One of the things that I like the most about 'Salem's Lot is that the story mixes a "vampire story" with a "haunted house story". I love haunted houses, because of how they can really make your imagination run wild. Growing up in New England, we had haunted houses coming out of our ears. We had the famous ones like the "Amityville Horror" house, but more commonly we had a lot of old Victorian houses that were either run down, or just had some scary old people living in them. These were the houses that us kids never really went near, except at Halloween, when all houses were fair game for "trick or treating". And nothing beats the adrenaline rush you get when you think that some scary old monster is going to jump out at you while you are approaching one of those haunted houses. Knowing what I know about several SK books, my guess is that he knew at least one house like this as a child as well.
As for vampires, I have always loved the vampire mythology. It is one of those things that can take on so many varying forms, and always stay exciting and mysterious. From an early age, I was always into anything vampire related. From Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it all kept me well entertained. As a child, I used to run around my backyard, forcing my brother and sister to play vampire hunter games with me. Ok, admittedly that is quite cheesy, but who hasn't done something like that as a kid? But as I got older, I started to get more entranced by the sensual side of the vampire folklore. I mean, come on, how hot is it to watch Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt (from Interview with a Vampire, and Bill Compton (from "True Blood") seducing their prey? (and for my straight guys, I don't mean to alienate you, the vampire chicks are just as sexy, I will admit). It's kind of creepy, but if a vampire showed up at my door, I might be in trouble because who knows if I would turn them away. Also, the whole lure of eternal life, youth, and beauty doesn't really help in the resistance department. Granted, the vamps in 'Salem's Lot are not really the sexiest, but you get the idea.
Can you guess what I'm being for Halloween this year?
Anyway, that's all for now.
As for vampires, I have always loved the vampire mythology. It is one of those things that can take on so many varying forms, and always stay exciting and mysterious. From an early age, I was always into anything vampire related. From Dracula to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it all kept me well entertained. As a child, I used to run around my backyard, forcing my brother and sister to play vampire hunter games with me. Ok, admittedly that is quite cheesy, but who hasn't done something like that as a kid? But as I got older, I started to get more entranced by the sensual side of the vampire folklore. I mean, come on, how hot is it to watch Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt (from Interview with a Vampire, and Bill Compton (from "True Blood") seducing their prey? (and for my straight guys, I don't mean to alienate you, the vampire chicks are just as sexy, I will admit). It's kind of creepy, but if a vampire showed up at my door, I might be in trouble because who knows if I would turn them away. Also, the whole lure of eternal life, youth, and beauty doesn't really help in the resistance department. Granted, the vamps in 'Salem's Lot are not really the sexiest, but you get the idea.
Can you guess what I'm being for Halloween this year?
Anyway, that's all for now.
Part of the disadvantage of growing up in suburban America is that there ARE no old houses to give off that "haunted" vibe. The community I lived in from age 5-10 consisted of houses I watched being built. How scary is that?
ReplyDeleteI did have the opportunity to live in a small town in Indiana when I was 11-13. There was even a en entire ghost town mere minutes from my house - but all but one of the buildings was gone, and that was in such disrepair that you couldn't get up a good fright about it. (Open to the sky makes for a haunting FAIL.)
I think some of the poetry of Halloween is lost when you live in a suburb. However, what we lost in poetry we made up for in CANDY!