Salem's Lot > Likes and Comments

Kenneth, I agree the dark tower isn't a western per say, it does I think it feels like a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western, which is what I thought when I read the gunslinger, it just has a western feel.

mrbooks wrote: "Except for poor Larry Underwood, was Jean Alice underwood the teacher in Rage his aunt do you think?"

Alice Underwood is Larry’s mother so I doubt back when he wrote The Stand he intended them to be related to a character in Rage (Jean Alice and Alice...a little too close to the same name to be an aunt). Underwood is a typewriter brand. So probably where he came up the last name.

I have noticed last names being used more than once and the same first names being used over and over. Like Susan.

I read somewhere that he said he reuses names for no particular reason (I think he said either lazy or not very creative or something along those lines). I need to figure out where I saw that.

Those aren’t the characters and places that he deliberately ties together, though. Since we know he does have characters and places in more than one book and it’s intentional, we tend to start noticing everything and think they must be connected.

Maybe I should try it out then anyways 😂

Michele wrote: "Maybe I should try it out then anyways 😂"

You absolutely should, but even if you aren't enamored with the first volume, it would be worth trudging on. It's only a small percentage of the entire saga and has a different feel than the rest.

Michele wrote: "Maybe I should try it out then anyways 😂"

You should try it. It’s not a western at all. He did get inspiration for his protagonist from Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns character, but’s that is it. It’s fantasy without all the elves and faeries and crap.

A lot of people don’t likemthe first book though so you need to remember that and continue on to the next book. You’ll be glad you did.

Michele wrote: "Maybe I should try it out then anyways 😂" I tried many times to read The Gunslinger. It took being pregnant and confined to bed rest with nothing to read to get me to finish the book. Boy am I glad I did though!

Michele wrote: "Ben wrote: "Michele wrote: "Salem's lot is also my favourite King book. I would love to know what became of Mark ... I just started reading Night shift and it has a short story called Salem's lot s..."


Hi Michele it may look and sound like a western but it is not. Yes you have horses guns and the like but it is true Horror fantasy.

Nancy wrote: "Michele wrote: "Maybe I should try it out then anyways 😂"

You should try it. It’s not a western at all. He did get inspiration for his protagonist from Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns characte..."

No fairies but you do have lobstrosities. Data chick data chuck

Lobstrosities don’t even come close to being fae. {shudders}

LOL I am mixing my books and tv programs this is Star trek the next generation meets the Drawing of the three, Data chuck LOL

Parkins Gillespie was not bitten and I think I know why. He was always smoking his Pall Malls which stank and had too many toxins in his blood. Haha

Thierry wrote: "Parkins Gillespie was not bitten and I think I know why. He was always smoking his Pall Malls which stank and had too many toxins in his blood. Haha"

So, in this case, smoking was a very healthy habit for the constable.

Michael wrote: "Thierry wrote: "Parkins Gillespie was not bitten and I think I know why. He was always smoking his Pall Malls which stank and had too many toxins in his blood. Haha"

So, in this case, smoking was ..." Kenneth McMillan, the great character star actor, was so good in the part of Gillespie in the Tobe Hooper version of Salem's Lot. Sad so many of the actors in that show have now passed on.

Loved this book! I have only one question do we ever get to see Mark Petrie in any of other Kings books?!

F.C. wrote: "Michael wrote: "Thierry wrote: "Parkins Gillespie was not bitten and I think I know why. He was always smoking his Pall Malls which stank and had too many toxins in his blood. Haha"

So, in this ca..." You are right, so many great actors, and most of them are gone now: Lew Ayres, Elisha Cook Jr, Marie Windsor, Ed Flanders, and especially Geoffrey Lewis and James Mason. Even Lance Kerwin has left us. But we still have their great work in one of the greatest horror mini-series ever.

Zobad wrote: "Loved this book! I have only one question do we ever get to see Mark Petrie in any of other Kings books?!"

Yes, but not in a big way.

I always thought The Shining was much scarier. But Salem's Lot holds a place in the top 5 all time best SK novels along with aforementioned The Shining, IT, Pet Sematary and The Stand.

Angie wrote: "Salem's Lot! Vampires! I have turned myself into a vampire this month for the read (check out my avatar). Do you think this is King's scariest book??? ? ? ? "
I'm not sure, haven't finished all his books yet. I'll let you know when I do. ;)
Currently I'm leaning toward Misery or The Outsider as his scariest books. Misery because it's realistic and horrifying. The Outsider because you spend the majority of the book in the dark. You don't know what the bad thing is, and so you don't know how to prepare for it. It's terrifying right up until the last few moments. Salem's lot is good, but the reason it's not the scariest, for me at least, is because the monsters are tangible. You know what they are and there's a clear way to beat them even though it's difficult. While there are suspenseful moments it faces the same issue he talks about in Danse Macabre. You see what's wrong and think, "Oh it's a vampire, that's not so bad. I thought it would be a hundred vampires." Though if I'm being fair and this story happened in real life, it would be far scarier than The Outsider or Misery. It is one of his better works, and the ending leaves it open for fear to play in the mind. Even though you know what it is, you don't know if it's found you, or where it will come from when it attacks. The unknown is the most horrifying part about it.

I agree, Salems Lot isn't scary but then I don't find much that is. The Shining is the only book of Kings that creeped me out and I've read 90% of his works.

Pet sematery creeped me out when I was younger and so did the shining

I never looked at clowns the same again after reading IT as a teenager!

@LTJ
Me either!! Clowns are a big NOPE for me. They always seemed a little creepy with their mask of smiles but after watching that movie and then reading the book… I will cross a street to get away from them

James wrote: "I always thought The Shining was much scarier. But Salem's Lot holds a place in the top 5 all time best SK novels along with aforementioned The Shining, IT, Pet Sematary and The Stand." Yes, Salem's Lot, The Stand, and The Shining are all Top 10 best Stephen King books for me.

I just finished reading Salem's Lot last week - I thought it was scary even though it was about a vampire. The suspense and dread buildup was like a deep mystery surrounding the house and to me I would compare it to the suspense of Dracula by Stoker. It kept me engaged with wanting to read the book and I had a hard time putting it down. It was actually a reread for me as I read it back in the late 80's but with my memory being fuzzy I didn't remember much of the book. I am happy that I read it again as it was so good! :)

Marie wrote: "I just finished reading Salem's Lot last week - I thought it was scary even though it was about a vampire. The suspense and dread buildup was like a deep mystery surrounding the house and to me I w..."

It's my very favorite King, and while it is a bit dated, I think the atmosphere and mood he establishes are timeless.

I personally think that it was creepy, but not scary, I will say that I loved the ending of the book versus the movie because it made it feel like an absolute apocalypse where vampires were taking over mankind.

I loved 'Salem's Lot and remember reading it was a teenager as I got through IT, Cujo, and The Shining. I thought it was brilliant and creepy, I re-read it as an adult a few years ago and it was just as scary now as it was back then!

Kandice wrote: "Marie wrote: "I just finished reading Salem's Lot last week - I thought it was scary even though it was about a vampire. The suspense and dread buildup was like a deep mystery surrounding the house...

It's my very favorite King, and while it is a bit dated, I think the atmosphere and mood he establishes are timeless."

I agree - the atmosphere of this book just kept me riveted to the story. I actually felt creeped out with the suspense and dread. This book I would consider classic King. :)

LTJ wrote: "I loved 'Salem's Lot and remember reading it was a teenager as I got through IT, Cujo, and The Shining. I thought it was brilliant and creepy, I re-read it as an adult a few years ago and it was ju..."

It definitely kept me spooked! lol King just has a way of making you want to climb inside your cozy chair and peek out over the blankets! lol

@Marie: Oh yes, LOL that's a perfect analogy. For me, it's reading King and then you start hearing these weird noises in your home and now you're worried...

I just finished Salem's Lot for the third time. This time around, I listened to the audio and the narrator Ron McLarty was AMAZING. Her perfectly captured the NE accent and used subtle shifts in tone to convey the different characters so that they were distinctly recognizable without being distracting. I highly recommend if anyone's thinking about the audio version.

Salem's Lot is still a five star read for me, even though it's not, and hasn't ever been, my favorite King book. The ending of this one (as in the whole final act, not just the epilogue) is pretty great though. I was actually tearing up a bit.

Adriennelee wrote: "I just finished Salem's Lot for the third time. This time around, I listened to the audio and the narrator Ron McLarty was AMAZING. Her perfectly captured the NE accent and used subtle shifts in to..."

This actually IS my favorite King book. Well, depending on the day! McLarty is a fantastic narrator. He also narrates Blaze.

Kandice wrote: "Adriennelee wrote: "I just finished Salem's Lot for the third time. This time around, I listened to the audio and the narrator Ron McLarty was AMAZING. Her perfectly captured the NE accent and used..."

Thanks for the heads up about Blaze!

I'm in the midst of a Stephen King marathon. Two weeks ago, I shared my thoughts on "Carrie" and now I've just penned down my review for "Salem's Lot."

I find myself longing for the days when Stephen King delved into folklore creatures. I'm particularly excited to revisit "Cycle of the Werewolf" in a near future.

I just read "Cycle of the Werewolf" and it was incredible!

’Salem’s Lot
This was my first sampling of Salem's Lot (Been a lot since). Although it is only his second book, "Salem's Lot" stands out as a classic Stephen King novel. It's a compelling narrative about vampires terrorizing a small town. King's talent for animating each character, regardless of their role's size, is something I admire. Despite growing up watching numerous vampire films, I believed I was immune to their scare factor. However, this book proves to be a storytelling tour de force.

Hey, everyone

I recently wrote a review on my blog about my take on Salem’s Lot, King’s novel that I read a few months ago. I read whatever lands on my hands. Stephen King is a fave authors of mine! My up and coming book blog is www.jesliterati.com. Check out if interested!

Thanks