(love this cover image I found online)
(The Overview) - Ben Mears has returned to Jerusalem's Lot in the hopes that living in an old mansion, long the subject of town lore, will help him cast out his own devils and provide inspiration for his new book. But when two young boys venture into the woods and only one comes out alive, Mears begins to realize that there may be something sinister at work and that his hometown is under siege by forces of darkness far beyond his control.
(My Rambling Thoughts) - I loved the Marsden house and how it seemed to come alive as I read. I loved how the first half of the books ratcheted up the tension for what was to some later on -- the details about the house, the town, the people etc. Then wham, Ben and his vampire fighters really had their work cut out for them. This book felt dated but I really loved that, it took me back to those earlier days to what many of King's generation did for fun as teens (well minus the vampire fighting). I loved how these vampires were the good old-fashioned kind, no glitz and glamour or good looks, but scary, evil and smelly instead. I loved the characters King created, the sinister feel and, of course, the blood-sucking vampires of the night.
Stakes, crosses, holy water - dark menacing and atmospheric, Salem's Lot is one of King's very best, in my opinion. It's a perfect horror selection to read most anytime, but something about October reading made it even more enjoyable.
