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zellburke'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
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Obviously, the book is going to differ from the movie adaptation. This was no different, and in both, they have their merits and their faults.
In the text, you do get a lot more depth into both Wendy's, Jack's, and Danny's characters. The family dynamic is tense from the start, and you end up lying in wait for the pressure to burst. King does a fair job throughout of building suspense and giving readers things to watch out for/fear.
However, something about King's writing is not for me. I suspected this going in so I acknowledge I am not the most impartial judge. Even though it is a horror story filled with evil and icky characters, the amount of sexist, racist, and homophobic language seems excessive at times, especially coming from a white, male author.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Sexism, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Alcoholism, Murder, Addiction, and Homophobia
sfranklinwriting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Now, not to be petty or misunderstanding of the era in which the movie version was created in, but after finishing (heck, when I was only about 30% done with) the book I had begun to realize that Kubrick did not even tell the HALF of the Torrance’s story. He gave us a round of incredible performances from Shelly DuVall (so effed up the way he got her into character but damn the parallels to Wendy Torrance are uncanny and I so wish they would have kept her hair blonde!), Danny Lloyd, and Jack Nicholson; but The Shining as a piece of cinema seems more like a hashed up re-telling of the full story King so carefully crafted. Something personal to Kubrick and soiled by his need to succumb to the humdrum of Hollywood’s (then) obsession to always have someone produce “the next cult classic.”
In terms of today, I think this could be brought back and told in-full (very visually) through the lens of a limited mini series on one of these dang streaming platforms. Could be a very easy way to solidly connect it to a Doctor Sleep limited series as well. Alas, this would totally require very awesome writers and producers who would want to put in the time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and fingertips into WHOLLY honoring King’s classic tale of a failing family at the wrong place at the WRONG time(s). But for the love of all that is holy, keep out all the N words! (<<< this is my only true pet peeve with Mr. Stevie King, I can’t stand it even if it is “only to make the story authentic”)
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Alcohol, Cursing, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Violence
kups's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Gore, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Addiction, Torture, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Pedophilia and Homophobia
Minor: Suicide attempt
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
bites_of_books'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
2.75
Danny - Poor kid, he really deserved better. I loved his ability to keep hoping against hope that things would turn out okay.
Jack - Alcoholic father trying to quit drinking. I struggled with him because part of me felt bad for him while the other felt like King gave him no way out so what's the point?
Wendy - The mom who isn't used to standing up for herself or her son until the literal worst starts happening. She also didn't have many resources or anything to help her gain confidence so I can see why she had trouble with it.
The racism, homophobia, and misogyny was all used without any kind of nuance and the constant use of the n-word was really unnecessary.
Overall, it's not that scary, at times it's a bit silly (possessed hedges?) and what is scarier is the isolation and the mental states of the characters.
Neither the book or movie is perfect, but together they make for something a bit more interesting.
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Racism, Blood, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, and Physical abuse
rtthalia's review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Racism, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Vomit
tmd1993's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Also, as usual, the book was about 200 pages too long. Full of fluff. Removed some of the tensensss. I like the book better than the movie but I’m not sure I’d recommend it.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Homophobia, Racism, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
physicalsecrets's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cursing, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
bitchesgottaread's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Racial slurs and Homophobia
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