I don't really think of novels as overrated or underrated i just read them without anything in mind, obviously you can't help but notice if a particular thing is rated highly but it's more enjoyable if you try to enjoy them on their own merits rather than be swayed.

I think Salem's Lot is definitely very high on the list of King books imo, if you take into account that it's only his second novel, it's all the more impressive. The quality of writing is very good in places, King is very fluid throughout the book i think. There is excellent use of description of the town and describing how the vampires are starting to take over. The Marsten House really does take on an identity all on it's own through his clever positioning and descriptions of it through the story. I love how he relates this idea to Shirley Jackson's fantastic novel. All the little subplots weave together effectively into the thread of the main and it's a decent plot, a good and fresh take on the vampire legend.

There are plenty of good scenes, innovative and dynamic scenes and the characters are likeable enough. However, I don't think any of them except maybe Barlow do much for me, he has created far better. Callahan i didn't really care for at all in this, i feel he came into play very late. Mark is a good young protagonist and Ben is fine, i think his history is interesting and fits in well.

Susan, i'm afraid i really did not connect with at all, so didn't feel too much for her, i felt more for the effect on her father (who i would have liked to have been involved more) and Ben. The romance was okay, some nice scenes but again, i think King was developing his writing, there's little wrong with it. I really liked the two delivery guys who take the coffin to the house, i think they were pretty amusing.

I would have liked a more thrilling finale because the build up was there, when i think back actually there's a scene that's been lurking at the back of my mind. When they are down in the basement and having to destroy the creatures, that is very frightening. Gives me the creeps come to think of it, and how Barlow set that trap up.

The most important thing for me, is when - randomly - a thought comes to me and it's from a novel i've read in the past and it just appears out of thin air from time to time, that shows that for some reason something has stuck in my mind. I can always recall the burying of Danny Glick(?) i think it is, that whole scene with the grave digger is very freaky and well done, it shows a big turning point for the book.

I really liked the ending of the novel too, left open somewhat for us to interpret. The line about 'They say fire purifies. That should count for something.' is a great line. Anyway i need to go to sleep soon, enough about the Lot for now