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The 8 spooky books I read in July 👻The Exorcist vs Salem's Lot

Sinead Hanna

30,712 views

July was indeed a juicy month for reading with scary highs and frustrating lows. Because what is life without ranty variety?

I tackled two HUGE books from my summer of fear challenge, Salem's Lot and The Exorcist, plus true body horror, eat-the-rich terror, sensual historical fiction, and a sun-soaked thriller. And why I think Decomposition Book is NOT worth the hype!

These are just my honest opinions based on my preferences. Feel free to jump into the comments with your thoughts, and let me know what you've been reading!

00:00 Well hello there
01:55 Nothing Tastes As Good
08:08 Rottenheart
13:40 Newbourne Park
18:36 Salem's Lot
26:02 The Villa
29:47 Decomposition Book
38:40 The Exorcist
45:28 Find Me Where It Ends

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20 Comments

@stargazer2531 1 month ago

I think my favourite take from this video is "balls to the wall, tits to the hill" 😂 😊

@sandy56600 1 month ago

I read the Exorcist a summer when I was spending with my grandma. My uncle said I could read any book in his library, the Exorcist called out to me and I read it at 12 years old. I read it all and it truly scared the shit out of me. To my surprise it came out the following year to the theaters in San Antonio Tx ( telling my age lol). The lines were ridiculous for weeks!!! I was in middle school, I did not go to see it, many years later ( I am 70) I only finally saw it a couple of years ago. I plan to read it again soon 🖤🖤🖤🐈‍⬛ Great book!!!!

@charmainemoore2145 1 month ago (edited)

I first read Salem's Lot in 1976 when I was 13 years old. It was much scarier back then. No cable, computers, internet or even CD's! It is very much a story of it's time. I turned on almost every light in the house on when I finished it. I wish everyone could read it the time it was written.

@gmjara777 1 month ago

The Exorcist is the most frightening book I've ever read. Just the thought of it gives me nightmares
Thank you for your reviews Sinead

@AntisocialAuntie 1 month ago

I enjoyed 'Salem's Lot as a teen and then gave it to my brother when he asked for a good horror book that wasn't terrifying. He was furious because, apparently, it gave him nightmares. I didn't expect that 🤣 The Exorcist is one of my favorites that I don't read often 😳

@athertonca 1 month ago

‘Salem’s Lot scared the bejesus out of me when I first read it around 12. Read it again as an adult and it still scared me!

@GusingtonOne 1 month ago

I think I was one of the viewers who shouted for Salem's Lot, so...thank you :)

@Cathy-g9q 1 month ago

I loved Salem's Lot too - glad you appreciated it.

@KWE.ECLECTIC 1 month ago

I never found 'Salem's Lot particularly scary. It was atmospheric and carried a strange sense of gloom from beginning to end, but nothing in it truly frightened me. Perhaps that's because it's a vampire story, and vampire novels rarely scare me. They can be exciting, and they often do an excellent job of building mood and tension, but the believability of vampires simply isn't there for me, and that takes away much of the fear. That said, I do like 'Salem's Lot and have read it twice. I return to it not because it terrifies me, but because of its wonderfully oppressive atmosphere and the lingering sense of dread King creates throughout the novel.

@MattDraper 1 month ago

Amazing breakdown! Loved your thoughts on Salem’s Lot, which is one of my favorites from King. His two short stories that tie into it, One for the Road and Jerusalem’s Lot, are great and very different

@Bloomsbooknook 1 month ago

So glad you read The Exorcist! That was one of the first horror books that I read, and it absolutely convinced me that horror is perhaps better than just about any other genre at discussing difficult topics, anxieties, and just generally the things that we struggle with existentially.

@Ciara-Anne 1 month ago

Salem’s Lot will always be a favourite of mine 🖤

@jacobdavis3359 1 month ago

Reasons I’m not a horror protagonist

1 the ghost says don’t go in the room im going in the room

2 this house has killed five consecutive families let’s party in there
Me- have you lost your actual mind

3 my friend - let’s go camping
Me - um absolutely not

@janeb9698 1 month ago

I looooved The Exorcist. For all Stephen King’s deriding it as “dull, plodding horror,” this is one of the most frightening and compelling horror novels I have ever read. It was also very obviously a huge influence on Stephen’s King’s own writing, particularly the way he writes internal dialogue. I can’t wait for Newbourne Park - I’m suddenly reminded of the wedding scene from In the Company of Wolves!

@davidranderson1 1 month ago

It's always interesting learning what causes other people to feel horror. There are some universally scary moments in 'Salem's Lot. For me though, what scares me most is the sense of a growing danger, one the people can't see or refuse to see, that is gradually appearing in every part of their community, and, even if they finally realize they need to act, it may already be too late.

@SEAKPhotog 1 month ago

The Exorcist is truly amazing. You nailed the review, noting it's not just a possession story, it's far more complicated than that.

@1cruzbat1 1 month ago

I read the Exorcist when it first came out. I was a Freshman in High School so probably 14. My mom read it first and didn't appear to have any qualms about me reading it. We talked about it too. When the movie came out everyone was so shocked and of course it made quite a stir. I remember thinking "Yup, that's The Exorcist" and that the book is more (as usual). But honestly if you had the job to illustrate The Exorcist, well, that's what they did with the movie. The movie illustrated the book. So it was well done from that standpoint.

@JustAnotherNerd324 1 month ago

You described The Exorcist so perfectly! I keep telling everyone that that book is actually a beautiful novel filled with humanity & I get weird looks. I’m glad I’m not the only one who saw it this way. I was moved by it too.💗

@nattynat81 1 month ago

Hi Sinead, great wrap up, have added your recs to my TBR for August . Just finished 'This house will feed', it was a brilliant book, very moving. Im British but my family is Irish so straight away I was invested in the story. Paused the audio a few times to process and come back to it as was close to tears a few times. Would urge anyone to read it, a good book for schools i think. Will stay wirh me for a long time 👍

@aprilrich807 1 month ago

I’m happy to learn that Salem’s Lot didn’t really scare you…I too thoroughly enjoyed the book, but was never frightened or “spooked”…until your review here, I’ve felt like the odd man out.