Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Shining by Stephen King

34 reviews

sophiareadswaytoomuch's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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

5.0

This book lives up to the hype. I already knew bits and pieces of the plot, but even knowing most of it ahead of time just added to the tension.

I was genuinely impressed with how many good decisions the characters made, and watching the tragedy continue to unfold despite their best efforts was heart-wrenching. 

The family, including Jack, was impressively emotionally intelligent and honest with each other. Until the very end it still seemed like they might be able to salvage some of the situation. 

I found myself really invested in the characters and their relationships, and I thought Danny was very well written for a child character. 

This has immediately become one of my favourite King novels, and potentially one of my all time favourite horror novels. It’s a classic for a reason. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Alcoholism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

pjsans's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Child abuse, Grief, Alcoholism, Violence, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Racism, Racial slurs, Death, and Physical abuse

alaskan_bull_worm's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense slow-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

My first Stephen King book! What do I think of it? 

I really liked the beginning and middle more than the end. I can’t really explain it, but I wasn’t as sucked in. I feel like I end up rushing near the end of a book just because it’s in sight. 
The disembodied style of the nightmare sequences weren’t as effective as they could have been. I think the looking-into-characters’-minds had the highest quality writing. (I’m not saying King was horrible in other ways. Just that you win some, you lose some.) The huge violent scenes near the end didn’t work as well with me, is what I’m trying to say. I really don’t know why. I guess my previous point was really the “why.”
I loved the parts where we get into Jack’s mind to see his slow degrade into madness (or loss of self-control, or the hotel taking over him, whichever way you see it). It was interesting to see his perception of his father shift later on. He kind of changed the story of why his father did what he did. 
I have mixed feelings about Wendy. Her personality was kind of just “mother and wife,” though she certainly was a round character. I guess it’s just that near the end we see how strong she really is (willfully, mostly) compared to her more empty threats to Jack during their relationship. I mean, Jack did lots of bad things, and she was always upset about him doing that, but she rarely did much about it. I guess I like her? 
So . . . yeah? Altogether it’s a pretty good book that I guess I’d recommend. I am likely to read more King in the future. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Violence, Alcohol, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual content

Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and Grief

msradiosilence's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Tldr; King is blatantly misogynistic and racist in this one, I don’t fucking care if it’s a classic.

Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/the-shining/.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Animal death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit

reed_ing's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Racism, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Alcoholism, Cursing, and Sexism

milohno's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Violence, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, and Mental illness

Minor: Death, Homophobia, Car accident, Death of parent, Grief, Confinement, Fatphobia, Blood, and Cursing

bailee_c's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence

ninah17's review against another edition

dark slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Suicide, Death, Gaslighting, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Blood, Cursing, Murder, and Death of parent

corleone's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence

Minor: Biphobia, Gaslighting, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Forced institutionalization

ciaobella's review

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

4.25

I really enjoyed the ending and overall vibe of the book :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Violence, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, Gore, Grief, and Racial slurs