Book Review: Salem's Lot

Lovely readers,

Hello again! I hope you all are having a wonderful Monday. I know I am! Also I'm very excited to have changed the layouts of these reviews, it makes everything so much easier. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

This time I'm very happy to present 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King (1975). I'm on a quest to complete the entire works of King and I thought this was a good place to continue. 'Salem's Lot is King's second novel, set again in a quaint town in Maine in the 70's. The story follows a man named Ben Mears who travels back to his boyhood home of Jerusalem's Lot to attempt to finish his next novel, written around an old legend of the haunted Marsten House. This novel draws from the old-era horror stories: witches, darkness, vampires, haunted houses. I will include my breakdown below!

First Impressions:

• I went into this book hoping for a truly scary experience, and I wasn't disappointed. I haven't had a read a book with the lights on since The Shining. 
• My biggest surprise I experienced when starting this book was the talent. I was blown away when I discovered that this is only King's second novel. Again, his language and the way he produces his thoughts onto paper... it has the skill of a life-long writer. This story really swept me away. 
• After the first couple of chapters, I started to notice the little roots of The Dark Tower snaking throughout the pages of 'Salem's Lot. I will always stress how much more you find out after reading The Dark Tower. King knows how to bury the easter eggs. 

Plot: 

• 'Salem's Lot begins with Ben Mears, traveling into Maine. He is going back to his boyhood home to try and gain some inspiration for his newest novel. You find out quite early that his novel is based on the town's local legend: the haunted house on the hill, the Marsten House. The legend surrounding this house is one that the town is built upon. 
• While Ben's storyline continues, he meets Susan (a young women living in Jerusalem's Lot). They begin something of a fling. During this time, many strange things start happening in the town. People are being murdered, children disappearing from their homes, and a strange man comes in from out of town to purchase the Marsten House. This strikes Ben as odd, but as far as the middle of the book, they find no connection between Straker (the mysterious stranger) and the disappearances. 
• It is not until over half way through the book that the reader discovers the origin of Straker and his partner Barlow: they are vampires. 
• More and more people start disappearing, including children and Mears' female friend Susan Norton. Ben teams up with some townspeople and they band together to fight the vampires in the Lot. Among the team is Ben, Jimmy Cody (the town's doctors), Matt (teacher), Father Donald Callahan, and a young boy named Mark Petrie. They begin gathering folk lore about vampires and set out to collect things like wooden stakes, garlic, white roses, and holy water. 
• Eventually, the group thins out thanks to Barlow. Matt dies from natural causes, Jimmy is taken into the cellar of the Marsten House, Susan is infected, Father Callahan is marked and leaves the Lot. Ben and Mark end up being on their own as they travel into the cellar of Eva Miller's boarding house (the same house that Ben rented a room at in the beginning) and find Barlow's coffin below. 
• The ending of the book comes rather swift: Ben and Mark drive a stake through the heart of Barlow while he is resting in the coffin. They discover that the entire town has been taken over by these creatures, and it completely silent during the daylight hours. However, at night, the two are traveling out of the Lot and see huge groups of them... wandering aimlessly around the streets. Ben eventually travels back to the Lot without Mark later on (he leaves him somewhere safe, as he has no parents anymore) and sees that everything has closed. The vampire have taken over the small town permanently. Ben never finishes his book.

Opinon: 

• I now understand why this book is considered a pivotal work on vampires. The detail that went in to describing them and finding the folklore is impressive. 
• This book was a rollercoaster. There were many times I was impressed with the "community" motif. Ben, Jimmy, Mark, Matt, and Don all band together in the face of horror and death. They create a bond that can't be broken by vampires. Not in the Lot. 
• However sad and heart-wrenching 'Salem's Lot is, it is also one of my new favorite horror books. The ending will have the hair on the back of your neck standing up no problem. I suggest enjoying this tale with the lights on. 

Overall, a wonderful edition to King's horror collection. It's so hard for me to believe that this is only his second book, but then again how can I be surprised? King truly is the modern world's greatest horror/science fiction writer. Can't wait to dive into more of his books. 

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this review. 

More to come! 

Stay smart, keep reading, 

Love, 

K. 

Book Review: Insomnia

Lovely readers,

Another book, another review! I'm still very much on a King binge, and couldn't resist buying The Stand, 'Salem's Lot, and Doctor Sleep the other day so expect some new reviews coming up!
Anyway, back to business, Insomnia. I must say that choosing to read this book directly following The Dark Tower was a choice I would recommend. I used a website (Stephen King Connections) to check out all the connections between King's novels. There are a staggering number, and it was really interesting to see how Roland's universe expands into all others. But, I'm rambling, so let's get down to business.

I also wanted to make a couple of changes to the layouts of my reviews from now on. I want to start phasing out the pros and cons list, in favor of something a little more informative. Bear with me please while I start to take this transition to the next level; the next few reviews may be a little jumbled.

First Impressions:

• This book was a pleasant surprise after the ending of TDT. It begins innocently enough with Ralph Roberts saying goodbye to his wife Carolyn. Cancer has taken her. Insomnia picks up shortly after Carolyn dies, centering on Ralph's escalating lack of sleep. The beginning was very interesting and different from the usual King introductions: it seemed completely normal. Takes you off guard. 
• I found this story actually very easy to read (despite it being 787 pages) and not overcomplicated. 

Plot: 

• The plot of this book starts out very strange, and only gets stranger as you read. As I said above, Insomnia begins with a man named Ralph Roberts. He is dealing with heavy insomnia after his wife passed away from cancer. Ralph lives on Harris Avenue in Derry, Maine (a town notorious for having been invented by King, used as a stage for many of his stories) along with a few others. The block is mostly populated by the elderly, and Ralph becomes friends with Bill McGovern (his roommate) and Lois Chasse (a neighbor). 
• As readers of TDT may know, Insomnia draws many parallels between the series. Ed Deepenu, one of the residents on the block, starts to show signs of insanity. He founds a group dedicated to stopping abortion rallies from taking place in Derry. Ralph, despite dealing with heavy bouts of insomnia waking him an hour earlier each night, catches wind of Ed's insanity. Little does he know that he is intertwined with Ed. 
• The book goes on to reveal that Ralph (and eventually Lois) are seeing auras. They can draw from them, kind of steal the energy like some form of vampirism. They encounter beings that control the powers of Purpose and Random. Eventually they are recruited by these beings to change the course of time by saving a boy. 
• Obviously there are insane amounts of detail that I am leaving out here, but I can't spoil all the fun! 
• Ralph and Lois eventually get married and begin to try and live life outside of the auras and the forces working beyond their comprehension. The book ends with Ralph honoring a promise he made long ago, to a pair of doctors. 

Opinion: 

• I can't say anything bad about this book, honestly. There were a few times where I felt my feet were dragging, but other than those I was completely consumed the whole time. 
• King has a way of writing age, if that makes sense. He has a certain air about him when he is writing from the perspective of an older person, Ralph was no exception. It was as if I could literally feel the insomnia, the aching joints, the headaches... seeping into my head as I continued. Very touching stuff. 
• I did find myself not as fond of the ending as I thought. I don't even know what I expected but I felt like there was unfinished business, and that King may have left something out... something for us to find later perhaps? 

Overall, an awesome read. King very rarely disappoints, and this book proved the rule. If you are a fan of The Dark Tower or King books in general, I would highly recommend you pick this one up. 

Thanks, and as always keep reading, 

K. 

Book Review: The Dark Tower VII (Part two)

Lovely readers,

Back again to continue my review on The Dark Tower VII! This series was by far my biggest triumph yet. Sure, Harry Potter was obviously a challenge, but nothing compared to this emotional rollercoaster. Stephen King has rapidly climbed to the top of my favorites list, and I feel a little dumb for not catching on to this series sooner. Anyway, I'm excited to get started! I will include my pros and cons below, but as I did in part one, I'll be including a bit of a responce to the series below my list. As always, thanks for reading!

If you have not started/finished the last book in The Dark Tower series, I highly suggest you click away from this review. There will be spoilers contained below, be warned. 

Pros:

• How can I even begin? The greatest pro I can give this book is that is was the perfect ending to The Dark Tower. I had a lot of anxiety about reaching the end, worried about how King was going to close such an epic tale. Let me just say that I wasn't disappointed in the end, but I did have trouble getting there. 
• Taking a step out of the plot for a bit, I want to talk about the characters themselves. King has always possessed a special talent of connecting readers to his characters, but this series takes the cake as far as that goes. Each person (Roland, Eddie, Susannah, Jake, Oy, Pere Callahan, etc.) is given their own time. They each pull at your heart in one way or another, and become vivid and real. This is prevalent throughout the series, not only the last installment. 
• Another thing, sweepingly, that I've noticed is King's theatrical approach in the publishing of this series/book. There are gorgeous paintings in The Dark Tower VII and the chapters include codas, leading the reader places after the story has ended. This was always a pro for me, it made me feel included and part of the series. 

Cons/other:

• When part one ended, we left off right after the death of Jake and Eddie. It was hard to find any real pros (not style related) in this part, so I'll kind of pick up on the story in this section. After the ka-tet is truly broken (and many other things happen), Roland, Susannah, and Oy continue together on the road to The Dark Tower. They come finally into Empathica and stumble upon a cabin in the snowy mountains. I can't include too much detail here, as it would truly spoil the story, but here they meet Dandelo. There are ensuing problems, but the three come out alive. This particular part gave me a lot of anxiety, as it was clear the story was coming to a close. 
• Things become alright. The trio gather supplies, and stumble upon a young man named Patrick. He will later be known as The Artist, but we will get there. Patrick has a beautiful gift for drawing and, as they get within 200 miles of TDT, they discover how important this gift is. Patrick draws a door, scrawled with the title The Artist. Sadly, it opens on New York in Keystone World. And Susannah decides to leave Roland and Oy behind, hoping to be reunited with Eddie and Jake. This broke my heart, personally. 
• Despite losing The Lady of the Shadows, the new trio travel on. But, there is always the feeling, that in the shadows, Mordred (in search of his White Daddy) is waiting to pounce. And eventually he does, killing Oy tragically, but meeting his death anyway. In the darkness, Roland hears the cry of the Crimson King at the death of his son, and Roland cries for Oy. 
• It is here that the story gets very close. Roland and Patrick reach the field of roses in which The Dark Tower rests. It is getting difficult for me to say, as I don't want to spoil the story, but Roland makes it through the door to the Dark Tower. 

This story ends in a way that only it could. Roland makes it to the top of the Dark Tower (with help from The Artist's amazing ability... and eraser), but what he finds shook me. He climbs the tall stair case, past floors resembling his life, and reaches the door to the top balcony. Roland pushes the door open only to find a vast desert... the same desert he traveled across so long ago. The desert that he met the wayward son and his bird, Z. The same desert he crossed to Tull, where he bedded a woman, where he passed through the oracle's grasp. He has returned. 

(Ka is a wheel, say thankya)

The book closes on the phrase: The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed. 

This series touched my life far greater than I expected. I was completely ensnared, obsessed, consumed with this tale. I have even begun reading every other King book that's even remotely related to The Dark Tower. I can't stress how highly I recommend reading this series, and I can't express how happy I am to have been able to review it myself. It was a blast, a very rewarding journey. 

As always, thank you for reading and sticking through this with me. 

Keep reading, stay awesome, 

K. 

Book Review: The Dark Tower VII (Part one)

Lovely readers,

I am so happy to say that as of today I have finished The Dark Tower series. Excuse me for getting emotional, but I honestly can't believe it's finally over... or partially over. I want to stress this: If you have not started/finished the last book in The Dark Tower series, I highly suggest you click away from this review. There will be spoilers contained below, be warned. 

I am still trying to peice together exactly what I want to say about this amazing book, so I've decided to split this review into two parts. The first part will end before the journey begins its end. The second will pick up after the final ka-tet is broken. Along with the normal lists, I'm going to include a different kind of ending to this review. You'll see! My pros and cons are included below, and thank you again for reading.

Pros:

• How can I even begin to list my pros for this book? I find it best to just keep it simple. This book was the perfect ending to The Dark Tower series (I can't include much because part two is yet to be started). I'll just say that through all the ups and down of this journey, the last book really was the icing on top. 
• This book really tested the loyalty of the reader. There were many times throughout The Dark Tower VII that things happen to the characters we've come to love. It proves to me that a truly good story needs no happy ending, only a meaningful one. 
• Broad generalizations aside, the epic journey contained in just the last book is inconceivable. Not only do our gunslingers successfully form the Tet Corporation (for protecting the rose), but they also meet another gifted person along the way (quite a few actually), they reunite with Sheemie from Mejis, and discover the truth about the Dark Tower, Mordred, and The Crimson King. It's a fantastic journey, heartbreak aside. 

Cons: 

• As with many wonderful journeys (LOTR and Harry Potter are the first two to come to mind), there are many deaths along the way to victory. During the first half of The Dark Tower VII, Father Callahan dies at the hand of the lowmen at the Dixie Pig. The ka-tet remains strong until after Thunderclap is taken... where, blowing many readers out of the water, Eddie is shot fatally. This truly when the ka-tet breaks, as Susannah stays behind to care for Eddie while Roland and Jake (and Oy) return to Keystone World (the "real" world, where time moves correctly). The three are returning to protect Stephen King from a fatal car accident. To the horror of readers everywhere, Roland is able to save King's life... but Jake dies in the process. It just kills me to think of how broken Roland must have felt to have lost his son again. 
• I'm sorry to say that this a con, but I couldn't handle how close the deaths were together. There didn't seem to be any real space between Eddie and Jake's deaths. That caused a hard emotional time for me (I get very involved in the story, bite me). 

Now for the rest. I loved this book. It brought me to tears several times and still makes me sad to think about... but also curious. That's the beauty of Stephen King's writing abilities... no matter how dark the story, he is always able to grab ahold and cling on to readers. That's just a beautiful thing to me. This series is not for someone who get overly involved/emotional about the story... a lot of terrible things happen. But a lot of good things do too, a lot of universes and ideas. I highly recommend this series to anyone who likes to be taken for a ride. But I'll include more in part two of this review. 

As always, and with love, 

Keep reading, 

K. 

Book Review: Wind Through the Keyhole (Dark Tower)

Lovely readers,

I wasn't going to include Wind Through the Keyhole (2012) in my DT series, but I honestly couldn't stop thinking about it this past week so I decided to go ahead and write it.
Incase you're unaware, this particular book is kind of like a random tangent in the Dark Tower world. It is a fantasy tale, a bedtime story if you will. Actually set between two books, Wind Through the Keyhole is like looking through a keyhole into Roland's culture. So, as always, I'll include and pros/cons list below. Thanks for reading!

Pros:

• I very much enjoyed taking a break from the main DT story line to read this book. I'd equate it to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and other branches of the Harry Potter universe: Wind Through the Keyhole gives us a glimpse into Roland's life, showing what he heard for fairytales when he was young. That's probably my favorite aspect of this book, it brings you closer to the protagonist. 
• The actual story behind contained in this book is actually really interesting. It always reminded me of the Sword and the Sorceress series because of it very fantasy-based plot. Dragons, never ending forests... these make this story very fun. And, like all good bedtime stories, there is a central theme (moral) however it isn't incredibly clear what that is. It's in a way left to the reader. 
• Obviously I have to include how well Wind Through the Keyhole showcases Stephen King's story abilities. Not only did he make a beautifully haunting story, he also dropped a bit of fantasy into a science-fiction story. This took a lot of talent and worked out perfectly. (That's what I enjoy most about the DT universe: past and present are one. The gunslinger was born before time but ends up running with a boy from the 80's, a former drug addict, and a woman from the 60's. It just blows my mind how much all the world bleed together.) 

Cons: 

• Something to preface this con: when I began this book, it was because I still didn't have the next chronological DT book. This was kind of a break/detour in the plot. That being said, the inner speed reader in me what a little bored with Wind Through the Keyhole. Despite being wonderfully written, this book wasn't canonical at all. It didn't have anything to do with the present, with the time you should read it. It just kind of gave us a good chunk of fairy tale (which is fine) but I did get a little antsy, thinking the book would bridge the gap a little. 
• All other things aside, the tale told in this book can be a little morbid. Basically the story revolves around a young man who loses his father. His father's job was to go into the woods surrounding the area and chop down trees. However the woods, according to legend, are haunted by a dragon. Well the boy's father dies and the story just progresses from there (no spoilers, don't worry). But it can be a bit sad what happens to the boy. You'll have to see for yourself. 

This review was particularly short and for that I'm sorry. Wind Through the Keyhole wasn't a necessary part of the DT story for me, just a bit of a break from the seriousness of the ka-tet's travels. And in that regard it soared and did very well. However the book was out of the storyline and didn't really change the overall story at all. But it was enjoyable. So, that's the tradeoff and I believe it was worth it. Thanks for reading! 

As always, with love and knowledge, 

Katie 

My Top 10 Summer Reads: If You Haven't, You Really Should!

Lovely readers,

This week I wanted to do something a little bit different than my normal book reviews. I've been going through and selling a good amount of my library and I noticed that I've read a lot of books that have really touched my life. Soooo I thought I'd jump online and share some with you guys! I always love good book suggestions so I hope you enjoy these! Thanks!

1. The Gunslinger by Stephen King (1982)

Okay okay I know. I'm already in the process of finishing my Dark Tower reviews so it was already on my mind. But let me tell you. This book changed my life and brought me on an amazing journey that just may be my favorite of all my literary expeditions. Stephen King of course is an incredible artist, but this series just has a way of haunting you after you take a break from it. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good story or anyone that wants some awesome adventure. You can check out my review on The Gunslinger here! 

2. 1,000 Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007) 

Khaled Hosseini is really such a fantastic author. Even though his most popular book, The Kiter Runner, is more well-known 1,000 Splendid Suns is a beautiful work of art. Hosseini's stories are always striking, gritty, and they pull at the heart strings. This book is no different: the stories of two young women are melded together in the Middle East, their lives are filled with hardship and sadness but they find some solace in each other. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone, but I will say that it can truly disturb someone of a Western mindset (I know I was disturbed at points), so there's that. 

3. The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipp Sendker (2006) 

This book is just beautiful. It honestly made me very emotional at some points and I continued thinking about for months after I finished it. The story this book contains is one of love, loss, and details. But most prominently, it is full of discovery and mystery. I don't want to say much about the plot (don't want to give it away and that's how I went into it, totally blind) but I will say that people of all ages will enjoy this story. From young adult to experienced readers, this is definitely one to put on your list. 

4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (1906) 

It might just be the high school student in me, but I loved this classic. I love a gritty tale that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. I also love a story that is controversial in a lot of ways and among a lot of people. But I digress, this will still always be a classic to me however strange and morbid the storyline is. If you haven't read it, I'd say you should at least once in your life. 

5. The Shining by Stephen King (1977) 

I hate to put another Stephen King book on this list, but everyone will encounter him sometime in their life. Everyone knows this book/movie in particular. This is the dark and freaky tale of a family, a strange presence, and the Overlook Hotel. Most people already know the plot of the movie... but in most cases with readers, knowing the plot means little to nothing. To me, this book is one of those occasions. No matter how aware of the storyline you are with The Shining, it never grows old. I find that the book gave me twice as many chills as the movie. Let's just say I'd recommend reading this with the lights on. 

6. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988) 

This book is another beautiful work of art. Paulo Coelho has a way with words that take the reader on a journey. Not only does The Alchemist have beautiful language, the plot is what really makes you stick around after the first few chapters. This book isn't very long and doesn't really require a large vocabulary to complete, but I think that adds to the enchantment. It's so simple and yet so moving. I highly recommend. 

7. The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald (1925) 

Oh look, another classic! Forgive me but I am such a huge fan of classic literature that it's a little nuts. Anyway, Gatsby is one of the most poignant and saddening books of all time. Fitzgerald was a wonderful writer but never thought he was good enough, and did not publish many books because of it. The Great Gatsby became such a smash hit, but it wasn't until after Fitzgerald had died. However, this is one of those books that everyone should read once in their life. Given, the language can be a bit dense (being from the 20's) but that shouldn't discourage you at all. This story is rich and descriptive, heartbreaking and exciting. Very much a good read. 

8. Prey by Michael Crichton (2002) 

If you like slightly unsettling sci-fi fiction (but real enough that it could totally happen) then you will enjoy this book. Michael Crichton has always been a good author, but this book (for me) takes the cake. The story follows two scientists, Jack and Julia, who are working on top secret AI technology. Well it turns out that they are trying to create nanobots, but not just nanobots like from other movies/books, these are nanoparticles. The scientists succeed (working out in the middle of the desert) and create a cloud of nanoparticles. The downside is this cloud can sustain itself. It kills for entertainment and it thinks for itself. This book was especially eerie because this scenario is totally likely. Science is progressing more and more everyday and soon we will learn more about AI technology (kind of in the same vein of how we learned VR tech) and who knows how far we will go. Very intelligent and exciting read. 

9. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (2003)

Okay my last two suggestions for this summer are going to be horror/thriller. I dunno what it is about summer but I always prefer a story I can sit down and read for a couple of hours without losing interest. This is one of those books. As a side note: I was pleasantly surprised at the accuracy the movie took on from the book. I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio is good in anything but getting the gritty story is great as well. Anyway, for those of you who haven't heard of Shutter Island, you are in for a treat. This psychological thriller is focused on Marshall Teddy Daniels. The Marshall is setting out on a case when the story begins; he is sailing in on the ferry with his partner, Chuck Aule. The case in centered around an asylum, Ashecliff Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Investigating a missing patient case, Teddy and Chuck begin to uncover strange practices at Ashecliff. And strange things being happening to Teddy. It was revealed in the beginning that Teddy had come to Ashecliff for another reason: years ago, a fire in the apartment building Teddy lived, a tragedy look Teddy's wife's life. Rachael Daniels was dead and the man who lit the fire resided at Ashecliff. This book is striking and unsettling in such a good way. I won't say anymore, but you should check it out if you like horror! 

10. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983)

The last book on my list is somewhat controversial. A lot of people didn't like the book after the movie (with Daniel Radcliffe, no complain whatsoever) and immediately put it down because of its style. That's all well and good for some, but I very much enjoyed the style of the book. The Woman in Black takes place in the mid 1800's in England. It follows the young man and solicitor Arthur Kipps and his terrifying experience while tending to Mrs. Alice Drablow's funeral. However her home, Eel Marsh House, is anything but inviting and soon after moving himself in strange things begin happening in the house. Restless memories and evil spirits are all over this story, and I particularly love the authentic 19th century England was like. Very good read, very creepy and definitely worth it. 

I hope you enjoy some, if not all, of these books! Some of my favorites are listed here and are able to be read all year long. I very much enjoy substantial writing. Books that mean something, that pull at your heart and you mind, are the very best. I'm glad I got the opportunity to share these with you! Thanks for reading, and I love you all! 

Fondly, 

Katie 

Special Book Review: Harry Potter (Introduction)

Lovely readers,

I am so overwhelmed with excitement to share my newest project with you. Since I was nine, I've been reading and re-reading the Harry Potter series. I've probably read it 15-20 times over and it still remains my all time favorite series. Harry Potter helped me through a lot in my life and I've always participated in anything to help me connect with other fans. I think writing a comprehensive walk-through of the series would be a nice step in that direction. This story means so much to me and it seems fitting that I break this up into multiple sections to give each peice its time to shine.
I'll try to publish as often as I can (I am currently working on The Dark Tower VII) and not to nerd out and go overboard... that's very easy to do with this series.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to starting this journey with you! I hope you'll be on the look out for new postings, and as always, thanks for reading.

K