Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Shining

Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

theaterkidnerd's review

dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

My favorite sitcom!

But in all seriousness, I really liked this book. There’s a lot to analyze and think about. Like how Wendy and Jack are both flawed people, but they react differently to criticism and taking accountability; their inability to properly communicate with one another, how their relationship affects Danny. Speaking of Danny, he reminded me a lot of when I was younger and I just felt so awful for him :(
I really wanted to see Wendy kill Jack at the end. It would have healed me, I think.

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froschgefuehle's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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ehamlett's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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lindsaygp_reads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

***This review is going to have spoilers throughout***

Let me start by saying that The Shining is an absolutely incredible novel— I was not a fan of the Kubrick film at all and everything that it was lacking was here in King’s novel. The slow degradation of Jack’s mental state from loving father to crazed murderer feels well-paced and horrifying. By chapter 12 I felt like I had an excellent understanding of each of the characters.

What I have an issue with and why this book gets 4 stars and not 5 is largely because of parts of this book that simply did not age well. Uncle Stephen loves a magical negro trope, the racial slurs (especially frequent toward the end), and the nonchalant and frequent usage of the term “schizo”— just to name a few. I found myself having to remind myself a lot that this book was written in the 70s... One section that particularly floored me was the doctor’s office chapter where the common idea was that children can either grow out of schizophrenia or grow into it, and that it can also cause… autism…… the groan that I groaned….

The yucks aside, I do love how much we learn about Danny and his shine, that Wendy has it too, but that Jack has none— that in all of his fighting and beating and scraping to be special and unique, Jack is the only one in the family that is painfully normal. The moment where we learn about Jack’s sick satisfaction that Wendy’s novel isn’t picked up paints such a gross picture of the man he really is beneath his curated “press perfect smile”.

The insight into who Jack and Wendy are and were before Outlook is so detailed and intimate. I haven’t read a King novel in years; I think I forgot just how good he is at his craft. The reflection on their marriage, on their parenting, on the trauma that they brought into parenthood— and how Wendy tried to break it all off just before their stay at Outlook, is devastating as it is relatable. King’s personal reflection on addiction and the pressure to remain sober is written so well that I feel like I understand the disease better— and I’m literally a child of an alcoholic.

While parts of this book aged like milk, the majority of it really shines (pun intended) and I’m glad I read it. It was so well-written, descriptive, terrifying, and well-paced. I’m looking forward to reading Doctor Sleep in 2025 and hopefully Uncle Stephen will redeem himself of some of the yuckier choices he made in the 70s.

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vetrina's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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

5.0

I really liked this book. It's very slow-paced, but it's properly creepy and atmospheric. I actually kinda love how much of a slow burn this book is. I love the character development of the Torrance family, and I love Hallorann too. The book was well-written for the most part, and the scares were pretty great too!

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getyourghosts's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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kteag's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

This is the first horror book I listened to/read, but I think this part of the genre probably just isn't for me. Glad I read it, as it is always good to try new things, and this book is part of the culture!

The Shining is about a family who care for an old isolated hotel in the winter. Throughout their time there, they all begin to mentally unravel, and because of their history, the husband and wife begin to turn against each other.

I guess my biggest issue was that for most of it, I just didn't really care. I feel like Jack just kind of sucks and for awhile I can't tell if we are supposed to think hes an ass or not. But he sucks. I also thought that sometimes, Danny was not thinking like a 5 year old. He was having extremely complex thoughts and although we are told he is very smart, I just didnt buy it.

I did like how things were building up over time, and how each of them wasn't sure if things were actually happening or if it was in their head. And as the reader,

I also couldn't tell (until of course, jack and danny both see the hedge animals move).

I liked the character digressions, adn at the beginning, as they are explaining everything that Jack has done, I definitely had that feeling of doom knowing that Wendy and Danny would be trapped up there with him. The image of Dick coming up to save them on the snowmobile was also pretty fun.

I didn't realize that Jack died at the end, but I thought that was the right ending.

I thought the last stretch of the book where shit was hitting the fan was very engaging and scary.

Maybe I will try more Steven king one day, but maybe in a slightly different horror subgenre.

also after reading the other reviews, I forgot to add--(and I know its an old book but its still) jarring to hear the N word so many times!

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lunanireads's review against another edition

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this is my first time attempting to read a stephen king novel and one, i don’t feel like his writing is for me, and two, the book dragged on for so long. i found myself bored throughout all of what i read. it also got confusing at some points with the random jumps between past and present, and reality and dream sequences.

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sur_m4xersiz3's review against another edition

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dark hopeful 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

Glad I gave this book a re-read. Mr. King is nuts, his world building is done so well. You can easily imagine all of the scenes. King is also a very good story teller, the development of one of the characters was done so well; great foreshadowing and the characters really pop out of the book. My main critique in most of King’s older books is the use of black characters; the magical n* and the horrible racism they have to endure. It’s very upsetting; not for everyone.

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