1. A Little Introduction

My name is Kaleigh Robichaud and I am a journalism junior at Michigan State University. Writing a blog on this novel was actually something I enjoyed because my major doesn't usually allow me to read fiction a lot. I am always stuck writing and reading hard news stories, so reading fiction is great and reading Stephen King is even better.

One of the reason's I took particular interest in this book is because I actually have family that live in the beautiful state of Maine and have visited there many times. I'm actually planning to go there again this summer. Reading this novel I felt that I was able to relate to some of the characters because I have been to a lot of the little towns in Maine such as Portland, Bar Harbor, Angola, Camden, Rockland and Bangor. Just like 'Salem's Lot, the people in the towns know everybody else's business and can spot a tourist when they see one. Let's just say I've had that uncomfortable experience when my family decided to go to their annual Lobster Fest in downtown Camden.

Of course you're wondering if I have been by Stephen King's waterfront house. And the answer is, yes! I have not seen the front of his house, but I did see the back of the house when we went kayaking in Bangor. At the time I didn't really know who Stephen King was, but my dad sure did. My biggest fear was trying not to tip the kayak while my dad kept shouting for us to look to the right so we could see his house.

It's kind of funny to mention this, but the last time I went to Rockland with my family to visit my uncle for a week, it was foggy the whole time. I remember my uncle saying that sometimes it can be foggy for days and then all of a sudden it's gorgeous out again. I'm glad that I read this book after I had been there because otherwise, I probably would have been a little creeped by the dark, overcast skies.

2. Stephen King

I can't pretend that I was not excited to read this book, simply because it was written by Stephen King, because then I would be lying. His name alone, for many people, brings to mind feelings of terror, horrific images and downright good literature. In actuality, I am ashamed to say that I had not read any of Stephen King's novels before this one. Yes, I know I probably should have kept that last comment to myself, but it just reiterates the fact that I enjoyed it so much that I am writing this blog on it. However, I am not ashamed to say that I have heard of him many times growing up and have seen several movies of his including Misery and Rose Red, both of which I loved and both of which gave me nightmares as a child. Why my mother ever let me watch those movies I will never understand, but one thing is for sure, I never forgot them.

Although Stephen King's fame came before I was even alive, his work is timeless. There is a reason he is 19th on the Bestsellers of All Times list. Through his writing, not only has he been able to capture the reader's attention from cover to back, but he has provoked emotions, irrational thinking and challenged one's perspective on life all at the same time. He raises the question, "why?"

As you will see throughout this blog, I have taken it upon myself to try and answer the "whys" of 'Salem's Lot. I went into the novel with an open mind and came out with a really confused mind. But once I went back through and started taking note of things I hadn't noticed before, I began to gather some answers. I'm not going to say that I've figured Stephen King out completely, because I don't think anyone ever could, but I did find it to be an intellectual challenge and I tried not to bite off more than I could chew (no pun intended).