Reviews

Salem by Stephen King

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alyssalindz's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

xylografie's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

the illustrated version contains Salems Lot as well as the two shortstorys called One for the Road and Jersusalems Lot

Salems Lot:

setting : 4/5
plot : 4/5
characters : 4.5/5
creativity : 3/5
reading experience : 4.5/5
writing style : 4.5/5

4.08/5 = 4/5

One for the Road

setting : 5/5
plot : 4.5/5
characters : 4.5/5
creativity : 3/5
reading experience : 4.5/5
writing style : 4.5/5

4.33/5 = 4.25/5

Jersualems Lot

setting : 3/5
plot : 2.5/5
characters : 3/5
creativity : 3/5
reading experience : 3/5
writing style : 2.5/5

2.83/5 = 2.75/5

All together it is a 3.746 /5 = 3.75/5 but i will use the star rating just for Salems Lot since not every version contains the two shortstories

clairemfoley's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

ejshima's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

berryberryberry's review against another edition

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3.5

A quick but good read.

Only realized this is Stephen King's second novel after I started, but you can tell while reading in a pleasant-sort-of way. It's chock full of horror, Maine, a writer main character, 'white' vs outer darkness, psychic energy, nice throwaway reflections, alcoholics, gifted young boys, and other King-isms.

Overall it's done a bit unevenly (the story unravels a bit awkwardly, some characters and their arcs sort of plop, although I liked the end scene), the King-ness almost shines more because there's less of a veneer on top. Although, it didn't feel like a full meal when I finished it.

Stuff like

the Holy conflicts, glowing posessions, Father Callohan's spiritual defeat, 'evil' versus 'Evil' and reflections on Catholics and faith, the little characters around town demonstrating this, 'this town was already dead', Mark's little Bene Gesserit moments

will stick with me as highlights!