Salem's Lot ReadALong Epilogue

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Ben keeps a scrapbook of newspaper clippings about 'Salem's Lot. One article reports that a family who just bought a farm in 'Salem's Lot is leaving as they hear funny noises. Another article is about a car crash in 'Salem's Lot. The people who were in the car are all missing. A third article talks about a missing woman, and a fourth reports a man dyng of unknown causes. An article dated May 20, 1976 talks about some mutilated sheep. A May article reports an entire family who has come up missing. Another article dated a few days later says that their neighbor is in the hospital from a heart attack after seeing a face grinning in through her window.

In September, Ben and Mark return to Maine and stay in a hotel for a few weeks. They drive to 'Salem's Lot, get out of the car, and walk through the woods for a while. When they stop, Ben tells Mark that this is where the big fire that destroyed half the town started back in 1951. He lights a cigarette and explains that a fire would chase some of the vampires out of their hiding places, making them easier for people to find. It has not rained in 'Salem's Lot for weeks, and the fire index is high, so Ben deliberately drops his cigarette into some dead brush, and it begins to burn. They watch it until it burns a little stronger, and then they leave.

I thought it was a very optimistic end to Salem's Lot assuming that the town would be purified. Overall I didn't think Salem's Lot was "scary" . What did you think? 

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter 15: Ben and Mark

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Mark and Ben leave town and spend the night in a hotel several towns away.
Ben returns to Jerusalem's Lot where he burns his book and destroys a souvenir he took from the Marsten House as a child.
Ben buries Jimmy and the Petries in the backyard of the Petrie home.
When Ben burns the manuscript and breaks the paperweight, he is breaking his connections to 'Salem's Lot. By burying the bodies, he is tying up what he believes are his own personal loose ends in town before leaving again. He wants to be able to leave everything behind him.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter 14: The Lot (IV)

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* Many families in Jerusalem's Lot, including the Crocketts, have been turned into vampires.
*Sheriff Homer McCaslin had gone out to the Norton's house when Susan, who is now a vampire, didn't come home.
*Mark had gone to tell Ben what'd happened to Susan at Eva's boardinghouse.
*Ben finds Susan's car parked on the side of the road empty and the sheriff's gun lying on the ground next to it.
*Matt, Mark, Jimmy, and Ben decide they should go to Marsten House and kill Barlow.
 * The vampire hunters go to Marsten House. Straker is dead, but Barlow is not there. They find Susan and Ben kills her with a stake in the heart.
 * Father Callahan and Mark go to Mark's house where they try to tell Mark's parents about the vampires, but they do not believe.
 * Barlow comes to the Petrie home and kills Mark's parents. Barlow threatens Mark, but releases him when Father Callahan agrees to fight him on faith alone.
 * Father Callahan refuses to drop his cross, giving Barlow the power to control him. Barlow forces Callahan to drink his blood.
 * Callahan can no longer enter his own church, so he takes a bus out of town.
 * Anne Norton attempts to kill Matt, but is overpowered. She later dies.
 * Ben, Mark, and Jimmy begin searching the town for Barlow.
 * Jimmy and Mark go to the boarding house to find Barlow. Jimmy is killed when he falls down a booby trap prepared by the vampires.
 * Ben and Mark return to the boarding house after learning Matt has died and wash in holy water. Ben is able to kill Barlow with a stake through the heart.

Salem's Lot Read-A-Long PART THREE- The Deserted Village

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“Susan Norton is one of them," the boy said. "Barlow got her at the house. But I killed Straker. At least, I think I did." – Mark to Ben about his experience at the Marsten House with Susan.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter Thirteen

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Chapter Thirteen

This is a short chapter about Matt asking Fr. Callahan for his help in destroying the evil that has been terrorizing their town. They both discuss the high fatality rates in Salem's Lot and Matt's plan to include Fr. Callahan works. The priest might've thought Matt was experiencing symptoms of depression from having almost died but he believes Matt, since he'd heard a story of an incubus before from a fellow priest. Anyway Fr. Callahan never felt better about finally being able to fight in the battle against Evil and for the first time he doesn't feel the need to drink. A-ma-zing.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter Twelve

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Chapter Twelve 

BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"

Susan decides to go to the Marsten House alone to investigate. She thinks why not see for herself if Mr. Straker is home. Just to be safe she buys a crucifix and rips off a stake from someone's picket fence. Mark Petrie sneaks up behind her and tells her he intends to kill Mr. Barlow. It shows a lot of courage on his part but Susan was only curious and she payed for it . After they climb through a window, Mr. Straker appears behind them and knocks Mark out and hauls Susan down the cellar where she will be Mr. Barlows when he wakes up. Mark is taken upstairs to the room Hubert died in and is tied up but he knew how to free himself by flexing his muscles so he'd have room enough when relaxing them to move. He unties himself and hits Mr. Straker with an iron leg post and escapes out of the house. I was so relieved and happy for Mark I didn't care about Susan. I just wanted Mark to get the hell out of there. Susan would make a good vampire anyway lol . She comes to Mark's window that night asking him to let her in . 

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter Eleven

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Chapter Eleven

Matt Burke is appointed head of research because of his knowledge for vampire lore, and arms himself by acquiring every book there is on the subject while he is in the hospital. He becomes like a Van Helsing for their small group and Matt's doctor, Jimmy Cody, agrees to help them. He's like a Dr. Frankenstein :) . 

The town of Salem is now under siege but nobody knows what hits them. Bodies disappear from the morgue , family friends are dying suddenly with no explanation. The little group who take it upon themselves to kill all the vampires, namely Ben, Matt, Susan and Jimmy, have to move fast. Susan's actions not to follow protocol lead her into the danger zone.

We can't help but feel the urgency in the matter with the vampires. Soon if they don't do something the whole town will be infested.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter Ten

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Chapter Ten 

• Who wakes to find her child dead in the beginning of Chapter 10? What is this person's reaction? 
• When Marjorie Glick wakes up sick after a specific dream, what symptoms make the reader believe she has been bitten by a vampire? 
• What do Franklin Bodden and Virgil Rathburn find when they visit the dump in Chapter 10? 
• Who comes to Mark Petrie's window and asks to be invited in? Why does Mark initially refuse? Why does he change his mind?

  BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"

The town knew darkness. It kept many secrets. Awful dirty secrets which would never be brought to light, but the man dressed in black knew them all. He himself would never walk in the light of day.

Susan McDougall never awakens to her child's yelling because her child never woke up. Her baby looked more beautiful than he'd ever looked before but he was dead. For that reason , she screams in horror.

Marjorie Glick was on the verge of dying in her living room. She'd had a strange dream about her son Danny consequentially she was weak and sensitive to the sun and her teeth were white and protruding. Floyd Tibbits dies in his cell and his body disappears from the morgue.

Frank and Virgil find the gates to the dump closed and Bud Rogers the operator missing.

My favorite part in Salem's Lot was about Bonnie Sawyer and Corey Bryant. It was brilliant! I felt sorry for Corey but at the same time justice was served.What about the idea expressed by Mr. Barlow that likened Reggie Sawyer to a greedy...fat....pig? Do you think that was a fair, however pernicious assessment? Did greed really have anything to do with it? I thought it was interesting.

When Mark Petrie was getting ready for bed he heard some scratching at his window. It was Danny wanting to come in and play. Mark wouldn't let him in at first but after grabbing a crucifix, he opened the window and warded him off with it.  How brave was Mark! He demonstrated his ability to deal with vampires on his own. 

Salem's Lot ReadALong : Chapter Nine Susan (II)

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CHAPTER NINE: Susan (II) 

• With whom does Susan argue in the beginning of Chapter 9? Why? 
• Who calls Susan with bad news later that same afternoon? 
• What does Susan hear at Matt's house while Matt is checking on a strange noise in the guest room of his house? 
• What does Susan later find in the guest room? 
• What happens to Matt when he sees Mike return to his guest room as a vampire?

BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"
Susan and her mom get into a heated argument over her dating Ben Mears. Her mother can't stand him and doesn't know when to mind her own business. It was the last straw and she slaps her mom across the face. She tells her mom she's moving out. She is old enough to be on her own anyway. Susan finds out from Eva that Ben is in the hospital. Floyd had beat him up. Unbelief in this whole vampire business doesn't stop Susan from going to see Matt Burke that night nor does she think Ben and Matthew are crazy. Matt hears someone upstairs and goes to look. Mike Ryerson is back from the dead and laying on the bed!  When Matt tells him to "get out" using a crucifix it effectively burns him and he jumps out of the window yelling "I will see you sleep like the dead, teacher!" Matt is so freaked out he has a heart attack! From downstairs Susan hears the strange voice say "I will see you sleep like the dead, teacher!" I suppose if that doesn't prove what Ben and Matt have been saying nothing will. Susan finds Mike Ryerson's school ring laying on the bedroom floor.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter 8 Ben (III)

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Chapter 8 

• Why does Matt call Ben in the middle of the night? What does he ask him to bring? 
• What does Ben find when he arrives at Matt's house? 
• What detail does Ben suggest Matt leave out of his discussion with the police about Mike's death? Why? Who is waiting for Ben the following evening when he leaves the boardinghouse to go to Spencer's?

****BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"****

Matt thinks Mike Ryerson is dead in his guest bedroom and phones Ben asking to bring a crucifix, a rosary or St. Christopher medal. When Mike was at the cemetery digging Danny's grave he'd opened it up. Assuming he'd been bitten by Danny, Mike had two puncture wounds on his neck and complained of feeling sick and weak and sunlight bothered him. Also that he slept all day. Mike Ryerson was showing serious signs of Vampirism.

Lets discuss the objects associated to the mythical Vampires. Crucifixes, Holy Water, other holy objects like Rosaries and Medals. I am Catholic and I believe the rosary is a powerful "weapon" against the powers of Satan. That said, they are used in exorcism. Being possessed by the devil has always been a far scarier notion and these objects bring me consolation and comfort.Vampires are known as devilish creatures but they simply do not exist.

Matt's request for a rosary demonstrates his desire to use certain items traditionally used to ward off vampires. When the police officer and the others arrive, Matt and Ben do not tell him that they suspect a vampire killed Mike. When Eva asks Ben about the rosary, Ben does not tell her about Ben and Matt's suspicion of vampires. He does not tell her because he does not think that she will believe him. This sets an example that Ben and the other believers in vampires follow for most of the book. They are unable to warn people as they know that most people will not believe them. This explains how vampirism can spread through the town. The vampires' biggest strength is that most people do not believe in vampires and will refuse to do anything to protect themselves until they have conclusive proof of their existence. By the time that people see vampires and are convinced they are real, however, it is usually too late.

Susan's jealous boyfriend Floyd Tibbits, is being controlled to confront Ben and stop him from interfering in his and Susan's relationship. Under Mr. Barlow's spell he beats the crap out of Ben Mears. 

PART TWO: The Emperor of Ice Cream

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PART TWO: 

The Emperor of Ice Cream

Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.

Take from the dresser of deal,
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered three fantails once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice cream.
                                                              WALLACE STEVENS

ANSWER QUESTIONS TO SALEM'S LOT

PART TWO

Chapter 8-13 

1. Why does Matt call Ben in the middle of the night? What does he ask him to bring? 
2. What does Ben find when he arrives at Matt's house? 
3. What detail does Ben suggest Matt leave out of his discussion with the police about Mike's death? Why? Who is waiting for Ben the following evening when he leaves the boardinghouse to go to Spencer's? 
4. With whom does Susan argue in the beginning of Chapter 9? Why? 
5. Who calls Susan with bad news later that same afternoon? 
6. What does Susan hear at Matt's house while Matt is checking on a strange noise in the guest room of his house? 
7. What does Susan later find in the guest room? 
8. What happens to Matt when he sees Mike return to his guest room as a vampire? 
9. Who wakes to find her child dead in the beginning of Chapter 10? What is this person's reaction? 
10. When Marjorie Glick wakes up sick after a specific dream, what symptoms make the reader believe she has been bitten by a vampire? 
11. What do Franklin Bodden and Virgil Rathburn find when they visit the dump in Chapter 10? 
12. Who comes to Mark Petrie's window and asks to be invited in? Why does Mark initially refuse? Why does he change his mind? 
13. What information does Matt Burke hope to learn from library books he requests be brought to him in the hospital? 
14. Where does Susan go on her own in Chapter 11? For what purpose? 
15. Why do Ben and Jimmy Cody go to the morgue? What do they expect to happen? 
16. What does Ben make a crucifix out of? What does this crucifix symbolize? 
17. Who sneaks up on Susan in the woods outside the Marsten House? Why is this person there? 
18. What happens to Mark and Susan when they enter the Marsten House? 
19. How does Mark escape from the rope with which Straker has tied him? How does Mark escape Straker? 
20. Where is Susan while Mark is being held prisoner upstairs? Does Mark attempt to rescue her? What happens to Susan? 
21. Who comes to visit Matt Burke in Chapter 13? 
22. What does Father Callahan initially believe is the cause of Matt's story about the vampires in Jerusalem's Lot? 
23. What story does Father Callahan tell Matt that helps him realize Father Callahan believes in vampires? 
24. What does Matt ask Father Callahan to do as a result of their conversation? Why?

Salem's Lot Read-a-long ~ Chapter 7 Matt

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CHAPTER 7: MATT

END OF PART ONE

Matt Burke asked Ben to speak to his English class . Do you think the subject of vampires came up? Anyway, Ben goes to Matts house for dinner and they talk about Bens book, the Marsten House, the disappearance of 4 children in the '30's , Straker, how the Glick boy died from pernicious anemia and they agree to pay a visit to Mr. Straker at the Marsten House, sorta like a welcome committee.

Matt goes to Dell's and finds Mike Ryerson looking sickly and thought he was on drugs. His face was pale showing all the symptoms of having been bitten by a vampire. Even though Matt doesn't know that, he makes the mistake and invites him home . Matt doesn't try to rationalize things when he hears a voice inviting someone to "come in" ....the window opening ...... evil laughter of a child.... and sucking sounds. No he knows what he heard and he is frightened .

Salem's Lot Read-Along ~ The Lot (II) Hell in A Hand Basket

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CHAPTER SIX: The Lot (II) section 6-9

*****BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"

It's unfortunate that family violence often occurs in the lives of many, threatening the fabric of society. Back then I don't imagine there were many women shelters brimming with single mothers or foster homes with kids, but I believe spousal/child abuse is a crime. I feel so bad for those abused children and desperate parents like Randy's. Oy. It's one of the themes that disturbs me.

Constable Parkins Gillespie had done some digging and background checks for Mears, Straker and Barlow in the Ralphie Glick disappearance. He learns that Ben Mears was once an activist, and that Ben's wife died after a motorcycle accident in which Ben was driving the motorcycle but other than that Ben is clean. In the evening Dud Rogers was skirming through the fire debris in the dump and killing rats. He sees a figure watching in the distance. They start talking in a peaceful kind of way and Dud was taken in by the man's speech. It was compelling him and ...and....he liked it . Fr. Callahan cleans up some spilled scotch before his housekeeper sees it in an attempt to hide his excessive drinking. This town was going to hell in a handbasket whether they knew it or not, Like Mr. Straker said, Mr. Barlow does not care about the people of Jerusalem's Lot.

Read-a-long Salem's Lot ~ The Funeral

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Chapter Six section 1-6

BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"
It was almost fall when Danny Glick was buried and everyone was at the funeral. Tony Glick didn't handle it too well. He had to be restrained from yelling at Danny to "Come on out of there and stop pretending to be dead!" The idea of burying the boy everyone thought was dead, along with his dad screaming at Danny to come out, was kinda funny. I was waiting for Danny to jump out of his coffin or say something funny like "Hey guys , what's up?" lol but it doesn't happen like that and vampires aren't funny . At least not in this case and Mike Ryerson would agree. He felt like he was being watched the whole time as he was throwing dirt on the grave. He was scared and gave Mike the creeps. Somehow he was being impelled to break the coffin open to see if Danny's eyes were watching him. He'd shut them for him. Aaaaah!

It's either Mr. Barlow the vampire, or some other entity i.e. the Lord of Flies who was forcing Mike to do what they wanted. Who do you think it was? Do you think Danny Glick was watching him ?

We get a second glimpse at Mark Petrie at home with his parents. He's not as fragile a kid as his parents think he is. He undersands death and is not afraid of it , only maybe what comes after death.....like monsters.

Salem's Lot ReadALong - Ben (II)

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CHAPTER FIVE: Ben (II)

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Ben and Susan are together at the Nortons for supper getting to know each other when Ann mentions Danny Glick died in hospital possibly from anemia. After dinner, Susan and Ben might've gone for a soda but instead had sex in the park. Ben finally tells Susan that his book is about the Marsten House and about the recurrent power of evil. What a coincidence! Salem's Lot is about that very same thing! Sameness must run in evil circles *JK Hubert Marsten, Adolf Hitler and Kurt Barlow. All the horrible atrocities throughout history are all caused by the same fellow. Neato *sarcasm. Can you tell I'm not a big fan of the devil? I do believe he exists and I don't like it.  Hubert was a mobster who killed many kids according to his sister-in-law and owned a trucking business as a front,  Mr. Barlow is a vampire, (god knows who he really is)  who we know to have killed at least one kid and is using his furniture store as a front. Marsten's wife Birdie could've been what Straker is to Barlow for all we know right? Same same different time. 

Susan tells Ben she loves him. He couldn't sleep thinking about that so he decides to drive to Dell's for a beer and meets Matt Burke the English teacher. Matt invites him to give a talk to his students the next day and he agrees to do it not only as a favor for a friend but the PR wouldn't hurt . 

Salem's Lot ReadALong ~ Danny Glick and Others continues...

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CHAPTER FOUR : Danny Glick and Others section 6-14

It was Hank Peters who saw some clothes that belonged to Ralphie Glick in the cellar of the Marsten House and reported it to Larry Crockett but instead of going to the police Larry pays him to keep his mouth shut about it. What were Ralphie's clothes doing in the basement of that creepy house? What kind of foul play did it involve? Who put them there? Why does it always stink around Mr. Barlow? I get it he's dead and flies and rats are just gross but why not spiders? I mean c'mon ~ Flies??!! really? Do you think Kurt Barlow is the one called Lord of Flies? Parkins Gillespie does some digging into the disappearing Glick boys and questions Ben and Straker.

Salem's Lot ReadALong ~ Danny Glick and Others

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CHAPTER 4

BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!" 

This chapter is alarming. After what we see happen at midnight in the cemetery we get a vivid impression that poor Ralphie Glick isn't coming home. His mother calls the police when the boys never arrive home. The older brother Danny comes back disoriented and confused.. Dun dun dun dun. Can you guess why?
Straker is pretty inconspicuous around town and implores the help of Larry Crockett who agrees to keep Strakers dealings a secret from everyone in town out of fear for what Straker might do to him. It is very clear who the EVIL bad guys are.
After Larry strikes a deal that includes a title of land, we see two men arrive in a U-haul at the Portland docks. They are to take some boxes and deliver one to the Marsten House. Reluctant to finish the job, they see one of the boxes has no customs label and Royal Snow has a bad feeling about it. What would've happened if he opened the box? What do you think was inside the box without the label ? 

Salem's Lot Read-A-Long ~ The Lot

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Chapter Three

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When the vampires move into town the folks continue their daily toil under the sun, unaware of the evil lurking in the darkness. This chapter is written in chronological order to show us what a day in the life of it's people looks like and introduces us to a variety of characters. Some of who I will mention here: Sandy McDougall , a seventeen year old abusive mother. Mike Ryerson the cemetery's maintenance worker and gravedigger. Larry Crockett the real estate agent who sold the Marsten House to Mr. Straker. Larry would later say he made a deal with the devil. Then there is Charlie Rhodes the school bus driver. Richie Boddin the eleven year old school bully and Mark Petrie. Dud Rogers the dump custodian who likes to kill rats ..Danny and Ralphie Glick who both go missing in the woods on their way to Mark Petries' house but Ralphie was never found.
By the end of chapter 3 it becomes evident what happened. There was a sacrifice ritual to the Lord of Flies. Does anyone else notice the flies?

Salem's Lot Read-A-Long ~ Susan

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Chapter TWO

BEWARE! IT MAY SPOIL THE BOOK FOR YOU IF YOU READ THIS! GO NOW and "read the damn book!"

Like all his romantic relationships, I didn't like Susan. Let's be honest. Stephen king is a master of horror not of romance. Susan reminded me too much of Sadie Dunhill from 11/22/63. blech!  Ben, with a girl like Susan not yet a woman, was basically robbing the cradle and that's not creepy. I'm sure Ben Mears wasn't looking to impress Susan, but he needed no introduction because she already knew him from the book she was reading. It was his second novel, Air Dance and she thought he was a ghost. Lovely. He might've thought it was inconsequential meeting her there, but being recognized because of his book he'd hoped to be a successful writer someday -- just like Stephen King probably!  "Of such inconsequential beginnings dynasties are begun" he says. It was "like prophecy spoken in jest".

Soon after they meet in the park , two cops notice the couple in Spencer's having ice cream like two lovebirds. In any small town there is bound to be gossip and the youngest cop points out that Susan was already dating Floyd Tibbits and wouldn't Floyd like to know she was with someone else. Ann Norton doesn't approve of her daughter dating Ben Mears a ghost either :P because she likes Floyd . Susan, however disagrees with her mom badly.

Background info: Hubert Marsten killed his wife Birdie inside his home and then hung himself in 1939. Ben Mears' recurring nightmare stems from when he was a boy. He'd gone into the Marsten's House on a dare. A group of kids playing Pirates told him if he wanted to be one of them that he had to get something from inside the old empty house. Of course that is when he saw the ghost of Hubie Marsten hanging from the ceiling. It opened its eyes and Ben ran out screaming.

Salem's Lot ReadALong Chapter One

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Chapter One 

Were you a little confused about this chapter like I was? I think the author got it backwards because we are now living in the past before the events in the prologue. Right? Stephen King has a demented mind but he's a great author. Anyway, Ben Mears goes to visit Jerusalem's Lot for the first time in 25 years and is surprised to see not much has changed. He's on a mission to write a book about something that happened to him as a kid, and to exercise his demons. When he goes to find the Marsten House looking as old as ever and still empty, it gives him goosebumps. He hopes to live in it and write his book there. Crazy.