Now that his ears had opened, he could hear them again: the gathering of ghosts or spirits, or perhaps it was the hotel itself, a terrifying maze of mirrors where all spectacles ended in death, where all the painted scares were truly alive, where the hedges moved, and where a small silver key could unleash obscenity. Sighing softly, whispering, murmuring like the endless winter wind that played beneath the eaves at night, intoning that deadly lullaby that the summer guests ignored. It was like the drowsy buzz of wasps that, having slept since summer in an underground wasp nest, began to wake up.

They were living noises, but not voices, nor breathing... But for Danny, it was just the voice of the hotel, of the old monster that creaked incessantly around them, getting closer and closer: corridors that now extended not only in space but also in time, greedy shadows, restless guests who couldn't find rest.

After this rereading, the aspects that I most enjoyed about the book are: The way of representing the "dreamlike" situations that surround Danny and the way of reflecting the struggle to understand and master his Gift/Curse.

What "precedes the disaster": The arrival of the Torrance family at the Overlook. The incursion and tour of the facilities. When little by little the hotel empties with its last guests and the last members of the staff, the climate that becomes inhospitable. Details that get under the skin of the characters with their unease, and the perception that evil, insidious, becomes stronger and therefore more dangerous.

The first encounters with "the permanent residents".

And the interaction between the people who shine and their complicity.

After a certain point, the effect becomes a bit redundant, with scenes that are similar to each other.

The character of Jack is as ambiguous and disconcerting as few others. His consideration represents a constant challenge. At times, he seems to be an affectionate father and husband who struggles against the ghosts of his childhood, internal and against those of the hotel.

But the reality is that he is a manipulative, cowardly, despicable type and ultimately was always a receptacle for evil.

I think it's a very good book, although it's a bit intermittent and in my humble opinion, I think it's a bit idealized. For some strange reason, and although they have little or nothing to do with each other, they feed off Kubrick's film, increasing a certain "myth".

"There are things that shouldn't be said to any six-year-old child in the world, but the way things should be and the way they are rarely coincide. The world is a difficult place, Danny. A place that doesn't care. It doesn't hate us, neither you nor me, but it doesn't love us either. Terrible things happen in the world, and they are things that no one is able to explain.

There are good people who die in some sad and painful way and leave those who loved them alone. Sometimes, it would seem that only the bad enjoy health and prosperity(...).

But strive to get ahead. That is your mission in this difficult world, to keep your love alive and get ahead, no matter what happens. Rebuild and keep going, nothing more."

I always had the perception that this was significantly more terrifying than the 80's movie. The story is truly claustrophobic, making you feel as if you are trapped with this deranged individual. It is indeed such a spine-chilling tale. It stands as one of Stephen's finer early works. If we were to leave out all the ghosts and getyous, I would actually relish the idea of being secluded somewhere during winter, snowed in for an entire year. I could engage in reading and writing to my heart's content. These are my retirement goals.

This book accomplishes precisely what it sets out to do, and it is highly entertaining. It represents the pinnacle of the haunted house genre.

It’s not the book; it’s me.

This is truly a fine novel. It stands as one of the precious jewels in Stephen King’s literary crown, penned during a time when he still had unwavering confidence in the judgment of an editor. Do you wish to witness King’s remarkable skill in characterizing and storytelling? How about experiencing chills and thrills that send shivers down your spine? Look no further, for it’s all right here within the pages of this book.

However, what’s also present – and this is precisely why the book felt somewhat dragging for me – was the abuse. Regardless of Jack’s reasons for dishing it out, whether it be daddy issues, being drunk, or perhaps even being possessed, it was still incredibly hard to process. This aspect made it rather difficult for me to warm up to the book.

People inevitably bring their past experiences into any form of entertainment endeavor. As a result, their experience is colored and either enriched or not by what they choose to watch or read. Once again, I can indeed appreciate King’s masterful craft, but I simply didn’t find this particular reading experience to be satisfying or fun.

The obligatory comparison with the movie.

Before delving into this book, I had watched the film on several occasions. I enjoyed it to a certain extent, smirked at Jack Nicholson’s over-the-top performance, and thought that Stanley Kubrick’s vision of a horror movie, while perhaps a bit overblown, was still decent. But after reading the book, it becomes crystal clear why King despised this particular cinematic treatment of one of his works. Firstly, any lingering questions or plot holes that might have been nagging at me after watching the movie were neatly answered within just a hundred pages of reading the book. Secondly, for the most part, the film was horribly miscast. Sure, Nicholson’s performance was “fun” in its own way, but it seemed to stem from a different place entirely. His descent into madness felt perfunctory rather than the slow and tension-building process that it should have been. And don’t even get me started on Shelly Duvall, the kid, and “Tony”. Thirdly, perhaps if the movie were made today and utilized current CGI for the evil shrubbery and other such elements, it might have been more “complete” and better. But I highly doubt it.

I don’t hate the movie, but the book is by far a more rewarding treatment of this story.

Bottom line, the book is truly terrific, but for some reason, I didn’t enjoy reading it as much as I thought I would.

This was a huge buddy read with Anne, Stepheny, Trish, Dan 2.0, Jenn, and le Ginger.

Stephen King's "The Shining" is one of his most famous and widely read novels. It is a captivating story with strange events that take place in the Overlook Hotel during the winter.

"Every great hotel has its ghosts..."

Jack Torrance, a university teacher who left his job due to his problems with alcohol and anger, which led to his dismissal in a very respectful way because of his friendship with the Ullman family, who gave him a new job to collect his paychecks until things calmed down and he could return to teaching.

Jack then had to take his wife Wendy and their son Danny to live in the large hotel, which would close its doors for about five months due to the heavy snowfall that would block the access road, making it impossible for anyone to enter or leave the Overlook.

But Jack saw this as a great opportunity to finish his literary work. Despite all the warnings from the manager Ullman about the man who did Jack's job before and who eventually killed his wife, daughters, and himself.

But Jack would never harm Wendy or Danny, especially Danny after what happened!

We live with the Torrance family in a hotel where there is no one else. But is there really no one else?

Stephen King takes us to a nightmare atmosphere inside the hotel, with terrifying transformations in the three characters, especially Jack. The greatest fear was not from the hotel but from within oneself!

The hotel wants to take Danny because of the shine he has, which is why it wants to possess him. As the chef Halloran, who also has the shine, told him, Danny has the strongest shine he has ever seen in his life!

Will they be able to escape from the hotel, its isolation, and the madness that will haunt their minds?

One of the outstanding features of the novel, apart from the exciting story, was Stephen King's detailed description. He described every emotion, feeling, movement, and everything. The way the central heating pipes work, every corner of the large kitchen, every room, and everything.

King takes you into the atmosphere effortlessly with his wonderful description that will attract your attention. I sometimes felt the cold of the snow and could only imagine the scene in white, and also some scenes in red. All that and more because of King's wonderful way of describing.

It is very clear that King was influenced by the writer Edgar Allan Poe, not only because of the story "The Masque of the Red Death" whose lines appeared frankly in the preface of the novel and within the events of the novel, but there was also a great influence that was not obvious in the story "The Black Cat".

The protagonist of "The Black Cat" lost his life and his wife because of alcohol and his suffering with it, which is exactly what happened with Jack!

As for the movie adapted from the novel:

I have a big problem with movies adapted from novels. I didn't like any of them except "The Godfather". Not the "Harry Potter" movies, not even the Arabic novels like "The Blue Elephant" and "The Sands of Time" or even "The Staircase". Novels are always more distinctive, more exciting, and more elegant.

And we will add to the list the 1980 movie "The Shining" adapted from the novel. I didn't like it at all. I found myself in some scenes advancing the scene just to finish because I knew that the ending of the protagonist was different and I didn't like it at all. Everything in it was as cold as the snow, even the acting of the actors, except for the acting of Jack Nicholson in the final events of the movie and Stanley Kubrick's touch in the direction. Other than that, there is nothing important or even worth mentioning.

In the end,

I finally entered the world of Stephen King and I think I have a lot to read from him, and the most important of course is the novel "It", which is considered one of his most important novels.

But "The Shining" was also excellent, with a wonderful and detailed translation by Iman Harzallah, and I didn't feel that the text lost its spirit with it.

Sorry for the length, but good books are the only ones that make us talk and talk and talk about them forever.

One of my all-time favourite books is truly one of the scariest books ever written.

When I first read it, I was absolutely terrified. The story had such a powerful hold on me that I couldn't put it down.

What made it even more fascinating was the way the author managed to create an atmosphere of dread and suspense.

Every page seemed to bring a new horror, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat.

Despite the fear, I found it super intriguing and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

It's a book that has stayed with me ever since, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good scare.

Delee?

Yes Danny...

Do you feel bad?

No Danny, I just really hated your performance in the movie version of THE SHINING. I know this is supposed to be a review of the novel, but I can't help but compare it to the movie. I first read the book in the 80s, just before the movie came out on video. I remember liking it quite a bit, but over the years, the movie and the book seemed to blend in my head. I've watched the movie many times, but only read the book once. Stanley Kubrick's version of THE SHINING is visually stunning, but it fails miserably when it comes to character development. Danny was horrible, and the finger talking and the voice of Tony made me cringe. Movie Wendy was sad, weak, and pathetic, and Jack Nicholson made the character of Jack Torrance crazy right from the start. I never believed that Jack loved his wife and son. Kubrick also took out much of the supernatural in the movie, making it more of a mental breakdown of Jack's character. I went back and re-read THE SHINING after reading Dr. Sleep, the sequel. I decided it was time to re-visit Danny's childhood. The novel follows Jack Torrance, a recovering alcoholic and writer, who accepts a position as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel with his wife Wendy and son Danny. After a winter storm cuts them off from the outside world, evil forces from the hotel's past and Jack's own troubled history drive him slowly insane. Stephen King wrote THE SHINING in his late twenties, and I think Jack Torrance was the closest he ever came to writing his own true persona. This was a fabulous read, even the second time around. It was suspenseful, thrilling, and terrifying.

**The Allure and Controversy of Stephen King's Work**

The thought emerged abruptly, stark and unembellished. The impulse to pull her out of bed, naked and confused, just awakening; to pounce on her, seize her neck like the green limb of a young aspen and throttle her, thumbs on the windpipe, fingers pressing against the top of her spine, jerking her head up and ramming it back down against the floorboards, again and again, with a whamming, whacking, smashing, crashing sound. Jitter and jive, baby. Shake, rattle, and roll. He would make her take her medicine. Every drop. Every last bitter drop.

For someone like me who adores reading and writing, the job of a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel seems like a dream. The time requirements are minimal, leaving me ample time each day to work on the next "great American novel". Before embarking on this isolated adventure, I would calculate precisely how many books I would need to sustain me through the winter and then increase that number by about one-third. Jack Torrance argues that because he is an educated man, he is better suited for the job.

However, Jack is burdened with more baggage than any bellhop could handle. He has a double helix of trouble - an alcohol problem intertwined with a truly nasty temper. He has lost jobs, beaten a young man senseless, and even broken his son Danny's arm when he was just a toddler. Jack is always sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that he is a ticking time bomb.

The Stanley Hotel, the inspiration for The Overlook Hotel, adds an air of mystery and authenticity to the story. But as we delve deeper into Jack's character, we realize that he is far from being the ideal caretaker. His past actions and inner demons make him a liability rather than an asset.

The debate about Stephen King's work in literary circles is ongoing. Some argue that he is a genius storyteller, while others believe that his work is not on par with the literary greats. I remember being asked in an American English class at the University of Arizona why we weren't reading King. I gave a rather bland answer, stating that he hadn't stood the test of time. But as I have come to learn, King's popularity and influence cannot be ignored.
He has legions of fans who eagerly await the release of his new books. His ability to cross genres and appeal to a wide range of readers is truly remarkable. He has brought horror out of the shadows and into the mainstream, making it accessible to a broader audience.
In "The Shining", King creates a vivid and terrifying world. Danny, Jack's five-year-old son, has a special gift - he can read people's thoughts. This adds an extra layer of complexity to the story as Danny tries to protect himself and his mother from the malevolent force at the hotel. Wendy, on the other hand, is relatively unaffected by the hallucinatory thoughts, but she must constantly protect Danny from his father.
The book is filled with intense scenes that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The fight scene between Jack and Wendy on the stairs is particularly memorable, as is Danny's struggle to survive in the face of evil. King's use of language and imagery is masterful, painting a picture that is both vivid and disturbing.
In conclusion, Stephen King is a cultural icon who has had a significant impact on the world of literature. While his work may not be to everyone's taste, there is no denying his talent as a storyteller. He has the ability to transport readers to another world and make them feel as if they are part of the story. Whether or not his work will be considered literary classics in the future remains to be seen, but for now, he continues to captivate readers with his unique brand of horror and suspense.

This book was like a slow, claustrophobic squeeze around my neck. I can definitely see why this book from King is his most classic one yet.

I really enjoyed the way he tackled difficult subjects such as abuse, alcoholism, a difficult marriage, and mixed them with horror elements. It was truly a deep dive read. You can watch the liveshow for my overall thoughts, but here are my short general thoughts on the book overall.

Danny was lovely. He was too cute sometimes. This small boy literally stomped his tiny foot and said to the mean, nasty ol' Overlook: "I'm only five!!" He didn't say the last part, but it was heavily implied.

Jack Torrance was quite a character. One moment you hate him, thinking he really needs therapy. Well, the whole family, to be honest. The next moment, maybe you'll sympathize with him. Or not. Either way, King has a way of writing such characters with really complex layers that gives them a definite look over.

Wendy suffered through hell with this situation. She barely got through all the misogyny, being constantly sexualized, that rough toxic masculinity stuff, and all the ghosts and demons thrown at her. I was shouting throughout the book: "I was rooting for you the entire way!!!"

Hallorann, in my opinion, carried this whole book on his back. He was the only person of color in this book who really changed and saved the whole story for all of us. Imagine if there were more POC here; the Overlook wouldn't even stand a chance.

However, there were things I didn't like. The blatant and completely unnecessary uses of the n word and other racist dialogue really made me uncomfortable and took me out of the story a few times. King is white, and he took too much of a liberation with this. Also, the sexual depictions of pretty much every female character in this book were a bit much. The male gaze was strong with this one.

The hedge animals were a bit strange too. "r oAr" had me thinking, "ahahAhaHaHah— what?" Edward Scissorhands could never, let me tell you.

Overall, it was a good solid read, but not too scary. I give it 3 STARS.

Watch the The Late Night Book Club Liveshow here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idGh9...

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A spine-tingling 5 stars and a book truly worthy of a place in the hall of fame. It is horrifying, yes, but it also transcends the boundaries of horror. This book leaves sentiment at the door and delves deep into powerful themes such as child abuse, alcoholism, and the psychological unraveling of a man - a father, a husband, and a writer. He is so profoundly affected by the very surroundings he sought solace from that he descends into one of the darkest nightmares as the ghostly and macabre presence takes hold. It evokes such intense emotions that it held my attention throughout the entire novel without any deviation.

Jack is a recovering alcoholic who takes on the role of a caretaker at the Outlook hotel in the Colorado Rockies at the end of a season. He hopes this will help him overcome his writer's block and the uncontrolled rage that cost him his teaching job and almost cost him his life and marriage. However, events begin to derail Jack when his five-year-old son, who possesses "The Shining" and psychic abilities to read minds, has sightings of the people who once inhabited the hotel. Unable to possess Danny, the supernatural forces within the hotel wreak havoc on Jack's fragile mental state. With the return to alcohol, he plummets into a dark mental abyss where violence takes hold, as seen in the iconic scene of Jack Nicolson taking an axe to the bathroom door.
"Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters." The scene is set perfectly. Now, let's turn to the atmospheric backdrop of the book. It is a worthy accompaniment to this chilling story. The snow-bound hills, the hotel's expanse, the topiary hedges that come to life, the hotel's décor, the basement, and even the carpets all merit specific mention, creating a perfect setting for terror to grip the reader. And then there are the sounds and the eerie drumbeat of a murderous message with the rhythmic repetition of "red rum, red rum, red rum, red rum…." designed to penetrate your psyche. Two words that, when combined and reversed (REDRUM), spell MURDER. It's sheer genius.
The ghostly incidents on their own never seemed overly terrifying, but when combined with a character who is unhinged, volatile, and recovering from alcoholism, we are presented with one unholy picture of horror. I watched the film years ago and then decided to read the book. It will come as no surprise that, like many others, I much preferred the book. To test this opinion, I watched the film again and still hold the same view. The book did more to create feelings of horror, isolation, and fear. So, would I recommend this book? The answer is a resounding yes! With its psychologically complex and tragic characters, shocking and unsettling events, perfect tempo in storytelling, and wonderful atmospheric setting with its rhythmic adage of "REDRUM," it creates a masterpiece in horror that has stood the test of time. Horror is not my go-to genre, so I had to ask one of my Goodreads friends, Michael (Never ending TBR), for his recommendation in horror for beginners like me. Thank you, Michael. It was a perfect choice, and I loved it.

King describes my relationship with this book very well:

“His relationship with his father had been like the unfurling of some flower of beautiful potential, which, when wholly opened, turned out to be blighted inside.”

My first Stephen King, and my first proper horror novel will be my last. I certainly didn't expect to be bored, but I was. After 338 pages / two thirds of the book, I decided life's too short to waste on a book I'm not enjoying.

If you want sinister snow, I suggest Kafka's The Castle (see my review HERE) instead.

EDIT: Years later, a friend reminded that when reading this, I'd sent this message:

Bad news: My car has broken down.

Good news: I always have a book with me.

Bad news: The first sentence I turned to is about worries of being “stranded by the side of the road”!

Worse news: It's my first Stephen King.

Potential

The basic plot (family alone and cut-off in spooky house) may not be original, but it started off quite intriguingly. There are more literal demons of alcohol, cycles of abusive parenting (one physical, one emotional), and a lonely only-child trying to understand the perplexities of the adult world. The fact that the child, five-year-old Danny, can read minds and has hallucinations and premonitions makes the gap between what he sees/knows and understands all the greater.

The love a child can feel for an abuser is a strong theme early on: “Jack had loved him for as long as he was able, long after the rest of the family could only hate and fear him”, and he's terrified of alienating Danny. Similarly, Wendy's troubled relationship with her jealous mother is echoed in the way she envies Danny's closeness to his father.

Jack, a recovering alcoholic, is still struggling to stay on the wagon (I assume he gives in later in the book). Although he's never had any paranormal experiences before, he seems to experience some here. Or maybe it's clinical. What's the difference between paranormal (Danny) and “real” but distorted perception (Jack)?

There were also nods to Alice in Wonderland (indirect) and Bluebeard (explicitly).

All these ideas could be fascinating and disturbing, but they didn't really go anywhere, especially after things started jumping out at the family.

Join the Dots

Once the family were alone in the Overlook Hotel, it became increasingly and infuriatingly formulaic. There's the build-up to something scary, then the relief of everyone pulling through with only minor damage, then the next something scary - perhaps a variant on a previous one, or maybe something new - each one just slightly worse than the previous, interspersed with the odd false alarm. The scary things included all the obvious ones and... actually I can't think of any non-obvious ones, but maybe they come in the final third of the book.

All this was interspersed by lazy exposition of what should have been interesting backstory. The dirty dealings in the hotel (organised crime, prostitutes, murder) were revealed by a convenient scrapbook, and Jack and Wendy's inner struggles with their own parents and with each other are explained like an introductory psychology primer: Jack wondered if the reason he did X was because Y. SHOW, don't tell!

Language

There were plenty of weak clichés (“His pride was all that was left”, a child feeling like a puppet in adult games, Danny being the key to everything - just like the key in a clock) and several weird typos and missing words.

On the other hand, I really laughed at this description of a lift/elevator, that “wheezed vibratoriously up the shaft”!

REDRUM

Danny keeps seeing and hearing this, and he knows it's bad and scary. But it's a Mystery. With a capital M. The revelation of what and why it meant was the final straw for me: such an anti-climax, and it doesn't even make sense in the way it's described.

Why I Read This - and Why I (almost certainly) Won't Read King Again

One of the things I enjoy about GR is the way it has broadened my reading (and deepened it, too). There are many wonderful books I've read purely because friends with similar tastes have raved about them (Stoner in particular).

I gradually noticed quite a few friends whose literary tastes overlap with mine rate King quite highly as a writer. I began to question my avoidance of horror and King, and canvassed advice as to which to read.

I wanted to enjoy this - to find a new writer and genre to enjoy, and to prove I should have read King sooner. Perhaps that's why I stuck with it as long as I did (that, and residual guilt from childhood indoctrination never to give up on a book). Even Jack, who wanted to write a book about the hotel, skimmed the scrapbook, so that mitigates my guilt a little.

I'm still grateful for the advice about reading King. The fact I've confirmed that King isn't for me is useful knowledge, which is an improvement on uninformed prejudice.

Quotes

* “The bar, where dark shadows sat sampling the tasty waters of oblivion.”

* “That commonplace sense of history that anyone can feel glancing through the fresh news of ten or twenty years ago.”

* “She recoiled from his hot eyes and tried on a smile that was a size too small.”

* “Staring at the door with a kind of drugged avidity.”

How is this book so popular?!

It is truly mind-boggling. I just don't understand why it has gained such a wide following.

I mean, come on! It is as boring as FUCK!

There is nothing exciting or engaging about it. The story is dull, the characters are flat, and the writing style is just plain uninteresting.

I tried to get through it, but I just couldn't. It felt like a chore reading each page.

I kept waiting for something to happen, for some kind of plot twist or interesting development, but it never came.

Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this book, but I really don't see what all the fuss is about.

It seems like everyone else loves it, but I'm left scratching my head wondering why.

Oh well, to each their own, I guess. But for me, this book is a definite pass.

The Shining by Stephen King is truly a masterclass in the genre of psychological horror.

King has an uncanny ability to expertly weave together elements of tension, isolation, and supernatural dread, creating a story that holds readers in a state of perpetual unease from the very beginning to the end.

The Overlook Hotel, in this narrative, takes on a life of its own and becomes a character in itself. Its eerie and haunted presence serves to heighten the suspense to an almost unbearable level.

Jack Torrance's gradual descent into madness is a truly harrowing and heart-wrenching experience to witness. At the same time, Danny's psychic abilities introduce a thrilling layer of mystery that keeps the readers guessing and on the edge of their seats.

King's writing style is simply captivating. He has the power to draw the readers into a chilling world where fear seems to lurk in every corner, waiting to pounce.

This book is an absolute must-read for any fan of the horror genre. It is a classic that continues to terrify and fascinate readers even decades after its initial publication.