scroggin_cooper's review against another edition
5.0
What's there to say that already hasn't been said? The Shining is from an objective standpoint, King's best work. The characterwork is phenomenal, it's genuinely scary, and the storyline was a pageturner from page 1 to page 447.
janeedrea's review against another edition
4.0
gave me actual nightmares but i liked the style and the plot moved at just the right pace to keep me engaged
susannameusel's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mery_2023's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Rereading this as an adult was the right decision. When I read this as a teenager, I thought it was a scary book. As an adult, I think it's a sad book.
I understand now why SK is mad about the Kubrick adaptation, it has nothing of the book in it. The book is about the tragedy of the characters and not the evil hotel.
The hotel plays second fiddle and only serves as a spark to fan the tragedy of young people seeing their lives destroyed, mostly by Jack.
The sad little boy looking at the spiraling grown ups, powerless. The premonition of it all, almost a promise. When you know what's gonna happen it feels like the ending is mapped out on every page. Every page is a spoiler telling you how the story is going to unfold. The plotline feels almost simplistic.
The Alice in Wonderland theme is so clear.
The descent into madness is almost logical. Jack doesn't take big steps, he takes small steps. His bad thoughts are mostly just a tad too exaggerated: he wants his wife to shut up, he wants Danny to leave him alone. And it increases. And suddenly it's murder on his mind.
Danny's visions of the mallet wheelding lunatic make me wanna facepalm myself. The whole book Jack reassures Wendy: there's nobody here except us. So why are we surprised when we learn who whields the mallet?
The generational and current trauma didn't escape me this time either: Jack's alcoholic and abusive father who Jack emulates - patterns that must be repeated unless they are broken, Jack's brother dying in the Vietnam War, Wendy's abusive mother and her precarious role as a woman in society. I'll add to this Danny becoming an alcoholic in Doctor Sleep.
The fack that Jack then named his son after his father, and that Tony turnes to be Danny himself, hit me like a brick.
Without knowing too much about SK life, I'm also interpreting the Jack and Danny as parts of SK himself. Jack, the worst possible version of himself as an alcoholic, a monster who didn't start out as one. Danny, SK as a child trying to stop himself from going down that path.
Truly a masterpiece of a book.
I understand now why SK is mad about the Kubrick adaptation, it has nothing of the book in it. The book is about the tragedy of the characters and not the evil hotel.
The hotel plays second fiddle and only serves as a spark to fan the tragedy of young people seeing their lives destroyed, mostly by Jack.
The sad little boy looking at the spiraling grown ups, powerless. The premonition of it all, almost a promise. When you know what's gonna happen it feels like the ending is mapped out on every page. Every page is a spoiler telling you how the story is going to unfold. The plotline feels almost simplistic.
The Alice in Wonderland theme is so clear.
The descent into madness is almost logical. Jack doesn't take big steps, he takes small steps. His bad thoughts are mostly just a tad too exaggerated: he wants his wife to shut up, he wants Danny to leave him alone. And it increases. And suddenly it's murder on his mind.
Danny's visions of the mallet wheelding lunatic make me wanna facepalm myself. The whole book Jack reassures Wendy: there's nobody here except us. So why are we surprised when we learn who whields the mallet?
The generational and current trauma didn't escape me this time either: Jack's alcoholic and abusive father who Jack emulates - patterns that must be repeated unless they are broken, Jack's brother dying in the Vietnam War, Wendy's abusive mother and her precarious role as a woman in society. I'll add to this Danny becoming an alcoholic in Doctor Sleep.
The fack that Jack then named his son after his father, and that Tony turnes to be Danny himself, hit me like a brick.
Without knowing too much about SK life, I'm also interpreting the Jack and Danny as parts of SK himself. Jack, the worst possible version of himself as an alcoholic, a monster who didn't start out as one. Danny, SK as a child trying to stop himself from going down that path.
Truly a masterpiece of a book.
ariscalidius's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lily_a's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jwis927's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
readbyjennifer's review against another edition
4.0
this book is a master class in suspense and building tension. you can’t help but fill with dread at the slow-paced buildup. i loved the first 2/3 of the book, where the horror was more psychological, as we delved into jack’s psyche and his and the whole family’s trauma, allowing us to question the characters’ sanity. the ending kind of fizzled out for me, delving into too much of the supernatural, and ending with a predictable finale.
while i’ve read a number of king’s works before, i’m re-reading his novels in order of publication. this is the best so far - very interesting and gratifying to see the improvement in his writing and storytelling.
while i’ve read a number of king’s works before, i’m re-reading his novels in order of publication. this is the best so far - very interesting and gratifying to see the improvement in his writing and storytelling.
subpolka's review against another edition
It’s been a few decades since I read this book. I remember enjoying it in middle school** and since October has me feeling all Autumnal and spooky-like, the timing seemed right for a re-read.
(** This sounds like shade, but I swear it’s not. I was a moody, bookwormish type of adolescent and read a lot of King in those days. No blanket statements about his demographic intended.)
Anyway: I got about thirty-odd pages into this one, about midway through Watson’s monologue about the woman who overdosed in the hotel and her young lover, and remembered why I don’t read King anymore. I dig the hell out of his plots, but, man oh man, the writing style just GRATES.
And so, alas, this one is being set aside. Best of luck in that hotel, Torrence family; I hope everything works out well for you.
(** This sounds like shade, but I swear it’s not. I was a moody, bookwormish type of adolescent and read a lot of King in those days. No blanket statements about his demographic intended.)
Anyway: I got about thirty-odd pages into this one, about midway through Watson’s monologue about the woman who overdosed in the hotel and her young lover, and remembered why I don’t read King anymore. I dig the hell out of his plots, but, man oh man, the writing style just GRATES.
And so, alas, this one is being set aside. Best of luck in that hotel, Torrence family; I hope everything works out well for you.