Darlene's Book Nook: #Book #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King @StephenKing

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

#Book #Review: 4 out of 5 stars for 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King @StephenKing

TITLE: 'Salem's Lot

AUTHOR: Stephen King

PUBLISHER: Signet

PUBLICATION DATE: August 1, 1976

FORMAT: Paperback

LENGTH: 427 pages

GENRE: Horror

ISBN: 9780451165886

Something strange is going on in Jerusalem's Lot ... but no one dares to talk about it. By day, 'Salem's Lot is a typical modest New England town; but when the sun goes down, evil roams the earth. The devilishly sweet insistent laughter of a child can be heard echoing through the fields, and the presence of silent looming spirits can be felt lurking right outside your window. Stephen King brings his gruesome imagination to life in this tale of spine tingling horror.

MY REVIEW:

I read this book for a read-a-long hosted by Michelle at Gather Together and Read.

Ben Mears returns to his hometown, Jerusalem’s Lot, to write a story about Marsten House which was where he had a bad experience as a boy. Ben learns that the house has been recently bought by two men, Kurt Barlow and Richard Straker, and that the men are also opening a local antique shop. Strange happenings begin to occur in Jerusalem’s Lot, including the disappearance of a local boy. With the help of a local teacher, Matt Burke, Ben tries to figure out what is happening in this town and how these events are connected to the mysterious Barlow and Straker.

Stephen King knows just how to spin a tale! I love how he sets the scene for what's about to come. Creepy old house? Check. Grisly animal death? Check. Missing child? Check. Strangers in town? Check. He has also the basic elements covered to lead us into a scary read, and this book did not disappoint!

There are many disturbing scenes throughout the book, and the ones that bothered me the most were the ones involving children (especially Baby Randy). My favourite character is Mark Petrie, the teenage boy who seems to be one of the first ones to figure out what is really going on!

I remember watching this 1979 mini-series on television when I was just a kid. The infamous window scene with Danny Glick still haunts me! I have requested the DVD from the library so that I can re-watch it. I never did see the 2004 television re-make featuring Rob Lowe. I will have to see if I can find that one.

MY RATING: