A review by hellococo927
The Shining by Stephen King

dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

 While I acknowledge The Shining's reputation as a horror classic, the experience fell flat for me. The plot itself is decent, with the potential for a chilling family-in-peril scenario. However, the excessive exposition throughout the book bogged down the pacing significantly. I found myself frequently distracted and struggling to maintain momentum.

Going in fresh, without prior knowledge of the story, I believe the slow build could have been more effective. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of detail and background information often overshadowed the actual suspense, making it a slog to get through. While I can appreciate the attempt at character development, it often felt unnecessary and detracted from the central narrative.

Overall, while the core story holds promise, the overwhelming amount of exposition ultimately hindered my enjoyment of this classic. 
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