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ammme's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Addiction, Gore, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Ableism, and Misogyny
michaelatrelby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Car accident, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Ableism, Alcohol, and Fatphobia
phvntom's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Confinement, Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Misogyny, Body horror, Child abuse, Racial slurs, Ableism, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
chaptersbydani's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Word on the street is that every one of Stephen King’s books have been banned/or challenged at some point since their publication. The Shining was challenged for “containing violence and demonic possession and [ridiculing] the Christian religion” in Wyoming and Alabama.
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I’m honestly shocked that I liked this as much as I did. This book broke my reading slump and kept me up all night. This is my first Stephen King book and I totally understand why he is the icon he is.
The way he writes is just mind blowing. It’s so simple. You never feel like it’s over your head and you always feel so close to figuring everything out. But you just never quite do until he reveals it. And despite the fact that basically every character is the most awful person I’ve ever encountered (Jack being the worst), I was sucked in immediately.
And the way the text was formatted??? Cherry on top. It added so much suspense and really illustrated the flirtation/ descent into madness.
There definitely was violence and demonic possession. I didn’t see the ridicule of Christianity (and wouldn’t have cared if it was there tbh.) My only issue is that I didn’t love King’s use of racial slurs. It made sense when the hotel used them and I could halfway accept that. Capitalism is an incredibly racist system and is violent- emotionally and physically- to Black folks (understatement). It makes sense that the Hotel, the symbol of capitalism here, was verbally violent to our main Black character. The other uses just felt out of line considering the author is white.
I wish that our main Black character, Dick, had more purpose in the book than guiding Danny and saving him and Wendy. It felt like he was just a tool for Danny’s development than anything. He’s a cool character and deserved a little bit more.
I will say, this is a book that I was pleasantly surprised lives up to its hype. I’m excited to watch the movie and see how it matches up. Also apparently there’s a sequel? I’m thinking of checking that out too.
Graphic: Classism, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Torture, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Ableism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Racism, Alcohol, Suicide attempt, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Grief, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual content, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
melsage1823's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Before I get to what I liked it pains me to talk about my dislikes. If you are Black, Lgtbq+ or Disabled do not read this book as a mixed Raced Lgtbq+ Disabled person I couldn't be more ashamed with Mr King. There were so many unnecessary times where the N word was used, ableism was used to show how hot headed Jack is and there was the F slur in a couple of times. This is suppose to be a horror novel not a alienate your margalized. I get he wrote it at a time where it was acceptable to write those things but he should have at least released it for modern times. Swearing fine but any time a slur was spat out it took me out of the story which I'm afraid is why I have to knock a star off.
Other than that it's a brilliant novel and wasn't what I expected at all. The build up to Jack losing his mind is absolutely fantastic, you completely end up feeling sympathy for Wendy and Danny and Jack himself. It suburts the humanising an abuser trope and makes Jack a complex character with lots of depth. The pov chapter format was absolutely amazing as through having every chapter be from one characters perspective it allowed for great character development and build up which made the powerful ending even more emotional than it already was. Without going into depth spoilers this novel levels you uneasy, horrified, relived and hopefully all at the same time. The way King writes his horror allows for a clear description and picture of what's going on. I thought the lady in the Bath tub was creepy on film but reading this book proved me wrong. After reading this incredible novel I absolutely want to read Doctor Sleep. Definitely recommend if you want to read something spooky during October.
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Ableism, Child abuse, and Addiction
zombiezami's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Cursing, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Body horror, Alcoholism, Confinement, Blood, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Ableism, Murder, Death, Violence, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Addiction
Moderate: Car accident, Racial slurs, Racism, Vomit, Suicide, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Slavery, Genocide, Child death, and War
caitlink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Homophobia, Ableism, and Sexism
msradiosilence's review against another edition
- 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
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/the-shining/.
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
awkwardreader13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
All in all, I liked this. It's a good, well-written, well-paced horror story. Now, there were a few things that bothered me, and tainted the experience for me a little bit.
There was a misinformed, stupid and harmful throw-away comment about autism. Indigenous people were described as savages more than once. And then there's the constant use of the n-word. I'm not saying these things don't belong in literature at all, but these things should (in my opinion) at least be challenged by other characters, which they weren't. The n-word was, in all fairness, only (if I remember correctly) used by people that are "evil" or that we are supposed to dislike. Also, by a black man while talking about himself. Then there is also the whole "black spiritual person helping the white people" trope, but that's a different discussion..... Back to my first two issues with the story. The comment about autism and the ones about indigenous people. First of all, these stances were not challenged in any way. Second of all, they were thought or said by the two people in this story that we are supposed to root for? I don't have much more to say than that.
Graphic: Racism, Murder, Blood, Ableism, and Gore
rosesofthespring's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Violence, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Ableism, Child death, Drug abuse, and Classism
Minor: Body shaming, Gun violence, Sexual content, Vomit, and Homophobia
As usual, Stephen King is very weird about stuttering, so watch out for that. No one (as far as I can tell) is actually psychotic, but the content heavily revolves around hallucinations and questioning reality.