Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Shining by Stephen King

34 reviews

alex60517's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Child abuse, Addiction, Blood, Body horror, Racism, Toxic relationship, Murder, Violence, Confinement, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, and Death

Minor: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Vomit

mxpringle's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Medical trauma, Car accident, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Cursing, Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Alcohol, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Violence, Confinement, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism

roadesntoades's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Honestly anyone reading the Shining in 2024 knows the plot to some degree. They know that the hotel is possessed, that Danny has a gift, and Jack and Wendy are always doomed to fail. While this wasn’t my favorite King book I do like this over the movie. I like how it is never hidden what the endgame is, nor does it needlessly diverge from the plot for anything. Everything has a purpose, symbolism, or message to it that is really nice. It did feel sometimes like I was just muscling through it and other times it felt a little too slow but overall I liked it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Murder, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Sexual content, Addiction, Child abuse, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, Body horror, Racial slurs, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism

Minor: Torture, Suicide attempt, and Suicide

sfranklinwriting's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• 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

The way King moulds together paranormal, drama, and thriller thematics into this twisted and frankly (overall) sad tale of a mentally and emotionally tortured family is a shining example of just how masterful he is with weaving of the written word. His third person omniscient narration and the way he bleeds together the dialogue with the thoughts of Danny, Wendy, Jack, and everyone and everything around them ushers a sense of complete hysteria from the get-go. Soft at first (yet complete) only to truly spiral as the looming messages Danny’s getting only seem to correlate more with reality and (literally) conjure as they eventually move to being shut up in the Overlook (blizzard of their century comin’ for ‘em). Got to Part II and you could feel the absorption of the story pull you forward. It’s a hunk of text but man it is worth the read. Tells a horrible, awful story that (seems to) turn out right at the end…I plan on reading Doctor Sleep this year, so I’ll see how future adult Tony is doing and try to buckle up for that ride as well (hoping it’s at least HALF as good as this block). 

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”)

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Content Warnings

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

ammme's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-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

3.5

Not necessarily a book I would recommend without a bunch of trigger warnings and disclaimers, but I also get why it was such an influence of horror fiction.

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Content Warnings

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

scip's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Racial slurs, Cursing, Drug abuse, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Murder and Sexual content

Minor: Vomit and Self harm

rtthalia's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

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

jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Truly terrifying,  as the master of horror takes us on a journey of alcoholism,  madness, and violence. Generational abuse meets supernatural evil in ways that will stay with the reader. Danny, his mom Wendy,  and dad Jack had no idea that a seasonal job at a high end hotel could go so wrong. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Violence, Gore, Grief, Gaslighting, Confinement, and Death of parent

mermaidmommy182's review against another edition

Too triggering

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Mental illness, Racism, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, and Forced institutionalization

corruptednatz's review against another edition

dark tense medium-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

3.75

Interesting book and I like the way it ended.  I liked Jacks character and how he struggled with alcoholism and his temper, the mother Wendy, is a submissive woman who only thinks of her child. She strives to be completely different from her own mother who she detests. Danny is an interesting character trying to understand the world around him with his “shining” abilities. Lastly we need to protect Dick Hollorann. He’s the type of friend everyone needs. Just call and he will be there.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Alcoholism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Racial slurs, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Minor: Suicide and Grief

The spontaneous racism at the end was unnecessary. When the haunts of the hotel went after each character Dick got it the worst because he’s black. Then I felt uncomfortable when the parents started to feel on each other with their kid sleeping just inches away. They eventually had sex and the kid acknowledged it when he woke up. Why does a 5 year old know that. Ick