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cirriform's review against another edition
5.0
"Terrible things happen in the world, and they're things no one can explain." I wish I had read this sooner! I've seen the movie at least a dozen times, but there is so much more to the story. The Overlook Hotel is a much more fascinating character than Kubrick's version would have you believe.
mainereading's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved 'The Shining'. It was such a fantastic story. This book had me hooked. There were some parts in the story that were so damn creepy(like the topiary animals)! 'The Shining' is a great book to read in October. The bond Danny shares with Dick is just so heartwarming! And was one of my favorite things about this book. I do have to say the beginning is a bit slow, but it picks up pace when the Torrance family reaches the hotel. Also, I watched the movie by the same name for the first time this year. I thought I should because I had finished the book and the movie is so popular. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I thought it was okay. It didn't do anything for me and I was quite disappointed. The book is way better than the movie!
zackpendragon's review against another edition
5.0
“That’s your job in this hard world, to keep your love alive and see that you get on, no matter what. Pull your act together and just go on.”
omarmazin's review against another edition
4.0
I really don't know how to describe this book but I'll try. The shining isn't like any book I've read. It characters felt real like normal people you see in your life but, the book has this supernatural element to it which also felt real it makes you think if ghosts and evil spirits exist this how they'll act ,they mess you up mentally not like those stupid "jump scares" you see in movies ,and you see their effect in the characters even in scenes where no spirits were shown or mentioned they twisted their mind little by little pulling the strings from behind the scene then, the end comes. And when you finish the book it doesn't leave you wishing for more (not that it's bad ending or just short story) it's just you really feel like you lived those 9 months with jack,Wendy and little danny. You feel if you lived through a tragedy like those three you'll relieved that this horrible part of your life ended, and that's the beauty of the shining it's a novel you read it you enjoy and at the same time you tell yourself "I'm happy for them they can finally move on".
Thank you Stephen king for this amazing story that will stick in my head for a very long time.
Thank you Stephen king for this amazing story that will stick in my head for a very long time.
rgonzal7's review against another edition
dark
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
charleslim's review against another edition
5.0
I loved how this book steadily put me on the edge of my seat as Jack Torrance’s psychological state slowly deteriorated. The glimpses of the characters' inner voices added to the creepiness of the story. King did what he does best: he made the readers care about these characters—at least, I did. And the ending? Explosive, literally. What a masterpiece!
jloganr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
hellococo927'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
While I acknowledge The Shining's reputation as a horror classic, the experience fell flat for me. The plot itself is decent, with the potential for a chilling family-in-peril scenario. However, the excessive exposition throughout the book bogged down the pacing significantly. I found myself frequently distracted and struggling to maintain momentum.
Going in fresh, without prior knowledge of the story, I believe the slow build could have been more effective. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of detail and background information often overshadowed the actual suspense, making it a slog to get through. While I can appreciate the attempt at character development, it often felt unnecessary and detracted from the central narrative.
Overall, while the core story holds promise, the overwhelming amount of exposition ultimately hindered my enjoyment of this classic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Violence