chaptersbydani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Word on the street is that every one of Stephen King’s books have been banned/or challenged at some point since their publication. The Shining was challenged for “containing violence and demonic possession and [ridiculing] the Christian religion” in Wyoming and Alabama.
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I’m honestly shocked that I liked this as much as I did. This book broke my reading slump and kept me up all night. This is my first Stephen King book and I totally understand why he is the icon he is.
The way he writes is just mind blowing. It’s so simple. You never feel like it’s over your head and you always feel so close to figuring everything out. But you just never quite do until he reveals it. And despite the fact that basically every character is the most awful person I’ve ever encountered (Jack being the worst), I was sucked in immediately.
And the way the text was formatted??? Cherry on top. It added so much suspense and really illustrated the flirtation/ descent into madness.
There definitely was violence and demonic possession. I didn’t see the ridicule of Christianity (and wouldn’t have cared if it was there tbh.) My only issue is that I didn’t love King’s use of racial slurs. It made sense when the hotel used them and I could halfway accept that. Capitalism is an incredibly racist system and is violent- emotionally and physically- to Black folks (understatement). It makes sense that the Hotel, the symbol of capitalism here, was verbally violent to our main Black character. The other uses just felt out of line considering the author is white.
I wish that our main Black character, Dick, had more purpose in the book than guiding Danny and saving him and Wendy. It felt like he was just a tool for Danny’s development than anything. He’s a cool character and deserved a little bit more.
I will say, this is a book that I was pleasantly surprised lives up to its hype. I’m excited to watch the movie and see how it matches up. Also apparently there’s a sequel? I’m thinking of checking that out too.
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
aerospace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, Torture, and Violence
mo_moana_k's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Antisemitism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Racism, and Vomit
rfquiaios's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I love how deep we go into Jack's head and how the characters are so much more fleshed out and 'real' in the book.
In the middle part, it dragged a bit for me, but the overall payoff was worth it.
The story is iconic and it has some really spooky moments.
Graphic: Murder, Toxic relationship, Torture, Violence, Gore, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Moderate: Racism
a_robin_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
- Library ebook
- October readathon
- Reading my first ever horror reading vlog
This was my first ever horror novel and I loved it. Everything about this was great, from the characters to the writing the the spookyness. It was a right balance between slow pace and fast pace. Just really loved this.
Didn't give it the full 5 stars, because there were minor things that bothered me.
Review previously placed on my blog:
I'm currently reading The shining by Stephen King. I'm reading this for the October readathon.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Racism