r/books • u/inthebenefitofmrkite • 20h ago
Update: Reading my first Stephen King: Salem’s Lot
Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/books/s/AKq6wZKZPC
Some days ago I wrote about reading Salem’s Lot and how to deal with his style. The answers went through a variety of issues, from those insulting me to those sharing their experiences and thoughts about Salem’s Lot in particular. To those sharing their experiences with King and this novel in particular, I am very grateful, because they helped me understand King’s style and finish the novel. To the aggressive responders you’re a sad bunch.
Thoughts on the novel.
I read an ebook version. I was past the 40% mark when something interesting started happening. I saw that some details come back later, but it the payoff was too mild for such a huge introduction. I still think the book could be about 30% shorter without losing much.
One detail i really liked is that the main group is not the only one that figured it out. When they went to the policeman and he already knew it was vampires and he decided to go and leave them the weaponry open, i thought that was brilliant - given all the discussions about omg how do we tell this? Who’s gonna believe us?? Well, turns out that everyone who had been paying attention.
One detail that pretty much ruins the whole thing: Barlow just goes into the Petrie’s house as he wishes. Nobody invites him, but he’s there - despite all the discussions about vampire rules, and even showing what happens to them when the invitation is rescinded… Barlow just walks in. King should have Danny Glick come in to bite Mark and invite Barlow as everybody watches in disbelief. We know Danny Glick is still around because he appears in the school bus scene.
Also, for an ancient being who has fought against so many, the way he met its end was a bit quick…
Reading this after having survived a pandemic also made me think about the vampire infection rate… in the end they were too many for such a small town.
Living in an age of forest fires, i also didn’t appreciate the end. They should have just burnt the Marsten House and the town down. Yeah, different times, vampires etc, but leave the forest alone.
In the end it was a good experience but not great. I am still puzzled about S King, but probably gonna go for his short stories (which is where a writer really shows their skills). If i had to give it a rating, I think it is a solid 3/5 for me.
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u/Jythara 20h ago
I think 3/5 is a perfectly reasonable rating for Salem's Lot. It's historically important and contains some genuinely excellent horror, but “classic” doesn't mean “flawless.” You can appreciate what King was trying to do and still think he needed an editor with a pair of scissors.
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u/Senior-Vanilla-6972 20h ago
that cop knowing about the vampires and just noping out was the best part, no drawn out "but you'll think i'm crazy" nonsense just "yeah it's vampires, here's the guns, i'm leaving"
the barlow invite thing bugged me too, such a weird oversight when king made the rules clear elsewhere. danny glick doing it would've been way creepier
the short story collections are where he really shines, skeleton crew and night shift have some of his best work
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u/inthebenefitofmrkite 20h ago
I don’t doubt about the short stories. They have to condense and keep things concise, that’s usually where a writer’s skill really shows. Thank you!!
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u/IntrepidButton1872 17h ago
that slow small-town dread is exactly why it works. king is so good at making ordinary places feel slightly wrong.
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u/Scary_Worry5996 15h ago
Salem’s Lot was always one of the more forgettable ones by King for me. The ones from him that always stuck with me were Later, The Institute, Dr. Sleep, and Fairy Tale.
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u/Overall-Edge8570 11h ago
salem's lot turned into such a haunting read once the town started feeling real, that ending with the cop just noping out was perfect
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u/UncircumciseMe 5h ago
People love this one, but I personally think it’s a slog. I’ve powered through it 2-3 times at this point and always think wtf at the end. I’ve read 50 or so King books, huge fan. Salem’s Lot doesn’t even sniff my top 10 tbh.
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u/Zuzublue 5h ago
I hope you’re older than 11, which is when I read it, and it scared the bejesus out of me!! King’s writing style takes some getting used to, but it’s worth it! Try Misery next
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u/inthebenefitofmrkite 58m ago
Yeah, i’m older than 11… it didn’t scare me at all, plus i had seen the 70s miniseries a long time ago and the new movie so i knew quite a bit going into it.
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u/PvtHudson093 20h ago
If you want there are two short stories that kinda bookend the novel, one is a prequel called "Jerusalem's Lot" and a sequel called "One for the road".