Quote:
Originally Posted by HoopyFrood
The thing about those stories is not the subject matter, it's the way the stories are written. Not much filler, just an honest scary story.
I would put "Salem's Lot" on the short list of King's books to read.
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I don't disagree about the "it's the way the stories are written", it's mostly a difference of opinion on which stories reflect that best - versus which stories tend toward the schlock-horror that many people think of when they think of King.
Even in the books that I really don't like (eg: Cujo, Misery etc.), I can still appreciate the way King writes - his characters are wonderfully constructed. I just don't like those particular stories, I find them ugly rather than scary. (About the only King book I found truly scary, the first time I read it, was
Gerald's Game.)
One good example of the distinction I'm talking about is
Pet Sematary - the first two thirds of that book were wonderfully done, King at his best, but the last third could have been taken from any of a dozen horror movies. My notes from the last time I read it conclude: "more like a Simpsons Halloween special than part of the story."
I do agree that
Salem's Lot is a good book. It's not in my top picks, but I would recommend it as worth reading once someone decides they like the way King writes.
ETA: ucfgrad93 mentioned
Firestarter - this is another one that I enjoyed very much.