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Anne's Reviews > 'Salem's Lot
'Salem's Lot
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Salem's Lot is one of the few books that might actually warrant a sequel.
Now, I love the way it ended. It was perfect, and I'm glad King didn't double dip with his vampire classic. But a small part of me wants to hear more about this modern-day Van Helsing and his sidekick.
You in the back with your hand up, ready to tell me about One for the Road, sit down. I mean a proper sequel and you know it.
So what makes this one stick to your ribs is that King modernized Dracula.
Which, if you haven't read it, isn't really all that interesting by today's horror standards. I'm not saying it isn't good, I'm just saying most people (especially non-readers) wouldn't be all that impressed with the "real" story. Stephen King would probably be the first to disagree with me on this because he says the book changed his world. But I'm sticking by my opinion that the classic tale wouldn't cut the mustard with the vast majority of today's audience.
And while most of you have probably read an updated Dracula, I think King was one of the first to do it well. Mainly because this works as an excellent vampire tale even if you haven't read Stoker's version. His idea was to tell the story of what would happen to a town if Dracula and Renfield had access to things like electric lights and cars. How quickly could a nest of vampires take over if they were to start chewing on their friends and neighbors in the present day?
And maybe more importantly, who would stop them?
In a world that has forgotten to fear the things that go bump in the night, who will put two and two together and come up with an ancient evil that has been written off as a myth believed by superstitious peasants?
For me, this holds up as an excellent vampire story. <-- whether you're a Stephen King fan or not
Recommended.
Now, I love the way it ended. It was perfect, and I'm glad King didn't double dip with his vampire classic. But a small part of me wants to hear more about this modern-day Van Helsing and his sidekick.
You in the back with your hand up, ready to tell me about One for the Road, sit down. I mean a proper sequel and you know it.
So what makes this one stick to your ribs is that King modernized Dracula.
Which, if you haven't read it, isn't really all that interesting by today's horror standards. I'm not saying it isn't good, I'm just saying most people (especially non-readers) wouldn't be all that impressed with the "real" story. Stephen King would probably be the first to disagree with me on this because he says the book changed his world. But I'm sticking by my opinion that the classic tale wouldn't cut the mustard with the vast majority of today's audience.
And while most of you have probably read an updated Dracula, I think King was one of the first to do it well. Mainly because this works as an excellent vampire tale even if you haven't read Stoker's version. His idea was to tell the story of what would happen to a town if Dracula and Renfield had access to things like electric lights and cars. How quickly could a nest of vampires take over if they were to start chewing on their friends and neighbors in the present day?
And maybe more importantly, who would stop them?
In a world that has forgotten to fear the things that go bump in the night, who will put two and two together and come up with an ancient evil that has been written off as a myth believed by superstitious peasants?
For me, this holds up as an excellent vampire story. <-- whether you're a Stephen King fan or not
Recommended.
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Reading Progress
April 28, 2022
– Shelved
November 5, 2023
–
Started Reading
December 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
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Matt
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Dec 12, 2023 10:38AM
Ow, I'm gonna read this. Thank you! Makes me curious: which modernized Dracula-stories do you like best?
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There's a short story called Jerusalem's Lot that follows this if I remember correctly.
Matt wrote: "Ow, I'm gonna read this. Thank you! Makes me curious: which modernized Dracula-stories do you like best?"I honestly think this is the best, Matt. Lots of really good vampire stuff out there, but for Dracula? I think Salem's Lot still wins.
Dan wrote: "There's a short story called Jerusalem's Lot that follows this if I remember correctly."There is. It's another short like One for the Road, but it doesn't act as a sequel, it's just set in the area with a few different characters.
One of the Dark Tower novels follows up with one of the main characters of this. I hadn't read Salem's Lot when I read it though so couldn't gauge the significance of it.
One of my all-time fave King books
Tim wrote: "One of the Dark Tower novels follows up with one of the main characters of this. I hadn't read Salem's Lot when I read it though so couldn't gauge the significance of it."Which one? I've read one of them but if it had these characters I completely missed it, as well.
Scott wrote: "One of my all-time fave King books"This was my first time reading it but I can see why you'd say that. Kind of the perfect amount of horror and story.
I’ve heard of the book title, of course, but this is the actual moment I became aware it’s a vampire novel. Colour me intrigued!
NO! Are you serious? You need to read this one, man.
I like this book. I went through my King phase secretly in high school when my parents couldn't find out. Have you watched either of the miniseries? I was too young when the one in the 70s came out and too overwhelmed by content when the remake came out in 2004 but Rob Lowe and Donald Sutherland are in it. Tobe Hooper directed the original one.
Super review, Anne! I must read this novel (almost embarrassed to say I haven't yet🙄). I've seen both miniseries a few times so I just wasn't up to the book but I really should read it in 2024!!😏📘💗
Chad wrote: "I like this book. I went through my King phase secretly in high school when my parents couldn't find out. Have you watched either of the miniseries? I was too young when the one in the 70s came out..."I've not seen either one. I want to watch them both, though. Did you have a favorite?
Luvtoread wrote: "Super review, Anne! I must read this novel (almost embarrassed to say I haven't yet🙄). I've seen both miniseries a few times so I just wasn't up to the book but I really should read it in 2024!!😏📘💗"Definitely! I don't think you'll be disappointed at all.
Anne wrote: "I've not seen either one. I want to watch them both, though. Did you have a favorite?"I haven't watched either of them yet. But my library has both so I'll watch them at some point. None of them are on streaming at the moment. There's also a "Return to Salem's Lot" from around 1987. I haven't looked into that one to see if it's a TV movie, miniseries, or abomination that should be skipped.
Awesome review Anne! Love all the gifs you added as well! I just finished reading the book about a week ago and loved it. I felt that it was a modernized version of Dracula as well. I own the dvd version of Salem's Lot (2004) with Rob Lowe and it pretty well parallels the book so I was happy about that. :)
I’d love a sequel to this!!
Wolves of the Calla is a semi-sequel, but not a proper one. It follows Father Callahan into the world of the Dark Tower. It's ... okay.
Anne, your reviews are always marvelous! I’m not a fan of this genre, but your review just might make me give this book a try.
Now I have another book to read! Thanks! Great review as always!I watched the original TV Movie many years ago (when I was just a toddler HAHAHA). I though it was really good as 70s TV movies go. Didn't know about the other two. Guess I have 2 more movies to watch as well as another book to read. So little time....
Of all the SK books that I’ve read this one really scared me. It’s been a while since I’ve read it. Very good review thanks
Marie wrote: "Awesome review Anne! Love all the gifs you added as well! I just finished reading the book about a week ago and loved it. I felt that it was a modernized version of Dracula as well. I own the dvd v..."I think I'll take Chad's advice and see if my library has a copy of that one!
Thomas wrote: "Wolves of the Calla is a semi-sequel, but not a proper one. It follows Father Callahan into the world of the Dark Tower. It's ... okay."The Dark Tower...I never could "quite" connect with that series.
Denise wrote: "Anne, your reviews are always marvelous! I’m not a fan of this genre, but your review just might make me give this book a try."Skip it fi you're not a horror fan, Denise. But thank you!
Bill wrote: "Now I have another book to read! Thanks! Great review as always!I watched the original TV Movie many years ago (when I was just a toddler HAHAHA). I though it was really good as 70s TV movies go...."
I feel the same way. I need more TIME!
Lisa wrote: "Of all the SK books that I’ve read this one really scared me. It’s been a while since I’ve read it. Very good review thanks"This one and IT are his scariest to me. So far, anyway.
Anne wrote: "The Dark Tower...I never could "quite" connect with that series.."The Dark Tower is a series that gets better with each book. The first one was one of the first things King had ever written originally appearing serialized in a magazine. It didn't really click with me until the 2nd book. There's always the options of the comics too. It's a chronological and more straight forward version of the story. Those were never finished though and I'd suggest switching to the books once you get to Drawing of the Three if you go that route. By that point Marvel had all but given up on them and put some real shitty artists on the book. The early comics had Jae Lee and Richard Isanove on them and look terrific with Robin Furth (who wrote the Dark Tower Concordance and is King's research assistant) and Peter David adapting them. I found all of the comics at the library. They are not on Marvel Unlimited because Marvel no longer has the rights and all the GN's were republished by Gallery 13 later. There are also omnibus editions.
en.wikipedia.org /wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(comics)
Hands down my husband's favorite King book. He often gives it to readers as a Christmas gift. I have yet to read it because I'm too busy reading 90s King. 80s King is like lighting your hair on fire and standing in the dark, hoping someone will come along and put you out of your misery. No, it doesn't make sense, and neither did King during the 80s.
Chad wrote: "Anne wrote: "The Dark Tower...I never could "quite" connect with that series.."The Dark Tower is a series that gets better with each book. The first one was one of the first things King had ever ..."
I've actually read at least one of the books drawn by Jae Lee! You're right and I liked it a lot. Too bad they never finished.
Ebony "0s King is like lighting your hair on fire and standing in the dark, hoping someone will come along and put you out of your misery. No, it doesn't make sense, and neither did King during the 80s.."I'm dying! lol
What's your favorite King, Ebony?
Barlow was a great vampire, scary as hell
No school like the old school, movie was pretty good too, the scene where Barlow opens the jail door and shadows wake the guy up? Scared the heebie jeebies out of me when I was a kid
One of my favorite vampire and King books. Old school King at his finest. Thank you for the reminder I need to reread it soon.
Lyn wrote: "No school like the old school, movie was pretty good too, the scene where Barlow opens the jail door and shadows wake the guy up? Scared the heebie jeebies out of me when I was a kid"I've never seen it! I've got it on hold at my library but I'm still waiting. All of you guys saying it's a cool old movie is getting me excited!
Andrea wrote: "One of my favorite vampire and King books. Old school King at his finest. Thank you for the reminder I need to reread it soon."You're welcome! I should have read this when I was younger but never did for some reason.
I listened to the audiobook of this a a while ago and there are certainly some haunting scenes. A good read.
I think it's so scary because good people turn into monsters through no fault of their own.
