I would say it’s more suspense than scary. Love how SK writes Small Town America. His characters are just the freaking best. You’re exactly on my level - by the time stuff starts happening, you *KNOW* these people, where they work, who they’re related to - you’re completely invested. So excited for you to get to the Dark Tower 🔥🔥🔥
If you want a good horror book from King then I suggest Pet Semetary or The Shining. If you want (IMHO) his best non horror books then I suggest The Dead Zone and 11/22/63 (my favorite book of all time).
I'd strongly recommend you read Needful Things at some point, there are similarities and I think the whole Small Town USA and its characters are done even better, with an even more enigmatic antagonist who comes to town. However, it's been a while since I've read it (early 90s maybe?), I keep saying it's in my top 3 Stephen King (after IT and The Stand), will reread it soon. Salem's Lot surprisingly was one of those major ones that I'd somehow missed, I read it very recently too.
Salem’s Lot is a wonderful introduction to King. So glad you enjoyed it. I think I may need to reread it this October (with the window closed, of course).
This was a great review, Alex! You echoed a lot of my thoughts. The town-building is my favourite thing about King’s writing. Love the slow-burn - highly reminiscent of IT!
I've read I think 6 King books(The Talisman, Salems Lot, Pet Semetery, Carrie, IT, The Stand) and IT and The Stand were the only really good ones for me...the others were just ok. So I'm just not sure his style is it for me, though IT and The Stand are fantastic, so I'm just not sure.
The good thing about that is the two that you enjoyed the most were IT and The Stand, which are freaking massive haha. I'm sure his writing isn't for everybody but I've only just begun so hopefully I continue to enjoy it.
Thanks for a great review, Alex. I agree, Salem's Lot is quite unique! The way he attempts to build a town is outstanding. Doesn't build on everyone really well, but I think it made the book so much more ominous, showing how the *danger* becomes more and more prominent as the story continues. Scary! Will
Great review, Alex. I had a ton of fun reading this and following along with your thoughts on the Discord. My thoughts are quite similar to yours - a suspenseful read, for sure.
I've read 2/3s of King's books. He has some amazing books, some okay books, and some bad books. Salem's Lot is one I continuously return to, one of my all time favorites of his. Glad you liked it! If you want a short King book to give a shot before starting Dark Tower, The Long Walk is practically a novella and is stellar.
@@alexnieves Yeah I def liked it, and I think it spooked me more than it did you with a few of the vampire scenes, cuz I definitely had brutal nightmares at least once due to this book.
What King does so well is to ground you in the every day reality of people's lives so believabley that when the wierd shit hits the contrast is really sharp.
I did enjoy Salem's lot I read it last year but it's not my favorite books from Stephen king 👍😊 I'm planning on reading needful things next once I'm done with the dark tower series
Needful Things is by far my favourite Stephen King novel- in three words it is intriguing, suspenseful and mindblowing. I'm glad you enjoyed Salem's Lot Alex. I would also highly recommend The Shining, IT Pet Sematary and Misery. This was an enjoyable review. I'll be reading Salem's Lot in October for the spooky season. Barlowe sounds Iike an eerie but exciting character. In my honest opinion, Stephen King is the godfather of horror. I wasn't a huge fan of Carrie I gave it a 3 star and ended up giving the book to my boyfriend as he wanted to read it.
I really thought for a while this book was about an ancient cult. Then I was a little disappointed with it turning out to be vampires. I didn't know King had written a vampire story. I'm in the minority of people who didn't really enjoy this book
It was my first King too and I think we had a lot of the same thoughts. I also was like screw most of these characters I hope they all die or get turned into vampires!
King's town building continues to be one of my favorite things in fiction. Great review mate.
Thanks homie.
I would say it’s more suspense than scary. Love how SK writes Small Town America. His characters are just the freaking best. You’re exactly on my level - by the time stuff starts happening, you *KNOW* these people, where they work, who they’re related to - you’re completely invested.
So excited for you to get to the Dark Tower 🔥🔥🔥
Definitely more suspense for sure and I'm SO excited for Dark Tower.
If you want a good horror book from King then I suggest Pet Semetary or The Shining. If you want (IMHO) his best non horror books then I suggest The Dead Zone and 11/22/63 (my favorite book of all time).
Pet Semetary 🔥
I absolutely want to read all of those. All in good time.
Definitely Pet Sematary is my number one
I'd strongly recommend you read Needful Things at some point, there are similarities and I think the whole Small Town USA and its characters are done even better, with an even more enigmatic antagonist who comes to town. However, it's been a while since I've read it (early 90s maybe?), I keep saying it's in my top 3 Stephen King (after IT and The Stand), will reread it soon. Salem's Lot surprisingly was one of those major ones that I'd somehow missed, I read it very recently too.
I'll definitely look into Needful Things, thanks for the recommendation. The great thing about King is there's so many books.
Salem’s Lot is a wonderful introduction to King. So glad you enjoyed it. I think I may need to reread it this October (with the window closed, of course).
Might as well just board the window up or sleep in the basement.
@@alexnieves Sleep? While reading Salem’s Lot?! I think not. 😉
This was a great review, Alex! You echoed a lot of my thoughts. The town-building is my favourite thing about King’s writing. Love the slow-burn - highly reminiscent of IT!
Thanks so much! I'm definitely interested to see how IT compares to it as far as the town goes.
I've read I think 6 King books(The Talisman, Salems Lot, Pet Semetery, Carrie, IT, The Stand) and IT and The Stand were the only really good ones for me...the others were just ok. So I'm just not sure his style is it for me, though IT and The Stand are fantastic, so I'm just not sure.
The good thing about that is the two that you enjoyed the most were IT and The Stand, which are freaking massive haha. I'm sure his writing isn't for everybody but I've only just begun so hopefully I continue to enjoy it.
So are you going to read black house the sequel to the talisman 🤔🤨
I'm going to read a few DT tie ins but I doubt I will reach them all before/during DT. There's also lots of non DT books I want to read from King.
Thanks for a great review, Alex. I agree, Salem's Lot is quite unique! The way he attempts to build a town is outstanding. Doesn't build on everyone really well, but I think it made the book so much more ominous, showing how the *danger* becomes more and more prominent as the story continues. Scary!
Will
Definitely a great introduction to King! I can't wait to read more.
Great review, Alex. I had a ton of fun reading this and following along with your thoughts on the Discord. My thoughts are quite similar to yours - a suspenseful read, for sure.
I'm glad you enjoyed! It was definitely a good read and a great into to King.
I've read 2/3s of King's books. He has some amazing books, some okay books, and some bad books. Salem's Lot is one I continuously return to, one of my all time favorites of his. Glad you liked it! If you want a short King book to give a shot before starting Dark Tower, The Long Walk is practically a novella and is stellar.
I'm definitely interested in some of his shorter ones for sure!
Salem's Lot is probably the only King book I'm interested in reading and that's probably(definitely)because it's about vampires 😁🦇
Yay vampires!
Great review! I also read this as my first King recently and felt the exact same way-a solid if unspectacular first foray into the multiverse.
I'm happy you liked it!
@@alexnieves Yeah I def liked it, and I think it spooked me more than it did you with a few of the vampire scenes, cuz I definitely had brutal nightmares at least once due to this book.
What King does so well is to ground you in the every day reality of people's lives so believabley that when the wierd shit hits the contrast is really sharp.
I would definitely recommend Pet Semetary for your next. It’s Kings scariest in my opinion.
I'm definitely reading it at some point! I do own it so that's a good option.
I did enjoy Salem's lot I read it last year but it's not my favorite books from Stephen king 👍😊
I'm planning on reading needful things next once I'm done with the dark tower series
Awesome. I'm looking forward to more King for sure.
Needful Things is by far my favourite Stephen King novel- in three words it is intriguing, suspenseful and mindblowing. I'm glad you enjoyed Salem's Lot Alex. I would also highly recommend The Shining, IT Pet Sematary and Misery. This was an enjoyable review. I'll be reading Salem's Lot in October for the spooky season. Barlowe sounds Iike an eerie but exciting character.
In my honest opinion, Stephen King is the godfather of horror.
I wasn't a huge fan of Carrie I gave it a 3 star and ended up giving the book to my boyfriend as he wanted to read it.
I'm definitely going to read a lot more King, I have all those that you mentioned on the list!
@@alexnieves Awesome!. I hope you enjoy them all when you get to them.
I really thought for a while this book was about an ancient cult. Then I was a little disappointed with it turning out to be vampires. I didn't know King had written a vampire story. I'm in the minority of people who didn't really enjoy this book
Sorry you didn't like it! An ancient cult would have been an interesting story too.
Well Well Well, another book to the TBR then
Indeed!
Honestly, after Salems' Lot, there are only a few Kings books worth reading, like Christine, The Shining, Misery and It.
Bag and tag 1st King book.
YESSIR
I hate the fact that I started Ghost Story and Salem’s Lot b4 u and you finished both before me
Hahaha oops!
Not my favourite depiction of vampires but definitely my favourite vampire story.
Definitely a great vampire story. What's your favorite depiction?
@@alexnieves BBC's Being Human. They're written more like addicts.
It was my first King too and I think we had a lot of the same thoughts.
I also was like screw most of these characters I hope they all die or get turned into vampires!
Hahaha right? Almost immediately I was like yes, kill them ALL. This town must be purged.
I love u