Venturing into a sober January (no, I’m not swearing off alcohol, just taking a deliberate break), and having been compared to Jack Torrance by two people in my life—I relay this not to sound badass, but as a humbling appraisal of my missteps (this does not include domestic abuse, to be clear)—it seems an obvious way to initiate my reading year.

Despite King’s understandable misgivings, I still love Stanley Kubrick’s imagining of this story, but it’s well past time that I embark on my isolated winter stay at the Overlook.

No surprise contrarian perspective from me on this one, folks.

Feminine rage is all the rage now, but let us appreciate this masterclass in masculine rage. The difference being that this is a critical reckoning with the dark places men go when they feel trapped, stagnant, inadequate, and unable to live down—or outlive—their mistakes and destructive coping mechanisms; not a ‘good for him’ vengeful power fantasy so prevalent in the female-driven narratives of the current publishing world. It is a work of deep introspection on King’s part (the like of which, frankly, this constant reader wishes he would engage in again).

Arguably the scariest part of a story replete with fear and trembling is when Jack, under the influence of ‘the bad thing,’ begins to sympathize with his drunken, abusive father, forging a justification for the patriarch’s savage cane beating of his wife, the ‘spirits’ manipulating his desire for distance from the man to guide him toward reenacting it. (On a smaller scale, a similar theme of fatalistic generational trauma is explored in Wendy and her evasion of the condescending matriarch of her own family).

The elemental horror of Hallorann’s journey to The Overlook is another oft overlooked aspect of what wraps the tension so taught. (I used to travel around the Midwest for work. Let me tell you. I have never felt terror like driving through a whiteout blizzard from Minneapolis to Fargo at four AM, unable to distinguish ditch from road; just an endless snow-swept tundra, driving past overturned freight liners, having a careening spin out trying to avoid a plow—just like Dick—my veins instantly turning into rebar and jutting into my guts as I nearly plummet into God-knows-how-many-feet-deep of frozen drift. That sequence had me gripping the book like my steering wheel for that entire seemingly everlasting and perilous drive).

There is so much more to this story that I haven't even begun to touch on. The complex relationships between the characters, the psychological turmoil that each one experiences, and the overall atmosphere of dread and foreboding that permeates every page. It's a book that demands to be read and reread, analyzed and dissected. I can't wait to continue exploring it and sharing my thoughts with you all. Stay tuned for more!

*I have more. Please stand by as I may have to serialize this review to get everything in*

“Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.”

  “Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.”

I couldn't possibly tell you how I, a horror lover since childhood, have managed to reach the age of 31 without seeing "The Shining" or being spoiled about more than the bare bones of its plot. But I'm fairly certain it was due to some kind of universal intervention on my behalf, as if the cosmos knew I would adore this story.

Back in the day, when I read this many years ago, I thought it was rather good but not outstanding. I also went through all of SK's movies. I remember watching Jack Nicholson in his iconic crazy role and thinking to myself, "Hey! This guy is freaking crazy! I love it!"

Now, I saw the Ready Player One movie, which had so many scenes from that old film. So, I had to rewatch the original Kubrick film and read the original novel again for very good measure since I'm back on an SK kick.

A few days ago, I watched that movie and thought to myself, "This is a really bad movie. I still think that Jack is pretty awesome, but no matter how cool he is, it can't save this film."

Then I read the original book, keeping in mind what SK's thoughts were on the Kubrick film, as remembered so iconically through RPO. He despised it. And as I read The Shining, trying to keep an open mind, I realized something.

The Shining is really, really good. The details are gorgeous, the imagery blows me away, the characterization is thoroughly amazing, with depth, beauty, and a great rising unease. I loved Jack in the book. I loved Danny in the book. I loved Halloran in the book. Wendy had a moment or two. But what I loved the most was the Hotel and all its creepy secrets, its depth, its horror. You might say the worldbuilding in this was something truly amazing.

And then it dawned on me. The Kubrick film is a dumpster fire trapped in a bubbling lake of poo. It completely crapped on everything that made the book great! Jack in the book went nuts, but the underlying message that "normal" novelists writing "normal" books are inherently batshit insane compared to "horror" novelists is as clear as day! Seriously, there's enough story in this book to choke an ox and put any mainstream novel to shame. Because let's face it, SK shows more talent for mainstream fiction in this book than the majority of mainstream fiction, and he's just going to burn the whole house down! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Just do me a favor, folks, and skip any screened production of this novel and stick with the text. You will NOT be disappointed. :) :)

The Pile of Shame Challenge has been a real eye-opener for me. I started "reading" this particular book way back in September 2017.

It's been sitting on my shelf, taunting me, ever since. The pages seem to mock me as I walk by, wondering when I'll finally give it the attention it deserves.

This time around, I'm determined to see it through. I've set aside dedicated time each day to focus on this book and make some real progress.

Let's hope that I can break free from the clutches of this pile of shame and finally finish this book. Wish me luck!

And just like that, another journey into the heart of The Overlook Hotel has come to an end.

This story holds a special place in my heart, and words can't fully express its significance. Over the years, I've tried to capture my thoughts on it in reviews, and I'm quite proud of a few of them. If you're interested, I'll leave them below.

Each time I reread this story, I discover finer details and develop a deeper connection with the fantastically-developed characters. This time, I watched the movie with my Book Club shortly before rereading. Although the movie is quite different, I've always had an appreciation for it.

However, rereading after watching the movie helped me understand why Stephen King may have hated the adaptation. There are numerous reasons, but it seems this was a very personal story for King. The similarities between Jack's life and King's are quite striking. They were both writers with addiction issues, teachers when they perhaps didn't want to be, and had young families to support while trying to make it as authors.

For example, King's son Joe Hill was born in 1972, and The Shining was published in 1977 when Joe was 5 years old, the same age as Danny Torrance in the book. Kubrick, in my opinion, did a poor job translating the characters and the heart of the story to the screen. The amazing performances by the actors don't detract from this. In the movie, Jack is portrayed as a villain, but in the book, it's a more complex and nuanced character.

This is all speculation, of course, but it's something I thought about while reading. And yes, this was my 5th time reading The Shining. It's one of my all-time favorite books, and I'll definitely read it again.

Previously, I've read it 4 times. Rereading isn't for everyone, but for me, it's like having a whole new experience each time. I feel like my life experiences play a role in what I take away from a reading. This time, I was drawn to the private thoughts and emotions of the characters, especially Jack's struggle with his addiction and love for his family.

I also paid more attention to the history of The Overlook and was reminded of its lurid past. King's sense of place in this book is a masterpiece, and the hotel becomes a character in its own right. I'm so glad I took the time to reread this. It was exactly what I needed to re-energize my reading, and I know it won't be the last time.

Earlier, I was in a bit of a reading slump in July, with a lot of 2-to-3-star books. I was frustrated and burnt out, but I knew rereading one of my favorite books would help. And it did! Jack Torrance and The Overlook Hotel never disappoint.

The Shining is a classic of horror literature, and if you haven't read it yet, you should. It's one of the most atmospheric books I've ever read, with plenty of chilling moments. Read it on a cold, windy night, home alone with candles burning, and prepare to be scared.

This is basically just another haunted house story...but my, such a great one! Stephen King brings all his considerable talents into view.

Though his tendency to overwrite shows too. A little editing would have made it even better by cutting out superfluous pages. There's nothing wrong in being succinct.

If you like ghouls, strange apparitions, and an atmosphere thick with foreboding, this ride will satisfy. Not to mention the continuous party in the Colorado Lounge, where drinks are on the house, with Lloyd the perpetually agreeable gentleman presiding.

There's a vague bartender who knows how to mix them, wild, crazy, raucous "people" inside, and noisy scenes happening frequently. It sounds like fun.

Now to begin, John "Jack" Torrance has a little drinking problem. He's a falling down drunk, to be honest. It wouldn't matter much to anyone, except he is married with a lovely wife Wendy and a good son Danny, age five. The kid sees things though, which becomes a problem later on.

The parents are in their late twenties. Jack has recently lost his job teaching at a prep school. He was an English instructor in New England, very appropriate. What's not appropriate is beating up a spoiled rich student and damaging his old car. Jack has a bad temper obviously and gives no mercy.

Let go by the school, he desperately needs another job quickly. This is where the ancient Overlook Hotel, in the high Rocky Mountains of Colorado, over 10,000 feet in elevation, becomes important. Jack's best friend Albert Shockley, a wealthy man, obtains him the caretaker position there in the winter. He is part owner and fellow lush.

It's a new start for the aspiring writer. Five months in isolation with only his rattled family. The roads become impassable because of heavy snows, and often blizzards strike the area. Mr. Torrance has the time now to finish his play, which will solve all the difficulties.

Nevertheless, the Overlook has other ideas, not so nice. Room 217, for instance, nor is it the only one. The sinister hotel elevator disturbs the occupants. It's a free spirit, which makes a quite chilling situation there.

The three humans in the creepy building, months alone, can cause some to become unbalanced, even maniacal. As the temperature drops and the snowflakes fall, tense Wendy feels uneasy.

Terrific novel and the little child, Daniel (Danny), his invisible, unearthly friend, the aloof Tony, dominates the preceding. They are rather a peculiar pair. Good or bad is the question. The answer... read the book. However, in reality and shall I write these words...the fiendish Overlook Hotel is the star.

Update 10/30/21:
Wow… I’ve read this book four times now?! It's truly remarkable how this story still holds my attention. I don't recall exactly what I wrote before, but it remains a four-star read for me. Reading it in this strange post-Covid era is quite interesting as it delves deeply into themes of isolation and being quarantined from the rest of the world. Happy Halloween everyone. It's time for me to go take my medicine.
———————-

Update 8/28/18:
I completely concur with everything I said two years ago. This is my third time reading this one, and I think I've enjoyed it the most on this occasion. Now it's time to watch the movie and read Doctor Sleep. I'm starting a couple of months of reading scary, autumnal, Halloweeny books.

———————-

Old school Stephen King, that's the real deal, man. This is a high point in the King canon for me. In Salem's Lot before this, he crafted fascinating characters and brought to life a beautifully described small town. He took his time gradually unfolding the story, using many pages to build the setting and deepen our connection with the large cast of characters. In The Shining, there are essentially only three main characters aside from a small group of supporting actors. The setting is just a huge old hotel in a snowy Colorado town. But SK devotes even more pages, sometimes entire chapters, to developing his characters and setting the scenes.

As I mentioned before, it's a slow burn, man.

The fact that King takes his time building the horror makes the scary scenes all the more terrifying. It's not a horror novel filled with cheap jump scares and monsters. It's effective because it draws us deep into the minds of the characters, allowing us to overhear their innermost thoughts and freak out right along with them. The scenes that are there for horror effect and the iconic moments from the movie aren't even entirely necessary. There is so much else happening in the isolation, addiction, desperation, and schizophrenia that tugs at your emotions much more powerfully than what might be lurking behind a hotel room door.

It can be long-winded at times, sure, but for the most part, it's necessary. By the end of this, we get to know the Torrence family better than we might have ever wanted to. From the awkward initial conversation between Jack and Ullman to the wild and crazy climax, the pages keep turning and your heart keeps pounding faster. King takes you on a long roller coaster ride that slowly climbs the long, high incline before bringing us crashing down, screaming our faces off, at the end. And then we eagerly pick up another King book, hoping the ride will be just as thrilling as the one before.

I'm looking at you, Doctor Sleep.

The book took me back in time and made me think about my childhood and the games we used to play in front of the house. Having mostly boys as playmates, it often happened that someone would claim to have "The Force" or "The Shining" (or simply believed they were J.R. - which was the ultimate). Of course, being the youngest and also a girl, I had neither, so at best I was good to be someone's pawn, that is, to carry the sword (wooden stick) of one of the knights in the game. Or, in the worst case, I was sent home to be "Sue Ellen". Growing up, I had the opportunity to see Star Wars and understand what "The Force" meant, and later, after watching "The Shining", I also understood what "The Shining" meant. Finally, after reading Stephen King's book, I had the impression that the childhood image was completed and I was completely clear.

The novel is composed of 5 parts and we have in the foreground Jack Torrance, a former teacher with an alcoholic past, who struggles to get out of the gutter and be the head of the family that his son and wife deserve. He manages to get a job and, together with Wendy and their son Danny, they move to the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. They have to stay there during the cold season and manage the hotel, especially take care of the boiler in the basement. The job is difficult because during the winter the roads are closed and become impassable, the storms are frequent and there is no one for kilometers around to help them.

Their son, Danny, is special. He has "The Shining" and can predict the future but also see and communicate with ghosts. And the Overlook Hotel is in its turn special, having plenty of ghosts, because many of the guests lost their lives there in violent conditions.

Over time, Jack becomes increasingly influenced by the hotel, his negative traits being exacerbated and being pushed to do all kinds of violent things against his loved ones. It is more than evident that the hotel feeds on misfortunes and negative energy, the goal being the "absorption" of the boy's Shining.

The atmosphere is sinister, of bad omen, the confinement, isolation, despair, madness and diabolical influence of the building will throw the couple into the arms of the darkest nightmares. Because the Overlook Hotel is just another name for Nightmare.

The characters are very well drawn, credible and memorable, but the pièce de résistance remains the Overlook Hotel, which seems alive, almost like a character in itself. The building "lives" and spreads evil around, it seems to have its own will and a Machiavellian intelligence. I don't think there is anyone who would not be fascinated or intrigued by the hotel. It is wonderfully conceived and described, and here we must also recognize Stephen King's talent for creating this truly malevolent entity.

Of course, the images from Stanley Kubrick's famous film adaptation, with Danny riding his tricycle in the hotel corridors, with the message "Redrum", with the maze, with room 217, with the woman in the bathtub, or with the two little girls are iconic. Also memorable is the scene with Jack Nicholson and his creepy eyes and crazy smile, breaking down the door with the axe and growling "Here's Johnny!"

I consider that this is a novel that you must read in your life to see what a truly professional horror story looks like, which has achieved its success and recognition entirely on merit. It is a book written "by the book".

In conclusion, I attach a few quotes that I retained:

"You have to be a little crooked to run a hotel like this, the way it should be run."

"These days he almost always listened to what his pride told him to do, because, aside from his wife and son, 600 dollars in an account and a tired 1968 Volkswagen, only his pride was left to him."

"The queues at social welfare centers are made up only of idiots with education and great ideas."

" - [...]But with language, the wheels of the world are greased.
- What's that language?
- Language, said Wendy, is when daddy says he likes my new yellow pants when, in fact, he doesn't like them, or when he says he doesn't need to lose about 5 kg.
- Aha, so we lie just for fun."

"That's your job in this hard world, to keep your love intact and move on, no matter what happens. Gather yourself and move on."

When MC Johnny enters the haunted mountain hotel house, the twins raise their axes and sway to the rhythm of the barkeepers' whispering background vibe.

Perhaps it's just so popular because of the movie. I've read numerous novels by King, some even twice, and I must say that this is a good one, but by no means one of his best works. It contains some truly terrifying moments like a labyrinth, a bathroom scene, parenting issues, and insanity-driven axe murders. However, aside from that, there is much less terror, paranormal activity, and horror than one would anticipate and hope for. One could describe it as having a subtle and slowly accelerating suspense and action, but subjectively, it just doesn't unleash its full potential. Its main focus is on going insane in an isolated place, facing one's demons, communicating with ghosts, and experiencing self-doubt. Honestly, I was even a bit disappointed because I know the better, harder, and far cooler King who switches perspectives, has grand-scale scenes, and much more badass characters than just a stumbling father with alcohol problems.

There are many autobiographical undertones in this horror hotel. So much of King's personal life is reflected here, his fear of wasps, his dislike of a kid, being a writer and a substance abuser, probably even some relationship problems, especially when combined with the mentioned bad parenting and tendency to be high as a kite. I'm not entirely sure about that as he has mentioned other inspirations in interviews, prefaces, and lectures. But given his tendency to use writing as a form of self-reflection and therapy, one can assume that there might have been one or more epic battles between Tabitha and Stephen or King and his kids, especially his son, that served as the foundation.

Psi powers penetrate mental sanity. Going insane on a wacky holiday trip has never been so much fun, especially since the issues and frustrations of the main protagonist form the basis for the escalation towards total madness. A stable, happy person might have found a better way to deal with career and relationship problems, but that would have been a rather boring attempt and not half as cool as good old-fashioned anger release before it harms the hater, leaving everyone else as a victim or dead. That's much better for the salvation of those who also caused the whole mess.

Alternative family therapy, anger management, bonding, and teambuilding methods. No matter what the friendlier, calmer approaches might suggest, some in-your-face methods of innovative, new therapeutic schools recommend simply unleashing one's anger, perhaps accompanied by visualizing one's demons until they manifest as if they were real and provide more, even greater tips and tricks to handle the situation.

How much of it could be real? With all that quantum, parallel universe, time travel, extra dimension stuff, one really doesn't know what will emerge in centuries or millennia when 4567 scientists use their instruments to discover correlations between physics, death, haunted places, and possibly even souls, demons, and damned sex succubi. Maybe we just haven't figured out how to construct the right equipment to see that we are surrounded by countless emanating reminiscences of billions of years of evolution and trillions of immortal, multidimensional consciences that are created with each physical body.

Tropes demonstrate how literature is conceptualized and created and what combination of elements makes works and genres unique. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.ph...

This was truly excellent. I can clearly understand why this is the favorite Stephen King novel for many readers. In fact, it's my favorite novel of his so far, although I still have a significant number of his books to read. In the past, I've been overly critical of his work, perhaps because he's so famous. But I now realize it was more of a fault on my part. Previously, I picked up one of his thick books when I wasn't ready to fully invest the time and energy needed to immerse myself in his world-building and detailed descriptions. This time, however, I was prepared. (Also, this book was only around 600 pages, which felt like a novella compared to "IT".)

I'm finally able to grasp why so many people compare this novel to the standard of traditional horror. Yes, it has all the creepy crawlers and spooky elements to make your heart race, but it's so firmly rooted in reality that I had difficulty convincing myself that "it's just a story". The 150-page setup is well worth the reader's time as it lays the foundation for much of the "why" behind the narrative. It also gave me the opportunity to form a connection with precious Danny before things went wrong.

I might be the last person on earth to have read this book, but just in case I'm not, I wanted to share some of the things that really resonated with me. Just like "IT" is, at its core, a disturbing coming-of-age story, "The Shining" was an impeccable tale of extreme cabin fever with a large dose of "the destructive nature of alcoholism". When you break it down like that, the supernatural elements actually seem to take a backseat to the very real horror of living with someone struggling with addiction. I've heard all the stories about how this book helped Stephen King recognize his own battle with alcohol, and I'm inclined to believe it's true as the writing here is filled with emotion and depth.

I apologize for ever thinking Mr. King was overhyped. I'm grateful that my previous experiences with his wordier novels didn't prevent me from finally choosing to read this one, as it's a gem of a book and a classic in its genre. (I still despise "Sleeping Beauties" though and refuse to change my opinion on that matter. ;)) It's highly recommended to any other people who may not have come across this one. Now, the question is - to watch the movie or not?

Recovering alcoholic Jack Torrance takes on a job as the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, accompanied by his family. However, the question looms: can his son Danny's special gift, known as The Shining, prevent him from succumbing to madness and slaughtering his family like previous caretakers?

Yes, I'm quite late to the game in reading this, but after devouring Joe Hill's NOS4A2, I felt compelled to pick up my first non-Dark Tower Stephen King book in years to see how the master crafted horror in the past. I'm not entirely convinced this was a wise choice.

The book isn't overly long, yet it seemed to drag on for an eternity before anything significant occurred. There were indeed some eerie moments, mostly involving Jack or Danny and the hotel's ghosts. I suspect that if I hadn't watched the movie beforehand, I would have found the book more enjoyable.

I believe the movie has an edge over the book in that it doesn't spend a third of its runtime delving into Jack Torrance's past. In the movie, we can see from the very first moment that he teeters precariously on the brink of insanity, and no sane person would willingly spend any amount of time locked up with him. In the book, however, we witness his gradual descent into madness over hundreds of pages. On the other hand, the book's biggest advantage over the movie is that the mother is attractive and not portrayed by Shelley Duvall.

That's all I have to say on the matter.

All the stars!

Loved, loved this book!




I'm truly at a loss for words when it comes to writing this review. So much has already been said about this amazing book by others. But let me tell you, I was completely blown away by how outstanding it was. It far surpassed the movie in every aspect.


The slow descent into insanity of Jack Torrance was one of the most captivating elements of this book. I was enthralled by the overall menacing atmosphere of The Overlook. The way the hotel becomes increasingly violent and threatening to Danny and his family as they prolong their stay there is both gripping and overwhelming. As the story unfolds, it becomes impossible to put the book down.

I also greatly enjoyed Danny's struggle as a child to understand his 'gifts' and figure out how to use them in a positive manner.


Danny, don't you dare go into room 217!




This entire book is just awesome! My review simply doesn't do justice to how great it truly is. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all Stephen King fans and horror lovers out there.


One of the best books out there! GO READ IT!