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'It's not your daddy talking, remember. It's the hotel.'
I just finished this book. All I have to say is 'wow.' This book has completely blown my mind. It probably sounds totally ridiculous, but I feel like this book has change my life! Hahahah!!! Seriously though... I felt like I was reading The Neverending Story, like I was a part of the story and the characters were talking to me. I know that's dumb, but no book has ever made me feel that way before. (Or maybe I was just scared out of my wits).
This was my first Stephen King book. I always thought he was probably overrated, but no way. The thing I want to warn everyone about is: you cannot compare the Stanley Kubrick movie to the book. They're two totally different stories in my opinion.
One of the greatest horror stories of all time, in my opinion. A family in seclusion during the entire Colorado winter, living with the ghosts of the behemoth hotel, The Overlook,,,,you know someone is going to go off the deep end. But, is it "cabin fever" or something else? LOVE this book.
**This review is a comparison of the book and the movie (with Nicholson and Duvall). The reason is for ones like me that saw the movie and wasn't sure why they would need to read the book.** I love reading Stephen King though I admit I have a lot more books of his to read. I tend to pass over his books that were turned to movies since I initially know what they are about. Same with this book. My decision to read it was because he came out with Doctor Sleep which is a follow up to The Shining. I was told by a few who read the book and seen the movie that they are not quite the same. So I jumped into this one so I could read Doctor Sleep (all the time thinking it might be a waste of time though). I was wrong! Though I do love Stanley Kubrick's movie, I could also see why King was disappointed with it. There is so much more depth in the book (which there almost always is). But this was to a point you could almost understand the madness that Jack went through (unlike the movie where he pretty much seemed like a jerk from the beginning). The book shows his love for his family and his family's love for him. His son idolizes him to the point it almost makes Wendy jealous. This is not something that is shown in the movie. I believe it is a big factor. It shows how strong these "ghosts" were to tear Jack down like that. There are also differences like Wendy's description is nothing like Shelley Duvall, the relationship between Danny and Dick Halloran is more intense in the book, and the ending was totally different. Even with all of that, I still love the movie but now I can say I love the book as well for the same and different reasons.
This is the firt Stephen King book that I have read. I really enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, exciting, and scary all in one. Now I am ready for the movie..
I am not a huge King fan (I've read a few things) but I've always been curious about this book. Excellent, but disturbing. Just glad I didn't have weird dreams...there were nights I was reading right before bed.
Love, Love, Love this book! I picked it up after our trip to Colorado, and a wedding at the Stanley hotel where King allegedly wrote the novel. I think having been in the hotel and taking a tour intensified the feeling of the book and I was able to picture the places described. I read it then passed it on to everyone in the family that took the tour, and re read it several times! It's a classic, I think some of Kings best work.
Oh my heavens this was scary. I could not read it at night. However, I loved it. Very involved and fascinating. There is a scene where dad is outside and bushes creep up on him. Scared me to death, but I had to keep reading. Great work by Mr. King.
From the back of the book:
What of the penetrating cold terror of an old hotel, a haunted place of seductive evil with a malevolent will of its own - and a five-year-old boy of innocent beauty whose mind mirrors the nightmarish secrets of its past?
Behind every door of the Overlook's 110 empty rooms there is a chamber of horror. Little Danny knows of these things because he has the terrible power - The Shining.
"YOU'RE THE CARETAKER, SIR. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE CARETAKER. I SHOULD KNOW, SIR. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE...."
-- DELBERT GRADY OF THE OVERLOOK HOTEL
THE SHINING
First published in 1977, The Shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of Stephen King. This tale of a troubled man hired to care for a remote mountain resort over the winter, his loyal wife, and their uniquely gifted son slowly but steadily unfolds as secrets from the Overlook Hotel's past are revealed, and the hotel itself attempts to laim the very souls of the Torrence family. Adapted into a cinematic masterpiece of horror by legendary Stanley Kubrick -- featuring an unforgettable performance by a demonic Jack Nicholson --The Shining stands as a cultural icon of modern horror, a searing study of a family torn apart, and a nightmarish glimpse into the dark recesses of human weakness and dementia.
Great book. Even though I had seen the movie, I wanted to keep reading and reading this book. Very scary.
First published in 1977, The Shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of Stephen King. This tale of a troubled man hired to care for a remote mountain resort over the winter, his loyal wife, and their uniquely gifted son slowly but steadily unfolds as secrets from the Overlook Hotel's past are revealed, and the hotel itself attempts to claim the very souls of the Torrance family.
This book gives a much deeper and satisfying understanding of the madness at the Overlook Hotel. Having watched the movie first, I was left with questions. The book had a few slow parts in it but they we're still very informative and fascinating.
This is by far one of the best audio books I've ever been fortunate enough to enjoy. Campbell Scott does not so much read this book, he acts it and he does a brillant job. He goes from character to character so smoothly, it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience!!
The greatest haunting story of all time. If you saw the movie, you will love the book. A different ending and more background on all the characters - I loved it. The reader was pleasant to listen to. A real joy.
Just reread The Shining in anticipation of reading Dr. Sleep. Just as good as I remember. This time, though, I was most creeped out by Jack's compulsion to pop Excedrins and chew them. I could picture him popping those tablets in his mouth, the white gunk collecting in the corner of his lips, the sound of the crunching against his teeth, the grit and bitter taste. Totally creeped me out! Definitely worth the reread.
Well, I enjoyed this book quite a bit - much more than the movie, that's for sure! I mean, this was actually pretty creepy, whereas the movie...well, I guess I like Jack Nicholson too much to be scared of him. Oh, well. I liked this much more than _Cujo_! All in all, it was a good story, with tense pacing and an interesting premise.
The Overlook Hotel claimed the most beautiful physical setting of any resort in the world;but Jack Torrance, the new winter caretaker, with his wife Wendy and their five-year old son Danny, saw much more than its splendor. Jack saw the Overlook as an oppurtunity, a desperate way back from failure and despair;Wendy saw this lonely sanctuary as a frail chance to preserve their family;and Danny?...Danny, who was blessed or cursed with a shining, precognitive gift, saw vivions hideously beyond the comprehension of a small boy. He sensed the evil coiled within the Overlook's 110 empty rooms;an evil that was waiting just for them.
Author: Stephen King
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: 1978-January
Book Type: Paperback
Book Description:
"YOU'RE THE CARETAKER, SIR. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE CARETAKER. I SHOULD KNOW, SIR. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE...."
-- DELBERT GRADY OF THE OVERLOOK HOTEL
THE SHINING
First published in 1977, The Shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of Stephen King. This tale of a troubled man hired to care for a remote mountain resort over the winter, his loyal wife, and their uniquely gifted son slowly but steadily unfolds as secrets from the Overlook Hotel's past are revealed, and the hotel itself attempts to laim the very souls of the Torrence family. Adapted into a cinematic masterpiece of horror by legendaryStanley Kubrick -- featuring an unforgettable performance by a demonic Jack Nicholson --The Shining stands as a cultural icon of modern horror, a searing study of a family torn apart, and a nightmarish glimpse into the dark recesses of human weakness and dementia.
The last time I read this book, Goodreads didn't exist. For that matter, the internet didn't exist (probably). I've seen the travesty that is the Stanley Kubrick film so many times that it really distorted my memory of what happened in the book. If you've only seen the Kubrick film, then you really owe it to yourself to read this book, as that film is so very different from the novel. In case you've been living in a cave or something, this is a horror novel about the Torrance family, Jack, Wendy, and son Danny who take up residence in the Overlook hotel in Colorado for the winter. Jack Torrance gets a job as caretaker of the hotel. Unfortunately, both Jack Torrance and the hotel itself have their own demons and when the two meet, things get very scary. Stephen King has recently written a sequel to The Shining which is titled Doctor Sleep, which is next on my to be read list.
There are many similarities between The Shining and The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and at one point Mr. King even compares the two in the former. This is a good psychological thriller and is not to be missed!
