The Shining
Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.
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Readers say *The Shining* is a haunting, slow-burn psychological thriller with a unique, eerie hotel setting and memorable characters, especially the ...
Another great SK story. Felt for the dad though battling his demons But the story was well written and detail made for a very good visual.
The book and movie can not be compared. I loved the book and got chills. I will also always love the movie but the book is fantastic read alone in the dark with a little light.
For me, The Shining is a good read, but not my favorite of the stories I've so far consumed by El Rey. I tried to read this over ten years ago (not exactly sure how long ago) when I was in college. I tried. At that point in my life I guess I just wasn't ready for the book because I got only a few chapters in before I simply stopped reading. Back then I would have given the book a solid one star for the simple fact that I couldn't get through it or even into it. This time I am happy to announce that I have finished it and it wasn't nearly as torturous as I remember it being. That being said, I've come to realize that my tastes in Stephen King's work tends to be toward those books that aren't as talked about. That's not to say that this was a horrible book because it definitely wasn't in the least. However, would I want to read this one again? Well, maybe someday years from now I'll pick it back up to see how my opinions and perception of it has changed. For now, I'll say that I like it. Also, a lot different from Kubrick's film! I won't go over the story here because most people already have a pretty good idea of what it's about based on what they've heard and even from what they know of the film (Kubrick or the made for tv version). I've never seen the tv version of The Shining so I'm not certain how true a depiction it is. The 1980 film though? It's like two totally different entities, two different stories.....like an urban legend that's changed through the years....starting out as one thing and then gradually turning into something else.
If you are a fan of King's work, this one will be worth it to you. For me, it was mostly interesting to see the changes in the characters as The Overlook works on the three central characters. Scary? I'm very rarely scared by what I read, but there was one chapter in the book that freaked me out. Danny at the playground on the hotel grounds while his parents were sleeping, the dead boy, and the topiary. I got a little scared!
Favorite character? Dick Hallorann. If nothing else, I think this character is probably in my top three characters of King's design.
What are you waiting for? Read it and then watch the movie(s)!
If you are a fan of King's work, this one will be worth it to you. For me, it was mostly interesting to see the changes in the characters as The Overlook works on the three central characters. Scary? I'm very rarely scared by what I read, but there was one chapter in the book that freaked me out. Danny at the playground on the hotel grounds while his parents were sleeping, the dead boy, and the topiary. I got a little scared!
Favorite character? Dick Hallorann. If nothing else, I think this character is probably in my top three characters of King's design.
What are you waiting for? Read it and then watch the movie(s)!
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