'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Reading Challenges of 'Salem's Lot

        For someone like me, reading a novel is not a common thing. As I have been reading more difficult novels, there have been challenges that also came along with them. When I read the novel 'Salem's Lot, by Stephen King, not only was a whole new world of vampires opened to me, but a few challenges arose that I needed to face. Those challenges were getting used to reading a long novel, learning how to deal with new vocabulary, and reading with meaning. 

        Reading this long novel of approximately 653 pages, it was easy to fall behind in the assigned reading dates. I am not used to reading much so I would brush off any chance i got to read. It left me with a full chapter to red right before class. At times it became a very stressful situation. As the novel went on, I began to get used to the idea of reading. I now began to read during my spare time. I noticed the difference of stress levels right away. I was reading the chapters sooner and was ready for class.

        Reading more advanced novels does not always mean you are smart enough or prepares enough to read them. Reading one Stephen King's books I was really surprised at all the vocabulary I did not know. Almost on every page there was a word that I had no clue what it meant. For instance, words such as rudimentary, jibes, or vivacious were all new to me. I ignored them but soon realized how important it was. I was missing out on important information and effects the author was trying to give me, the reader. So I started to use the dictionary on my phone more often every time I came across a new word. It really made a big difference because I understood the effect much more than before and i became more interested. Even if it took a while to look up the words, I made it work.  

        As I got more into the novel, I began to become defocused from what I was reading. I was not focused because I had a lot on my mind and other personal problems. I usually have a bad habit of doing this and reading the same things over and over a multiple of times. However, I had to understand what I was reading for the discussion in class and to get a good grade. So what I began to do was read with no music, television, or any other noise to distract me. That way I was able to focus more and take in what i was reading better. 

        'Salem's Lot as a whole was a wondrous novel to read. I learned what type of reader I was and found many weaknesses such as problems with reading long novels, learning to look up new vocabulary, and reading with meaning and focus. Even if this was a horror genre, I did not feel very frightened or scared. I was greatly disappointed at the fact that others were experiencing fear or nightmares and I was not. I love to get scared so maybe I am more of a film person than a reading person. I would, however, recommend this book to anybody. It had great adventure and story to it. Stephen King lives up to his name.