The Shining is a ghost story that is told in the most captivating way.

The characters are not only strong but also enduring, each with their own unique qualities. I truly have a soft spot for Jack Torrance. He has a distinct personality, is filled with flaws, and yet, he is just like any ordinary person next door. Stephen King masterfully describes Jack's gradual descent into madness.

Danny is another remarkable character. He is timid, shy, and just a small kid. However, at the same time, he is the most powerful among all the characters, possessing a gift that might be their only hope of escape.

And then, of course, there is the most interesting character of all - the Overlook. The way Stephen King describes the hotel makes it seem not just like a building but a person, a living and breathing entity with a sole desire to ensure that the Torrances never leave.

This novel is suspenseful from the very beginning, thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. It is truly a great work. Now, I am eager to see the movie, although I hope it won't be a disappointment. This is my first full-length novel by Stephen King, and I can't wait to explore another one of his amazing works soon.

I don't typically read a lot of horror novels. However, I decided to give this one a try because I have developed a recent interest in true crime.

I really liked the way the characters were introduced in the story. Additionally, this book probably received an extra star from me simply because it was set in Colorado. I was fascinated by the setup of the empty hotel, where the known events could be vividly pictured by the characters in the very location where they had occurred. This aspect made the idea of seeing ghosts seem more real to my naturally skeptical nature.

However, despite my efforts, this book failed to scare me. I would read it late at night, all by myself, hoping that it would give me trouble falling asleep. But when I got into bed, the only things that were bothering me were the election and my last botched stroke on the golf course.

The ending of the book was rather disappointing. It didn't offer any surprises and didn't tie up all the loose ends, as I had expected it to in such a well-known book. I probably would have given it two stars, but as I mentioned earlier, the fact that it was about Colorado gave it a slight edge.

Overall, while this book had some interesting elements, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.

Finally read this horror classic!

I've seen this movie so many times that it was truly fascinating to notice the differences, both big and small. The details that one might overlook in the movie can often be more vividly described in the book.

I'm going to watch the movie with fresh eyes tonight, looking for those elements that I might have missed before. It will be interesting to see how the director has interpreted the story and brought it to life on the screen.

Next week, I will post a detailed book/movie comparison. I'll analyze the plot, characters, and atmosphere in both the book and the movie, highlighting the similarities and differences. This will give readers a better understanding of how the story has been adapted and which version they might prefer.

I had forgotten for a moment just how much I truly love the early works of Stephen King. The movie adaptation of this story is also truly amazing, but I am extremely glad that I have finally managed to get to this book. It has been sitting patiently in my To Be Read (TBR) pile for far longer than I would like to admit. What I love about this book is that there is just the right amount of a supernatural aspect to it, and the creep factor feels completely and utterly real.

Danny's father, Jack, has been given a last chance in the form of a job as the winter caretaker for the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Danny and his mother are going along with Jack. However, when they arrive at the hotel, they discover that there is far more to this building than meets the eye. Danny has a special gift - the ability to read thoughts or emotions and sometimes just to know things. He meets a cook named Dick who tells him that he has the strongest Shine he has ever seen. But this gift also makes Danny shine brightly to the things that lurk in the darkness and go bump in the night.

It's clear that this story is going to be a thrilling and spine-tingling adventure, and I can't wait to see where it takes me.

I had never intended to read one of Stephen King's best books last. I began reading his works at a relatively young age, starting with Cujo, and then progressing forward rather than backward. By that time, the movies based on many of his books, including The Shining, were already available, and of course, I had watched them. During that period, I was unaware of King's feelings regarding Kubrick's movie, the portrayal of Jack, and many other aspects. I simply thought that the movie told the story, and that was that. So, I read his other books, and time passed.

King later wrote an introduction for readers, which I found in a worn paperback copy that I own. The cover art is not very good as it shows a young boy with a face that appears decidedly mad and possibly evil. I knew enough about Danny to know that the picture was not accurate, but I kept the book for the introduction. In it, King states, “There comes a time in a writer's career when you have to make a choice: either do what you've done before, or try to reach a little higher.” Before reading The Shining, I would have thought he had achieved that with Salem's Lot. However, I understand the certain differences he hints at. Jack becomes more realistic to readers because of his own backstory, the abusive relationship with his father. Instead of leaving it to the readers to make the connection, he delves into it for a while. The depth of a plot always matters or alters our experience. It's not just The Overlook exerting its will on Jack, but also something deep within him. King and Kubrick actually discussed this topic. Kubrick took a different approach, and that's okay. But it's also not okay because while a movie can be two-dimensional and still be entertaining, a good book cannot be, not really, not if it aims to be better than the last and be remembered for a long time.

The Shining is widely regarded as the greatest ghost story of the 20th Century.

Although I haven't read every single ghost story written within that hundred-year span, and I'm certain there are others that some people might rate higher, I truly struggle to envision how a more outstanding and terrifying tale of a haunting could have been crafted than this one. (If you have any suggestions, I would be more than happy to hear them.)

This novel represents Stephen King at his absolute peak. It is the perfect confluence of his mastery of storytelling, his command over the horrific, and his flair for building tension.

Most likely, you are already familiar with the story. Jack Torrance, a struggling, alcoholic writer with a troubled past, takes on a job as the winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel in Colorado. This hotel is a massive, long-halled, and echoing building. He, along with his wife Wendy and son Danny, move into the hotel. Jack settles in to write, hoping that the peace and lack of distractions will enable him to create something truly great while the snow piles up outside, isolating them from the rest of the world.

Danny, despite being only five years old, is endowed with a gift. He is a shiner, possessing an extra-sensory ability. He can perceive things from the past, foresee certain events, and is aware of the entities that lurk on the fringes of reality, beyond the perception of ordinary people. Very soon, he begins to sense that The Overlook is a malevolent and corrupting place, one that will entice his father into homicidal madness. As the hotel starts to draw Jack into the darkness, his wife and son must fight to survive within their vast, wintry prison.

I understand, I understand. The way I have described it might make it sound hokey,类似 a Twilight Zone episode or a jump-scare B-movie plot. However, trust me, as with so many things, it is the execution that matters, not the subject matter. And this story is told superbly.

King writes about an alcoholic writer like no one else (he has lived that life, and it shows vividly on the page). He chronicles Jack's corruption and Danny's connection with the evil that has occurred in their new home in ways that will truly send shivers down your spine. I dare you not to feel a hint of fear while reading this, especially after sundown. I definitely felt my own anxiety increase as the shadows outside lengthened. You get double points if you can manage to read it on a cold winter's night.

I read this book when I was a teenager and re-read it as an adult, something I almost never do. Both times, I was equally chilled and awed. If you have never read King before, this is the perfect place to start. If you have only seen Kubrick's film, then read this novel. The movie is good, but the book is a masterpiece.

This one truly deserves more than just stars - I give it five menacing REDRUMS.

The original statement seems a bit unclear. However, I'll do my best to expand and rewrite it while adding appropriate line breaks.

The original might be something like: "It's more like a 3.5 but hey ho."

Here's the expanded version:

It is truly more like a 3.5. But you know, that's just the way it is. Hey ho! There are times when things don't quite fit neatly into a specific category or number. In this case, it leans towards a 3.5. Maybe it has some qualities that are a bit better than a 3, but not quite up to a 4. But rather than getting too hung up on it, we just have to accept it and move on. Hey ho!

I hope this meets your requirements. If the original was something different, please let me know and I'll try again.

The author's review of "The Shining" is a detailed and honest account.

First, the author watched the movie with their fiancé and was highly disappointed. They criticized the acting, the omission and mishandling of important plot elements, and how the movie failed to capture the essence of the book.

Then, the author discussed the book itself. They praised King's amazing success, which they attributed to his fantastic characterisation and nuanced handling of heavy topics like alcoholism, mental health, and domestic violence.

However, the author also had some negatives to share. They felt that at times, the book felt like YA Horror, lacking the same impact on a desensitised 30-something as it would on a pre/early teen. They also had a minor gripe with the writing, specifically when King's voice cut through the characters, pulling them out of the story momentarily.

Despite these negatives, the author still found many positives in the book. King's strong characterisation was evident, especially with Jack and Danny. Jack's struggle with alcoholism and anger was palpable, and Danny was a believable and sympathetic child character.

Overall, the author's review provides a balanced view of "The Shining" and leaves readers eager to explore more of King's work. 3.5 ⭐

Mix a heaping helping of exposition, a generous spoonful of backstory, a man struggling with alcoholism and a pinch of scares. Shake and pour over ice. Voila! La cocktail de Shining.

Okay, I admit it. This book didn't scare me to the same degree as the film did. However, that doesn't change the fact that King is a stellar writer. He is highly adept at writing complicated, troubled characters. The story centers on a man named Jack Torrence, who is a writer and a struggling alcoholic. My understanding is that Stephen King was also struggling with addiction while he wrote The Shining. So, it understandably conveys Jack Torrence's aspiration for redemption.

I think that having seen the film first established expectations that the book couldn't meet. But I've read that King didn't like Kubrick's film, and now I understand why. The film centered on the victims of Jack Torrence's crazy behavior and it wasn't about redemption at all. King's book, in contrast, explores a troubled man's efforts to overcome his demons for the sake of his family.

I suppose this is all to say that expectations are key when picking up this book. Let it be what it is rather than expecting it to be the horror-show that Kubrick imagined. Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.

  

I hadn't truly grasped just how profoundly this story is ingrained in the collective unconscious until a few years ago. I mentioned to a friend that my now husband and I were contemplating getting married at The Stanley Hotel. This is the Colorado landmark where the movie version of this book was filmed.

"Are you out of your mind?" she exclaimed to me. "You can't do that. I'll spend the entire ceremony nervously anticipating blood to start gushing out of the elevators."

As a result, we ended up getting married elsewhere, down the road. We decided that it might be a bit too spooky and nerve-wracking to have our wedding at a place that is so closely associated with such a famous and eerie story. Even though The Stanley Hotel has its own charm and historical significance, the idea of having our special day there with the potential for our guests to be constantly reminded of the movie's creepy scenes was just a bit too much to handle. So, we opted for a more conventional and less haunted location for our wedding.

As the snow piles up ever higher,

madness is insidiously making its way through the myriad hallways of the Overlook Hotel.

It seeps into the fragile mind of the off-season caretaker, a recovering alcoholic who is now ensconced in the hotel with his wife and young son.

At the Overlook, strange things seem to creep and lurk everywhere. From the hedge animals in the elaborate topiary that seem to have a life of their own,

to the pressure valve of the ancient boiler that hisses and clanks ominously,

to the hose of an old-fashioned fire extinguisher that dangles menacingly.

Vestiges of atrocities committed through the years within the confines of this establishment continue to menace and haunt, adding to the growing sense of dread and unease that pervades the entire hotel. The isolation and the encroaching madness combine to create a truly terrifying atmosphere that leaves the caretaker and his family in a state of constant fear and vulnerability.

It didn't work out... I loved "Misery", but I thought "The Shining" was a drag...

Perhaps my expectations for "The Shining" were too high. After all, it's a classic horror movie. However, I just didn't find it as engaging as I had hoped. The story seemed to unfold too slowly, and I didn't feel a strong connection with the characters.

On the other hand, "Misery" was a completely different experience. It kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The acting was superb, and the plot was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing. I would highly recommend "Misery" to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

In conclusion, while I may not have loved "The Shining", I still appreciate its place in cinematic history. And I'm glad that I was able to discover the gem that is "Misery".