A review by onyxem
The Shining by Stephen King

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Well, this is my first Stephen King novel as well as the first book I've read this year (yes, I am much behind on my reading goal..) and it was an unsettling delight! At first, I was quite overwhelmed at the prospect of reading something that is over 600 pages and that being my first read of the year. However, the way that King writes made it easy to keep my pace up, it was always either fast or medium paced. 

I loved the characterization, the use of foreshadowing, and the claustrophobic nature of the book itself. The mystery at hand of what The Overlook was hiding and its past secrets kept me wanting to read more and subsequently had me dreading what was going to take place. It gave me that feeling that I seek after when I consume thriller/horror genres, I felt creeped out and off-put in the best way.

If I had to ask for anything, I really wish I knew more about the history of the Overlook and its inhabitants. What caused them to be so bitter? I want to dive deeper into each character's backstory and the hauntings of this place. 

I do have Doctor Sleep to look forward to, and I'll definitely be reading it in the future after I take a lil' breather/break! A solid 4 stars overall :)
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