In Stephen King's renowned novel The Shining, Jack Torrance, a recently unemployed teacher and recovering alcoholic, finds himself in a perilous situation. He has a wife, Wendy, and a young son, Danny, who experiences strange visions and trances. Jack, with his violent past and quick temper, is determined to make a fresh start for his family. An old friend offers him a job as the winter caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. However, the hotel holds dark secrets, and Jack and Danny are not what they seem.

Overall, I believe The Shining is a remarkable book. While it may not be a perfect masterpiece, it has its strengths and weaknesses. Some parts of the story can be quite boring and drawn-out, such as the long descriptions of Jack's mundane tasks at the hotel or his drunken escapades. Additionally, there are some elements that may seem inappropriate or immature, like the repeated references to female breasts. However, these flaws do not overshadow the book's many virtues.

The character of Jack Torrance is truly outstanding. He is a complex and multi-faceted individual, a mix of anger, vulnerability, and self-destruction. His descent into madness is masterfully portrayed, and you can feel his growing instability with each passing page. Danny and Dick Hallorann are also well-developed characters, and their relationship adds depth and warmth to the story. Wendy, on the other hand, can be a bit of a disappointment, as her naivete and passivity become increasingly frustrating.

Despite its slow start, The Shining builds a sense of dread and foreboding that is truly palpable. King's use of atmosphere and setting is masterful, creating a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The final hundred pages of the book are a thrilling ride, as Jack's madness reaches its peak and the true horror of the Overlook Hotel is revealed. Overall, The Shining is a must-read for any fan of horror literature, and I highly recommend it.

4.5 stars

There is a spark that dazzles you... and there is a spark that immerses you

As I delved into the book, I constantly had to jog my memory about who penned this work in 1977. Truly, I unearthed several elements that Stephen King had also employed in his other novels. These discoveries imply that "Shining" is, to a certain extent, one of the forerunners of all the author's fantasies. Having a modicum of knowledge about him, I was aware that there were certain aspects to be vigilant about. For instance, when the mention of wasps cropped up, I surmised that they would assume a significant role. Stephen King's vivid narration of insect bites instills a sense of dread in the reader regarding this topic. I could almost hear their menacing buzz in my ears...!

On the other hand, some other aspects related to the fantastic seemed rather foreseeable to me. For example, when the author introduced his characters, strange phenomena began to manifest. We could hazard a guess as to who would be influenced and who would veer towards the dark side. This anticipation added an extra layer of excitement and intrigue to the reading experience.

Finally, a great translation of Stephen King
The novel is far better than the film by millions of times.

An impressive review of the novel:

https://youtu.be/ngqJJh4grfo

Stephen King is a renowned author, and his works have always been highly anticipated. The translation of his novel is of great significance as it allows a wider audience to access and enjoy his brilliant storytelling. In this case, the translation is described as "great," which implies that it does justice to the original work. Moreover, the comparison between the novel and the film is quite striking. The claim that the novel is "far better than the film by millions of times" emphasizes the superiority of the written form in capturing the essence and details of the story. The review of the novel, which is linked in the text, is likely to provide further insights and perspectives on the book, helping readers to make an informed decision about whether to pick it up and give it a read. Overall, this short piece of text highlights the importance of good translations and the enduring appeal of Stephen King's novels.

"Shining" is a brilliant gem from the early works of Stephen King! For me, the novel is, first and foremost, an extremely powerful family drama, and then it is a masterful horror production.

It tells the touching story of Jack Torrance and his family, who have to spend the winter in a remote and evil hotel called "The Overlook". The job as a caretaker turns out to be Jack's only chance to improve his relationship with his wife and also to "get back on his feet" after a long period of alcoholism. In addition, he intends to write a book during their stay there. His son Danny, on the other hand, possesses the incredible supernatural gift called "The Shining", which allows him to read people's minds and sometimes even understand what will happen in the future...

King has created very strong and interesting characters, as well as a horribly tense atmosphere! Since in those years he had serious problems with alcohol, the author couldn't help but incorporate biographical elements into the contradictory image of Jack Torrance... I also like the popular film adaptation by Stanley Kubrick, despite the significant differences, but I find the book to be much more valuable!

The Shining (The Shining #1) by Stephen King is a captivating and chilling novel. Set in the beautiful yet menacing Overlook Hotel in Colorado, it follows the Torrance family - Jack, his wife Wendy, and their young son Danny.

Jack sees the hotel's winter caretaker position as a chance to redeem himself from past failures and reconnect with his family. Wendy views it as a fragile opportunity to keep their family together. However, Danny, who has a special clairvoyant gift known as "the shining," senses the evil lurking within the hotel's empty rooms.

The story unfolds with the family's arrival at the hotel. As the winter progresses and the snow isolates them, strange and terrifying events begin to occur. Danny's visions become more vivid and disturbing, and he must use his gift to battle the evil that threatens to consume them all.

Stephen King masterfully creates a sense of dread and suspense throughout the book. The descriptions of the hotel and its surroundings are vivid, making the reader feel as if they are right there with the Torrance family. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships add depth to the story.

Overall, The Shining is a classic horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. It explores themes of family, isolation, and the power of evil, making it a thought-provoking read as well.

The first time I delved into The Shining was during my high school days. It was the second novel by Stephen King that I had the pleasure of reading. I was immediately captivated by it. The creepy horror elements within the book were truly enthralling, and I found myself liking the book far more than the movie adaptation. As I continued my Stephen King binge, I made the decision to go back and reread this classic. As an adult, my love for the book endured, but for a different reason. This time around, it was the non-supernatural aspects that appealed to me the most.

Jack Torrance, our villain, was already teetering on the edge of sobriety and sanity even before the story began. The Overlook Hotel didn't drive him crazy; it simply provided the final nudge. Jack was bound to snap regardless. He was an unemployed recovering alcoholic with a volatile temper. The Overlook merely brought out the monster lurking within him. Stephen King is at his absolute best when he combines real-life horror with supernatural horror. Chances are, you will never encounter a ghost or spend a night in a hotel like The Overlook. However, people like Jack Torrance truly exist. Currently, in the news, there is a story about a man who brutally murdered his pregnant wife and two small children. I highly doubt that a supernatural force compelled him to commit such a heinous act.

The Shining is an all-time classic and rightfully deserves all the hype it receives. If you've never read a King novel, The Shining is an excellent place to start.

Hooked On Books August Read-A-Thon

2018 Badass Books Reading Challenge: An award-winning book

I saw The Shining as a child on late night TV. I was far too young for it, and Jack Nicolson's face in the crack of the door after he swung an ax through it, creepily saying, "Here's Johnny," has sent shivers up my spine for decades. This has been the main reason I've been avoiding reading this book. Then last year, I was invited to join a Goodreads group for horror and sci-fi lovers, which included a dedicated subgroup for Stephen King books. I didn't consider myself either, but I wanted to expand my reading breadth. So I've been reading every book they've recommended and have become far more appreciative of the genres, especially horror, than I ever imagined. Still, I wanted to wait on The Shining until I had acclimated more to Stephen King. 22 of his books later, I finally felt ready.

Part of me wonders why I was so fearful. Part of me is wondering what kind of dreams I'll have when I finally go to bed (as usual, I've stayed up too late to finish a book). Part of me realizes Jack Nicholson has been one of the most impressionable actors of my youth (One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest still weighs on me and was one of the reasons I started looking to understand institutionalization better).

I didn't know there was a sequel. I can't wait to read it! I really loved Danny, and I loved how his mom believed him and understood him. Kids need to grow up knowing their words are valued. I thought King made such great points about the way we accept children's behavior when they were at Dr. Edmonds' office but often label adults who act the same way, because we assume children are working things out in their imaginations. Even when I don't believe what one of my kids say as reality, I sure make sure they know I take whatever they tell me very seriously. I want them to grow up confident that their voices matter.

I thought King did a great job developing Jack's character too - his struggle with alcoholism, his struggle to self-regulate his emotions, his transformation into the hotel itself. And again, Wendy gets kudos for being able to distinguish the man from the ghosts who want to possess them.

The fact that King made the hotel itself a full character with personality, a brain, and functional ability was brilliant. Animation was a recurring theme in general. I could visualize all of it - the manipulation, the mind games, the physicality, the parties.

Al Shockley (the name is a bit obvious, eh?) intrigues me as well. He understands what the hotel is (I think), so I can't help but wonder what his original intention actually was when he offered Jack a job there. I also am left wondering about Wendy and Danny's future with him.

Halloran was possibly my least favorite character. He was mostly a plot device to help readers understand Danny's. I would've have liked him to be better fleshed out. After all, Stephen King often writes ridiculously long books. This one was relatively short in comparison to many of his other works. I would've been glad to digress for an extra hundred pages to get to know Halloran better.

I faced my fear of The Shining, and I am proud of myself for that

Stephen King is a renowned author, and whenever I read his works, the question keeps popping up: Is he a horror writer? And does what I've read here classify as horror literature? Classifying King's works is extremely difficult as they are always a blend of many things. His works often have multiple storylines that can play on an internal social pattern, like in a good marriage or extraordinary abilities combined with puberty as in the novel "Carrie". Or that tragic addictive narrative with a child having a heightened sense perception and a hysterical wife who constantly harbors the gaze of the oppressed. They all enter here with their full free will to start the horror of closed places announcing itself.

The Overlook Hotel... Or more precisely, the Stanley Hotel that inspired King to write "The Shining". If the real hotel is inspiring, there's no doubt that the one used by Kubrick in his brilliant film "The Shining" is even more so. This is the place where its doors are closed for at least six months in winter, with no usable roads and no suitable sky for flying. So Jack Torrance becomes the caretaker, bringing his small family with him. And here Stephen King starts using his magical blend in writing within the halls of the Overlook Hotel, sometimes relying on the tragedy of addiction, sometimes on the extraordinary abilities of the child, and finally on the mysterious energy of the hotel to contain all this madness. In a text that is extremely accurate, full of details, and with a cumulative plot that starts with Jack, who is passionate about his new job, having recently quit drinking and hoping to finish his literary work during this winter stay, and ends with his mental breakdown and complete destruction, which the author masterfully stages.

The idea that the events of the novel revolve around three main characters is one of the most beautiful features in any literary work. It allows the author's imagination to expand to draw and build his characters completely and vividly, with a precise analysis and highlighting of their psychological motives around every situation. This is evident as I mentioned before in the character of Jack and his transformation from a sane person starting a new life to a person running in the halls of the hotel to kill his wife and son, being in a state closer to hysteria and madness!
What lies behind the Overlook Hotel? How did it take hold of Jack Torrance until they became one entity? What does it want from little Danny? What is the secret of this dark energy between the walls of the hotel? What is the secret of this noisy nightly party with its undead? What is the secret of room 217? And one wonders what will the party end with?
In the end, if you haven't watched the film, hurry up and do so and enjoy the excellent performance of Jack Nicholson and the direction of Kubrick, which is a masterpiece compared to the films of the eighties. The film has its own pleasure, and the novel has a completely different pleasure. Kubrick excels in the mysterious aspect at the expense of the psychological aspect of the first protagonist in the novel. After reading the novel, I understood why King didn't like the film despite its resounding success, which continues to this day. And despite the difference in the endings, each has its own pleasure and its own meaning, but I liked the ending of the novel more. And we can't forget to mention the translation by Iman Harzallah, which gave the Arab reader the dream of reading the novel after years of being content with watching the film.

What can I say about "The Shining"!

If you've just landed on this planet and have no clue about the story, I highly suggest you check out some reviews.

What stands out most about this novel is the setting. It is an oppressive setting that fully immerses you in the book. You simply cannot stop reading until the end.

The story it tells, with a strong touch of terror, is extremely well executed. The way Jack descends into the depths without understanding how he arrived there, and how the hotel, which is almost a character in itself, takes hold of him and, to a lesser extent, the rest of the family, is truly remarkable.

Considering the date when it was published, King was already aiming for great heights, and without a doubt, he has achieved that through his own merits. His ability to create such a vivid and disturbing world is a testament to his talent as a writer.

This novel is not only a thrilling read but also a masterclass in storytelling. It keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end, and you can't help but be drawn into the dark and mysterious world that King has created.

Overall, it is a must-read for any fan of horror or mystery novels.

The book could've been approximately 100 pages shorter.

The middle section was rather dull and uninteresting.

However, the last 20% was truly amazing.

It had me completely on the edge of my seat, filled with anticipation and excitement.

I'm so eager to watch the film version, even though I know it might be completely different.

I'm certain that it'll be a hair-raising experience.

Overall, I'd rate this book 3.5 stars.

It had its flaws with the overly long middle part, but the thrilling conclusion more than made up for it.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the story is translated onto the big screen and if it can capture the same level of excitement.