Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Shining by Stephen King

152 reviews

maithewriter's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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

5.0

I dove into this book knowing that I'll get scared out of my wits, but I never thought it will also leave me sad and introspective. What a tragic family story. I felt so much for the main character (antagonist more than a protagonist, really), Jack Torrance, who's a loving dad-slash-violent alcoholic trying his damndest to be better (but failing to do so), so ultimately he gets "eaten up" in the end.

Sure, there were scary parts (like room 217 and the hedge animals and the elevator), but what really struck me the most was the internal struggle of Jack as he descended into madness and lost his humanity bit by bit. Stephen King is a master of character-driven storytelling and it shows here. All the characters are compelling -- Jack as a troubled provider, Wendy as a mom who'd put Danny's welfare above all, and Danny as the gifted "shining" kid. Even side character Dick Hallorann had a bit of backstory in him. And of course, the hotel, used not just as a setting but a sinister character.

I also loved the recurring themes and images and references (wasp's nest, EAP's mask of red death), plus there isn't a shortage of literary devices (foreshadowing of the boiler and redrum, lots of repetition, for instance), so you just know this book was written with a lot of thought and carefully placed symbolisms.

I'd love to reread this book in the future, maybe once I get ahold of its sequel (Doctor Sleep). But so far this is my favorite King novel (not that I've read a lot, probably just 2 before this lol), and would probably be up there as one of my all-time faves for a long time.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Murder

stabbytabby89's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

5.0

A scary book, but somehow not as scary as the movie. Tension builds nicely as the book goes on.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

michbrito's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Child abuse

Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, and Murder

Minor: Racial slurs

aeroscrolls's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Murder, Addiction, and Child abuse

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

chloeburton's review against another edition

fast-paced

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

4.5

What possessed him to put furries in this?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Death, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Racial slurs, Murder, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Misogyny and Death of parent

Minor: Racism

shiftycow1313's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Death of parent, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Domestic abuse, Racism, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Murder, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Car accident

xvivyx's review against another edition

dark tense slow-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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Violence, Domestic abuse, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Cursing

ee_comins's review against another edition

adventurous 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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body horror, Violence, Murder, and Addiction

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