A dark wind is blowing into Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, in the guise of antique furniture dealers R.T. Straker and Kurt Barlow. Novelist Benjamin Mears has returned to the village near Portland to exorcise his childhood demons.
Immediately, townspeople begin suffering from strange flu symptoms, or disappearing altogether. Mears and local high school teacher Matt Burke understand the peril the town faces. Soon they're joined by an artist, a doctor, an alcoholic priest, and an 11-year old boy, forming a modern-day team of vampire hunters.
Stephen King's second novel, Salem's Lot, is the story of a mundane town under siege from the forces of darkness. Considered one of the most terrifying vampire novels ever written, it cunningly probes the shadows of the human heart -- and the insular evils of small-town America.
I liked this one. Although Vampires stories are a bit silly, this is well done, the sideline story about the forces of good and evil are interesting with the priest battling the vampires.
I can never quite believe it though when little children are the heros of stories like this. I know they say that anyone can find heroic strength and courage under the right circumstances, but something about a ten year old driving a stake through someone's heart doesn't sit right with me.
The moment in that book that sticks out to me the most is when Father Callahan (the priest who feels like there is no real fight left) puts the cross up to the door and all the windows blow out.
"That is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me in my entire life."
^Okay, not sure if that's an exact quote, but you get the idea.
I also liked how Mears's girlfriend (I want to say Sarah) turned into a vamp. Didn't see that one coming.
Kevin: Remember that one time when I ate those napkins?
Me: (laughing) Yeah.
Kevin: That was funny. Do you remember what made me do it?
Me: I'm pretty sure you just said, "Hey, watch me eat these napkins".
Kevin: (laughing) Yeah, that sounds about right.
It's the coolest, most unique set of books you'll read.
Kevin: Remember that one time when I ate those napkins?
Me: (laughing) Yeah.
Kevin: That was funny. Do you remember what made me do it?
Me: I'm pretty sure you just said, "Hey, watch me eat these napkins".
Kevin: (laughing) Yeah, that sounds about right.
Yeah I might have to get the Dark Tower series too. But I am getting Harry Potter first!
I also thought that Sarah (Jenny?) being turned into a vampire was a shocker.
Without giving too much away: Does the Dark Tower series deal with what happened to Father Callahan? Coz he got bitten and then left Salem's Lot, if he was a normal person, being bitten would mean he would turn into a vampire. But is he immune to that because of his faith? But his faith was corrupted by the head vampire being able to beat him. So many unanswered questions.
schmiggens said this in post #10 : Yeah I might have to get the Dark Tower series too. But I am getting Harry Potter first!
I also thought that Sarah (Jenny?) being turned into a vampire was a shocker.
Without giving too much away: Does the Dark Tower series deal with what happened to Father Callahan? Coz he got bitten and then left Salem's Lot, if he was a normal person, being bitten would mean he would turn into a vampire. But is he immune to that because of his faith? But his faith was corrupted by the head vampire being able to beat him. So many unanswered questions.
The way I understand it, Callahan is marked and has the power to see who is a vampire, but he himself is not one.
He is one of the main people in 5, 6, and 7.
Dark tower 7 has a released snippet, and it's about the good priest.
without spoiling anything, he gets strong again, and redeems himself.
I think the head vampire just marked him, to torture him, make him live a life of pain and hardship. If I remember Salems Lot correctly, he was strong in faith at first, but then lost it.
09-09-2004 09:32 AM
Think not! Do!
