alylentz 's review for:

The Shining by Stephen King

4.0

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Obviously this is a horror classic that doesn't need my review, but I found the first half of this to be some of Stephen King's best work and the ending to take too long. The exposition at the beginning all feels so natural and perfect, but the unraveling of Jack starts to feel repetitive and lose its power by the end. But it's undeniable that this book changed haunted house stories, and the way family dynamics are explored here, and I would say it's even just worth it to compare to the movie and the ways both mediums differently interpret the same themes. An excellent time.