Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

Salem by Stephen King

6 reviews

sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

While I have seen quite a few Stephen King film adaptations, this is the first time I’ve actually read his work. I was pleasantly surprised- I’ve often heard controversial things about King’s writing but generally enjoyed reading this one.

I was definitely spooked reading Salem’s Lot, there is a lot of suspense and action that I had to keep myself from reading ahead to see what became of it. King’s writing is very atmospheric, I was truly spooked by some of his descriptions! I did find the plot a little touch and go, the ending confused me as it included dates (October 1972-June 1975) but I was not sure what it had to do with the book. This may also just be an ebook error, though. I couldn’t tell.

The end did leave me wanting more, I wanted to know what became of Ben and Mark but I was also satisfied with leaving them determined to end the terror of the Lot. On creativity, I also am always going to be in Shirley Jackson’s corner. Yes, the book openly quotes and references Hill House, but it also felt as if it didn’t offer much more to the discussion and sometimes reduced it to plain text. Essentially, there were times I was a bit annoyed that it felt like a rip-off.

Nonetheless, I still enjoyed it as a fun read! I did not think it necessarily became a hallmark of vampire literature, but it was definitely scary, suspenseful, and really fun at some points. The characters are interesting and lovable, I was rooting for many of them (even the vampire kids against the bus driver!) and generally enjoyed the dialogue.

I would recommend this book to any vampire lover or new horror fan, Stephen King is of course a household name and has created so many iconic characters. It’s also always fun to read a story about evil vampires, as much as I loved Twilight as a kid!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

augustinedreams's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

It was a good book, but lasted way too long. Also once again Stephen King brings things into the story he doesn't have to (ie sexual assault & domestic abuse). This is a book about vampires not abuse.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Drug use, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Grief, and War

mad_hatter's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

Stephen King has a way of crafting stories that makes you feel like you're a fly on the shirt of every named character. I simultaneously feel enveloped by the action and distanced. Like I'm a fly, not one of those humans, though I guess this is probably good in a horror/thriller. Thus far, this style isn't working for me, but Salem's Lot has lovely prose and pacing. Things were slightly predictable? But this may be due to its parallels with other vampire literature. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual harassment

milorogers's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

loverofbooks123's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

First of all, I'm not a big fan of horror. I just happened to stumble across this book and honestly I don't know if I enjoyed it or disliked it. I just knew that I had to reach the ending. Out of all the characters, Mark was the most impressive. For a boy of twelve, his bravery is unbeatable. The whole setting of the town, the way in which we get an insight of almost every resident's life was good.
Now onto the negative parts...
The ending gave a non-satisfactory closure - at least to me.

1. I know you would want to leave a town full of vampires as soon as possible but when you are the main character of the book, you don't leave the town and come back after months when the strange events increase and decide to burn it down. The reason these occurred in the first place is because you left the town in that state. So, holding you as the culprit won't be entirely wrong.
2. Next - how didn't Jimmy become a vampire? As far as I know he was bitten by one and I don't think cleaning the wound with antiseptic will prevent the transformation. Moreover, he admitted he had a feeling to kill Ben. How does that not count as a vampire tendency?
3. Okay, even if Jimmy didn't become a vampire, what about Father Callahan? Barlow made him drink his blood! He boarded a bus to New York! Isn't that supposed to be a new threat? I was bummed when the fate of the priest was not clarified. Is he a vampire or not?

Overall, it was an okay read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gore

Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment