Just about finished with it.

[HarlequinZombie]

I positively love this book! I can't put it down, I was reading it last night and I found my self reading till 2:30 a.m. Almost every chapter gave me a stomach knot or chilled me to the bone. One night I had to remind myself that you have to invite a vampire in. Isn't that the whole point of a novel? That brief moment you forget its all fiction. 'Salem's Lot had tons of those moments. I have yet to see the movie. I'm going to wait until I finish the book. What are your thoughts and your first impression on 'Salem's Lot?

[aeroplane]

I read this in the 8th grade, which was back in 1993. The first thing I noticed is that the average reader doesn't learn that Salem's Lot is about vampires until they are around halfway through the book. King somehow managed to keep things under wraps for that long. When you think about it, that isn't an easy thing to pull off.

I read Salem's Lot without looking at a synopsis first, so naturally I was rather surprised when the cat finally came out of the bag (when someone first uses the word vampire).

[Renzo]

I loved the book and Mark was definitely my favorite character. Right now it is my second favorite SK book, behind The Shining. Definitely the best portrayal of vampires I have ever read.

[DancingCorpse]

There's something about Barlow, something sinister and mocking that attaches itself to me, I don't know why, he's a pervading villain which is a good thing.

[GNTLGNT]

I chose Ben, coz of the choices available-but he's really second to my all time favorite from that book-the old "Flawed Father" himself, Callahan, what a storyline as you delve into the DT series!

[guardianofthebeam]

I love Matt the wise old sage. Salem's Lot is one of my favourite books ever. I think it is almost the perfect book it's so beautifully crafted. I re-read it whenever I'm feeling crappy. Vampires are such a comfort (seriously, no irony intended here.) It was the SK book that first made me realise that SK is so much more than a horror writer.

[tojoro]

I just finished with it myself, don't remember how many times this makes, as I've lost count since first reading it around '82 or so.

*SPOILER QUESTION*

I've always wondered how Barlow managed to enter the house for the standoff with Father Callahan, as he wasn't invited in. My only conclusion could be that since Mark had already invited Danny Glick earlier, that invitation would be extended to Barlow, as he had made Danny.

[Ebony]

Just found the thread and I have to say, I love Mark.
He´s stronger than any other character because he proves that the evil doesn´t have to win. Mark is just a kid, Barlow died a long time before (Barlow could be compared to any other rancorous person who just wants to make sure that everyone would remember him).
Mark is self-confident, Barlow is egocentric and overconfident. Mark doesn´t have life experience in comparison with Barlow, but he (still) seems to know what´s wrong or right.
You just can´t compare them
Ben Mears stands between them. He´s an adult who wants to protect the ones he loves - but he doesn´t have the strength of Mark. He acts like a child because of his memories - that´s why he needs Mark - but doesn´t really know how to handle a problem.
Perhaps it is the same as in real life, as long as you are a child, you don´t think things over, trying do the best for you and everyone else.
I think if Matt was in Mark´s age, he would have survived.

[BlunkLaura]

Seems to me Barlow tried to stick out like a sore thumb, and did exceedingly well.What is funny,though,is how he knew ahead of what Ben,Matt,Mark...etc were going to do and their plans to ridding the town of him and his type, but he himself did not see his own demise.
My fav. character,though,was Ben.I stayed up til 3am last night finishing 'Salem's Lot

[Bubonic]

Thought Barlow and Straker were awesome antagonist. Loved their old world speeches, and the contempt they had. Loved the book, glad I read it before starting Wolves, and was happy to see the connection was made right from the prologue!
This will seem moot, but I wish I hadn't read Jerusalem's Lot before reading this story, it was distracting, kept thinking back to it.