.

I can't believe I have been unaware of that edition. I'll have to get it.

Thanks!

I love this book! I'm currently reading it again. I don't this it's really scary, but it's one of my SK favorites.

I'm starting Salem's Lot tonight as part of the Stephen King Challenge. Its been a while since I've read this one.

That was a perfect review, Stephanie. Short and sweet and my sentiments exactly.

Just finished it! Never again will I leave the windows open before I go to sleep!

Sarah wrote: "Just finished it! Never again will I leave the windows open before I go to sleep!"

Salem's Lot helped me to believe in vampires so much longer than I should have. Ugly vampires, unlike Rice's beautiful, tortured beings. This will always be one of my favorites.

I love that King was able to make the vampire story fresh and interesting while staying true to the mythology and not incorporating a silly spin to make it "unique". I recently reread Salem's Lot and I had forgotten how creepy it is! Great read.

The best thing I love about Salem's Lot are the characters. Stephen King made them came to life right off the pages. And the book was pretty spooky too.

Just started reading Salems lot so far so good but wouldnt expect anything else

I just started reading this. Recently started loving books in my mid 30s and decided to go back and read some classics I missed out on. I struggle to read books where I've seen the movie so when I started my King readings with IT, I got bored about 1/3 through. I then read the Shining since we all know its very different from the movie. After finishing that I was anxious to find another King novel that would grab me. So far Salem's Lot has done just that. I was originally worried the cast of characters would be too much and I'd get bored like IT, but these character have me wanting to learn more about their lives. I just started this book 2 days ago and am already 1/3 of the way through. Can't wait to share my experiences with you all.

Brandon, go and have a word with yourself mate. It is the best thing he's written by a long way - you're missing out!

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT

QUESTION: Is the Boone ancestral Chaplewaite, the Marsten House?

Salem's Lot

POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT!!!

So, are the Boone ancestral home and the Marsten House one and the same?

This one kinda reminded me of I Am Legend a bit with how they tried to tackle the vampires kinda scientifically.

I completely agree. Also the way that the people semi-retain some of their personality while still becoming horrible monsters.