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A review by mansikwatra
The Shining by Stephen King
4.0
A couple of years ago, I watched the great Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining". It was supposed to be a masterpiece but despite Jack Nicholson's remarkable acting, I did not like the movie. I had never read any Stephen King book and it further deterred me. However, luckily, I picked up "On Writing", King's gospel for aspiring writers and I fell in love with the easy way his words flew off the pages.
I immediately started reading "The Shining" once I finished " On Writing". And I thank the book heavens that this happened.
I know readers are always more partial towards books than their cinematic adaptations, but in this case, it holds absolutely true.
So, the story starts with Jack Torrance, who heads up to the Overlook Hotel in Colorado mountains, with his wife Wendy and five-year-old son Danny, to act as the caretaker during the off season. Danny has psychic capability to see the future and once they start living in the hotel, he starts getting horrible premonitions and sees ghosts everywhere. The hotel has a gruesome history that starts affecting this family's life, with no escape as they get snowed in.
As compared to the movie, the Overlook hotel was more sinister; Jack, Wendy and Danny developed beautifully as the story progressed; the climax was edgy and I actually cared about the story. The book definitely gives the reader a wholesome story, building up on the flaws and desires of these characters, who seemed well-rounded than their movie counterparts.
Stephen King said that he never intended Jack Torrance's character to be the usual boogeyman and it shows in the book.
This was my first proper horror novel and I'm glad I started here. I'll pick more of King's books in years to come.
I immediately started reading "The Shining" once I finished " On Writing". And I thank the book heavens that this happened.
I know readers are always more partial towards books than their cinematic adaptations, but in this case, it holds absolutely true.
So, the story starts with Jack Torrance, who heads up to the Overlook Hotel in Colorado mountains, with his wife Wendy and five-year-old son Danny, to act as the caretaker during the off season. Danny has psychic capability to see the future and once they start living in the hotel, he starts getting horrible premonitions and sees ghosts everywhere. The hotel has a gruesome history that starts affecting this family's life, with no escape as they get snowed in.
As compared to the movie, the Overlook hotel was more sinister; Jack, Wendy and Danny developed beautifully as the story progressed; the climax was edgy and I actually cared about the story. The book definitely gives the reader a wholesome story, building up on the flaws and desires of these characters, who seemed well-rounded than their movie counterparts.
Stephen King said that he never intended Jack Torrance's character to be the usual boogeyman and it shows in the book.
This was my first proper horror novel and I'm glad I started here. I'll pick more of King's books in years to come.