YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Thousands of miles away from the small township of 'Salem's Lot, two terrified people, a man and a boy, still share the secrets of those clapboard houses and tree-lined streets. They must return to 'Salem's Lot for a final confrontation with the unspeakable evil that lives on in the town.

26% (view spoiler)[ I wonder if Ben is the adult from the prologue part? So far I'm more interested in this story than I was with Carrie. I'm enjoying the creepy yet close atmosphere of the small town. I wonder if the two furniture dudes are vampires or something. Honestly I'm more suspicious about them than Ben. I do quite like Ben so far. I hope I continue to like him. I wonder if anything will happen between Ben and Susan. (hide spoiler)]

50% (view spoiler)[ Oh shit one of the little kids is a vampire now!! So I think Danny was turned into one by the people who live in that house. I'm so mad at Susan's mother, what a bitch. I can't believe she liked Floyd better, he just beat up a man because he wasn't Susan's favorite anymore! GET OVER YOURSELF MAN. I'm really worried for Matt now, I hope the vampire doesn't get him next (hide spoiler)]

70% (view spoiler)[ Well shit Susan is a fucking vampire now! I'm mad that she and Mark went into the Marsten's house together. I'm glad Mark made it out at least. The scene with Jimmy and Ben at the morgue was creepy af, but I am really enjoying this!! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Wow it was sad how pretty much everyone in the town died. I wish the epilogue had been longer since I can't recall if they actually went back and killed all of the other vampires. I'm glad Barlowe is dead at least. I wonder what happened to Father Callahan. I'm also kind of confused since with this tale all of the vampires were turned just by being bitten. What happens when everyone is a vampire? How would they feed and stuff? (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting June 11th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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So far I've finished the prologue and the first chapter:
(view spoiler)[It's interesting how King explains the difference between plotting and telling stories. When I come to think of it, you've got indeed a certain power when plotting: you lead the story, but with story telling you let the story lead you and you have less control over it. King is more storyteller than plotter, I think.
About chapter 1: we read that Ben Mears returns to Jerusalem's Lot. He lived there for 4 years, but it seeams that the village means a lot to him. Could he be the dark haired person from the prologue? Also, his wife/girlfriend died in a motorcycle accident. Maybe that's the reason why he's a bit reluctant to come back. (hide spoiler)]

So, I'm up to chapter 6:
(view spoiler)[I thought there would be more creepiness, until now, but there isn't. It's more hidden in the subtile things that are happening and that's typical Stephen King. I like the variety between the chapters: Salem, the different characters, Ben...So you won't get bored. Also, there's a hidden reference to Stephen King's other work On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft in the book: Ben talks about not showing his writing until it's perfect for the readers. The first person where you write your story for, is yourself. It seems that 'Salem's Lot is a town for people who have problems, who are struggling... (hide spoiler)]

I'm halfway in the book and I've got the feeling that it goes slow, but there's a lot happening at the same time.
(view spoiler)[It looks like almost everyone is turned into a vampire. I love the way how King takes the time to describes his characters. I think that the 2 who lives in the Marsten house turned Danny into a vampire as his clothes were lying in the basement. It feels like Matt, Ben and Susan are becoming vampire hunters or so. (hide spoiler)]

Finished:
(view spoiler)[I don't know why, but I had difficulties to keep my head with the book. The story itself was good. You know almost instantly at the beginning who the young man and the boy are, but then the story builds up. It's a strong and haunting story. More the original horror than the horror book there are now, but at moments it was too descriptive. It felt that some characters were described in very long chapters. The background info about the different personae was good to know and gave an extra to the story to describe Salem's Lot, but sometimes less is more.
Nevertheless, some scenes were giving goosebumps and the occasionaly scare. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting October 5th 2025. Happy Reading ☺

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Starting this one today!

Starting nwoss

Not sure how to break down the chapters for this book, so I’m just going with the header at the top 😅

Susan I - 5%

(view spoiler)[ I looked up how much $700 would equal today, and it’s a little more than 4K. Seems like a good deal for some painting to me haha (hide spoiler)]

Katrina G wrote: "Not sure how to break down the chapters for this book, so I’m just going with the header at the top 😅

Susan I - 5%

[spoilers removed]"

Haha true lol, especially when compared with the prices of "modern" "art"

20%

(view spoiler)[i am loving everything so farrrrr, especially the interaction with Ben & Norton's parents. But I sense that something bad is going to hppen tot he Glick brothers. (hide spoiler)]

50%

(view spoiler)[so this is why the weird things start to happen! People are dying & disappearing back and forth, wonder what's gunna be the explanation, a loose serial killer perhaps? (hide spoiler)]

63%

(view spoiler)[OH WAIT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT VAMPIRES?!!!???!??!???!??? 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 (hide spoiler)]

70%

(view spoiler)[HOT TAKE: it pretty much only on the 70% mark where things get a bit interesting 🤔 (hide spoiler)]

100%

(view spoiler)[that was pretty underwhelming not gonna lie 😭😭😭😭😭😭,. I mean they succesfully....defeated—the villain?????? I mean what can i even say in here this is so typical iven for a Stephen King book. Its written like a wattpad horror story sry 😭😭😭 its not creepy nor is it horrific. This is probably my least when it comes to Stephen King books because the other 8 stephen king books ive read is extremely good, this 9th read is kinda just a random horror vampire story, it doesn't even feel like something Stiphen King would write. (hide spoiler)]

The Lot (I) - 11%

(view spoiler)[ Wow. Can’t say Sandy will be winning any mother of the year awards any time soon. I feel bad for the baby (hide spoiler)]