Salem's Lot > Likes and Comments
It will be interesting to see how you find it, John! It will be a few days until I get to start it, I've got a door stopper of a book to read first.
I havent read this in at least 15 years! I ordered a copy and should get it this weekend. Have to finish my current book first, though. Can't wait.
I've just started this and so far I've not been instantly grabbed, like some other King works, however I'm hopeful I'll grow to love it. Or maybe even fear it, if I'm lucky.
I've read this book more times than any other book I can think of--maybe 5 times--even recently. It is one of my absolute favorites. Classic and iconic.
A brilliant novel which is further enhanced by The prequel, "Jerusalem's Lot" (HP Lovecraft inspired) and the straight up sequel "One for the road" which kind of added more creepiness to the setting than the actual novel. Further connections can be found in the DT series.
I wish that I could have read Jerusalem's Lot, Salem's Lot and One for the road in the intended order. I've come to read Salem's last.
Yes, thanks John, always the voice of reason.
Sometimes I still get nightmares about little boys floating outside my window wanting to come in and kill me.
Salem's Lot is going to be my next King read. I've moved away from him for a little bit but I am excited to come back. I need to read this book and It!
Reenie wrote: "I wish that I could have read Jerusalem's Lot, Salem's Lot and One for the road in the intended order. I've come to read Salem's last."It doesn't matter. They all stand alone well. It might help to know the history as far as the Dark Tower series though.
T.W. wrote: "Reenie wrote: "I wish that I could have read Jerusalem's Lot, Salem's Lot and One for the road in the intended order. I've come to read Salem's last."It doesn't matter. They all stand alone well...."
Sadly, my knowledge of the Dark Tower books leaves a lot to be desired. Do you think knowing the history would impact the reading of this book?
Reenie, no! This book was out before the DT series so you will be experiencing it the way us Constant (for decades) Readers did. Most of us went back a re-read after the DT tie-ins were revealed, but it is certainly not a necessity.
I actually had no idea the Dark Tower was referencing Salem's Lot until they just came right out and said the name of the book. I bet it made it pretty cool for those who had read Salem's Lot before the Dark Tower.
Dylan wrote: "I actually had no idea the Dark Tower was referencing Salem's Lot until they just came right out and said the name of the book. I bet it made it pretty cool for those who had read Salem's Lot befor..."It was amazing! Like little Easter eggs as you read.
Oh dear, I'm sorry Kandice, I had a ditsy moment! It will certainly be interesting for when I get around to the DT ..hopefully soon
Starting Salem's Lot later tonight! Excited to read another SK novel.
Reenie wrote: "Sadly, my knowledge of the Dark Tower books leaves a lot to be desired. Do you think knowing the history would impact the reading of this book? "
Absolutely. But not really until after the third in the series. There are also DT compendiums that assist with the overlap (may be a good way to start an SK reading list).
I've been reading all King titles since the mid 1970s. So, I did them chronologically, and still enjoyed them. Have since re-read most everything as well. I was definitely "impacted" with having knowledge of the previous books.
Just finished 'Salem's Lot and I really enjoyed it. Kurt Barlow is now one of my favorite Stephen King characters.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dylan wrote: "Just finished 'Salem's Lot and I really enjoyed it. Kurt Barlow is now one of my favorite Stephen King characters.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I agree Dylan, thought Barlow was an excellent character. Think Straker was perfect as well.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."I agree Dylan, thought Barlow was an excellent character. Think Straker was perfect as well.
William wrote: "Dylan wrote: "Just finished 'Salem's Lot and I really enjoyed it. Kurt Barlow is now one of my favorite Stephen King characters.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"
Absolutely. They kind of reminded me of The Man in the Black Suit from Everything's Eventual
Salem's Lot has a special place in my heart as it was the first Stephen King book that I read (34 years ago). I loved it and kept reading whatever I could get my hands on! The world of Stephen King is amazing. What a brilliant mind!
Just started reading this one today after finishing The Long Walk. So far I'm loving it.
Loved it. One of my King favs. I even put IT on hold to read this.
Angie, for my money King's scariest book is the Stand!
I'm re-reading this book this month, and I find myself with some of the most brillant and terrorific King back again. It's the first time I re-read a novel by S.K. (I've read some of his short stories over and over), and it's incredible how he keeps surprising me. Also, I'm really excited for the next re-reads I'll make. I'm thinking The Shinning and Dr. Sleep next.
Angel wrote: "I'm re-reading this book this month, and I find myself with some of the most brillant and terrorific King back again. It's the first time I re-read a novel by S.K. (I've read some of his short stor..."For me this book was so much more about the characters, their relationships and the town than it was about vampires. King is so, so good at that.
Kandice wrote: "For me this book was so much more about the characters, their relationships and the town than it was about vampires."Agreed. I'm rereading this now as part of my DT reread, and the interludes about the town itself are absolutely beautiful. King really understands small town life, and that definitely comes through in his writing.
This is one of my favorite novels. It's the only book I have to re-read every year. And whenever I re-read DT, I always do it right after I finish Salem's Lot :)So many great lines!
“The basis of all human fears, he thought. A closed door, slightly ajar.”
My absolute favourite. It took me until rereading as an adult to realise how expertly King built the town itself into a living, breathing character. Reading as a teen I was just racing through it desperate for the vampire stuff to kick off but now I can appreciate the slow build. Genius.
I was a teen as well, Greg, when I read this one. I need to reread it. Good insight about the town being more than a setting, and I didn't pick up on it. I feel that Derry is also a character, not just a setting for the story.
ElleEm wrote: "I was a teen as well, Greg, when I read this one. I need to reread it. Good insight about the town being more than a setting, and I didn't pick up on it. I feel that Derry is also a character, not ..."Agreed about Derry. Some of the best parts of It are where King delves into Derry's past and really fleshes out the town.
Greg wrote: "Agreed about Derry. Some of the best parts of It are where King delves into Derry's past and really fleshes out the town."Yes! And doing that through Mike's father is a great way of presenting the history. Those interludes are some of the most eerie and disturbing.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "its strange how most upset comments I've come across in the Stephen king group is about the sex bit in " it" I'm more shocked by what I've come across in salems lot were a babys mum threw a bottle ..."But statistically, that's when parents are often likely to attack their own children... when the kids are crying ceaselessly and the parent just can't figure out how to quiet them. then the parents get angry at themselves and the kid and terrible things happen. King is just being accurate.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "yeah i get that , i used to work at nurseries ive been on all sorts of courses where ive learnt that , is just the amount of times that it is mentioned with that part of the book and ive never seen..."You're right.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "its strange how most upset comments I've come across in the Stephen king group is about the sex bit in " it" I'm more shocked by what I've come across in salems lot were a babys mum threw a bottle ..."Yeah, I found that part disturbing too. And it's interesting how you pointed that out when most people usually don't. I don't like people who beat or abuse their children or wives/girlfriends. I hated that white trash mom. LOL. I should remember this since I've read this book three times in my life, but doesn't the kid get turned into a vampire baby?
Matthewcross87 wrote: "its interesting how 2 different adaptions of the book have some major characters in one but not the other"I assume you are referring to the made for TV adaptations, one in 1979 and the other in 2004 starring Rob Lowe. Yes, it was interesting to see some major characters in the 2004 one that were not in the 79 version. People hated that one though. I mean I didn't mind it that much, but a lot of people really did not like it at all. I went into Suncoast Video at the mall one time looking for the '79 version of 'Salem's Lot. I asked a girl that worked there if she could help me find it, and she went to look for it and found the Rob Lowe one, and said, "Here's the remake....YOU DON'T WANT THAT DO YOU?".
LOL
I was actually thinking lately, with what they are doing with the new IT and Dark Tower movies, that they should do something like that, a good big screen version of 'Salem's Lot.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "i like both versions as much as each other , it would be good as a 3 hour movie , but its gotten to the point that I've lost patience with 2 part movies having to wait 3 years for 2 parts is just d..."Damn, a lot of people are really annoyed by the whole IT two parter thing. I suppose I'd have to have already read the book to understand. I didn't think the last Salem's Lot movie was that bad. Rutger Hauer was pretty good as Barlow. That guy seems to like playing vampires.
Matthewcross87 wrote: "hrs a great vampire ... apart from in the buffy the vampire slayer movie , there would be nothing wrong with 2 part movies as long as they are released back to back"Yeah, Salem's Lot deserves a good movie (or movies)
Matthew, he is probably complaining about it because the Afghan war is about 30 or 40 years past the actual time the book was written. Some people think you should only portray a movie in the same era a book was written in. That may be true with some books but most of Stephen king's book are easily transferred to different time changes.
Best vampire novel (if not one of the only good ones) ever written. I tend to steer clear of vamp stuff as it all tends to basically become teen fiction or erotica these days, but King can do vamps like no one else.
I think that's because King's vamps are NOT sexy or romantic. They are gritty, gross and undeniably dead. NOT legitimate love interests, although I do like some of that like Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris or Gail Carriger, but there is a time and a place.
Kandice wrote: "I think that's because King's vamps are NOT sexy or romantic. They are gritty, gross and undeniably dead. NOT legitimate love interests, although I do like some of that like Anne Rice..."Exactly. They seem like they are what vampires should look like in my mind. I have never been one for overly romanticizing vampires (except Buffy the Vampire Slayer, that show gets a pass). Not that I don't appreciate the idea. Interview With a Vampire was actually pretty great, too.
Buffy gets a pass on everything. Buffy is the bomb!
I just started reading this for the first time :) Thought October was a good time to pull out an SK book, especially a vampire story. I'm through 2 chapters and interested. I love his descriptions.Also, that introduction was fantastic.
Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "I just started reading this for the first time :) Thought October was a good time to pull out an SK book, especially a vampire story. I'm through 2 chapters and interested. I love his descriptions...."Even though it's one of his first books, it's definitely one of his best.
Ashley *Hufflepuff Kitten* wrote: "I just started reading this for the first time :) Thought October was a good time to pull out an SK book, especially a vampire story. I'm through 2 chapters and interested. I love his descriptions...."'Salem's Lot is a fantastic book. It's a neat riff on Dracula, though not a copy in any way. I usually recommend it as a first Stephen King book for people.
Someone gave me copies of Salem's Lot and Twilight at the same time. They sat on my desk side by side. Read and compare the first chapters of those two books if you want to know something about Mr. King's writing ability.
That's not fair. The two books although both deal with vampires they are totally different genres. I for one have read them both and liked them each for their differences.
Linda wrote: "That's not fair. The two books although both deal with vampires they are totally different genres. I for one have read them both and liked them each for their differences."Me too. 'Salem's Lot is actually my favorite book, and while Twilight doesn't even break my top 20, I did love it. It was corny and full of tropes, but I flew through it (and the rest) like book crack, and sometimes, that's all you are looking for.
I'm excited to start it as I've heard lots of good things, apparently it will scare the pants off me?