Halloween @ Home- Pet Sematary- The Audio Book 

By Rebecca Smith 

The Pastrami Insider | Pastrami Nation

School has started, the air is growing cooler, and pumpkin-spice everything fills the shelves of grocery stores. But what truly gets you in the Halloween spirit? For my husband and me, it was selecting an audiobook for our family road trip. Over 6 hours of driving each way. Yes, an audiobook seemed like the perfect choice. But here’s the thing: years ago, I struggled with audiobooks. I was an avid print reader, so diving into apps like Audible was a big leap for me. Naturally, I gravitated toward what I knew and suggested Pet Sematary by Stephen King. It’s a longer read, but what better choice for hours on end in a car? Plus, this version was top-notch, narrated by Michael C. Hall.

The name may sound familiar since he’s the lead in “Dexter,”—a TV series about a serial killer. Now, there are no sound effects or other actors in this novel, but that’s what makes it stand out. Hall does a phenomenal job of giving each character (and even their inner thoughts) a distinct tone and voice—especially with the country demeanor of Judd Crandall. Listening to this may leave you with an urge to binge-watch all three versions of the book (well, the third is a prequel and does an excellent job of setting up the story). Mind you, some versions are better than others, but stay tuned for my husband’s review on those a little later.

I like to think that Hall watched the original film for inspiration in his narration. He absolutely nailed Judd Crandall’s pronunciation and accent—cheering when Judd quoted the infamous line in the same lilting tone: A man grows what he can, and tends it. The writing and narration will have you hooked in no time. We found ourselves wanting to take shorter road trips just to keep listening. It’s that good! And while it’s not a new release, it could definitely become a new annual Halloween tradition for you!