I was ruminating on Stephen King last night and why i've loved so many of his books for so many years...and i think it's that his world building is amazing. So many books start right in our normal world, then gradually shift to an alternate reality so seamlessly that i don't notice the change until the story captivates my sleeping and waking thoughts.

Since reading Salems Lot more than 20 years ago I still am hesitant to walk down basement stairs, even with the lights on. Some things just stick with you.

Seagulls. The Talisman. Though that might have been the other guy.

Amy, yes. My memory is extremely poor these days.

The Talisman was written with Peter Straub.

After I finished Salem's Lot, at about 3 a.m., I went into the kitchen to be sure there was garlic.

Oh, speaking of four stories, I just read our own Holli`s Four love stories and a robot and OMG love! So great and stuff that was unexpected but perfect and just very Holli! Yay!

(looking for distraction, yes I am.)

Salem's Lot is still my favorite King book of all time. It just hurtles along, and I don't think there's a dud scene anywhere in it.

I kind of want to reread It, but I have very vivid memories of how terrified I was by it.

My favourite Stephen King is the lesser-celebrated Needful Things. It's creepy as anything.

King definitely needs an editor, although the original Stand is my favorite book of all time. Maybe it helps that I was living in Boulder at the time I first read it and everything felt so much more real in a way. Scary for sure. Then again I do love me a good postApocalypse/dystopia.

I've had Salem's Lot sitting on a shelf for years, and I'm not sure why I never read it. I really ought to!!

Firestarter holds a special place for me as it was the first King I read, and I caused quite a scene in the library because I was trying to check it out when I was 12 and the librarian was sure this was a terrible idea. My mother was all... "Why on earth shouldn't I let her read it?"