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dev0225's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Phenomenal! Maybe King’s best work. SO much better than the movie. The psychological depth of the characters, especially Jack as he spirals and lets evil take hold of the worst parts of him, is so well done! Intense and unnerving but not without hope and important glimmers of goodness all said and done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
marimaria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would recommend reading this book if you're a fan of the film. They're very different from each other, so reading this was like a whole different experience to watching the film. I like how fleshed out the characters were, and the scenes were very descriptive. There was definitely a lot of detailed descriptions of violent occurrences in story. And the atmosphere was just so creepy. I think King was able to capture that really well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Blood
esgrace04's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.5
terrifying and devastating. suddenly i understand why stephen king hated kubrick’s adaptation (lol). but truly, king is such a master at writing nuanced characters and stories. each perspective is so rich and clear, every voice having its own distinct style without taking you out of the story.
seeing jack’s perspective go from his own mind to the hotel’s mind is as devastating as it is horrifying. i truly grew to love that troubled man i’m genuinely so sad that he didn’t make it
left me with not just a pit in my stomach (which it did), but a glimmer of hope for the characters i grew to care so much about.
long story short, worth the read and DEFINITELY as good as everyone says, if not better!!
left me with not just a pit in my stomach (which it did), but a glimmer of hope for the characters i grew to care so much about.
long story short, worth the read and DEFINITELY as good as everyone says, if not better!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, and Murder
martestbr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
jkpheart21's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Murder
greytai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism
hurrikane's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I love how King describe all the process of Jack going crazy and that this book is not only about murdering, killing, dyong etc. but what is more important about inner state of characters and I love it because I don't find it in many horrors.I would like to know what happen to Dick's jaw after all
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Car accident, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Car accident
witchnova's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
curlykristenk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It was a bit slow moving at first but every chapter left me intrigued at the same time. It was really interesting the way King describes Jack’s perspective in his decent into madness and convincing himself what he was doing was right and Danny’s perspective being a 5 year old (although at times it definitely didn’t read like a 5 year old). Also has a bit of casual racism (it’s an older book but still a bit jarring) apart from that I really liked it! It made me very creeped out, had my heart racing and I think it was written really well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Racism and Fire/Fire injury
maithewriter's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I dove into this book knowing that I'll get scared out of my wits, but I never thought it will also leave me sad and introspective. What a tragic family story. I felt so much for the main character (antagonist more than a protagonist, really), Jack Torrance, who's a loving dad-slash-violent alcoholic trying his damndest to be better (but failing to do so), so ultimately he gets "eaten up" in the end.
Sure, there were scary parts (like room 217 and the hedge animals and the elevator), but what really struck me the most was the internal struggle of Jack as he descended into madness and lost his humanity bit by bit. Stephen King is a master of character-driven storytelling and it shows here. All the characters are compelling -- Jack as a troubled provider, Wendy as a mom who'd put Danny's welfare above all, and Danny as the gifted "shining" kid. Even side character Dick Hallorann had a bit of backstory in him. And of course, the hotel, used not just as a setting but a sinister character.
I also loved the recurring themes and images and references (wasp's nest, EAP's mask of red death), plus there isn't a shortage of literary devices (foreshadowing of the boiler and redrum, lots of repetition, for instance), so you just know this book was written with a lot of thought and carefully placed symbolisms.
I'd love to reread this book in the future, maybe once I get ahold of its sequel (Doctor Sleep). But so far this is my favorite King novel (not that I've read a lot, probably just 2 before this lol), and would probably be up there as one of my all-time faves for a long time.
Sure, there were scary parts (like room 217 and the hedge animals and the elevator), but what really struck me the most was the internal struggle of Jack as he descended into madness and lost his humanity bit by bit. Stephen King is a master of character-driven storytelling and it shows here. All the characters are compelling -- Jack as a troubled provider, Wendy as a mom who'd put Danny's welfare above all, and Danny as the gifted "shining" kid. Even side character Dick Hallorann had a bit of backstory in him. And of course, the hotel, used not just as a setting but a sinister character.
I also loved the recurring themes and images and references (wasp's nest, EAP's mask of red death), plus there isn't a shortage of literary devices (foreshadowing of the boiler and redrum, lots of repetition, for instance), so you just know this book was written with a lot of thought and carefully placed symbolisms.
I'd love to reread this book in the future, maybe once I get ahold of its sequel (Doctor Sleep). But so far this is my favorite King novel (not that I've read a lot, probably just 2 before this lol), and would probably be up there as one of my all-time faves for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Murder