Book Review: The Shining
By: Stephen King
ISBN: 9780743424424
Page count: 683pgs (** COUNTS AS 2 BOOKS)


Stephen King's notable reputation as the King of horror novel shines throughout this book. In his third novel - The Shining, narrated in 3rd person limited he depicts the story of a dysfunctional family revolving mostly around a five-year old psychic, Danny Torrence. His father, Jack Torrence loses his job as a high school teacher due to alcoholism then later on becomes a caretaker of 'Overlook Hotel' in the middle of nowhere, Colorado. Stephen King creates a unique character within Danny, even at the age of 5 for he is the reason for the execution of the story. Danny has the given power of having the ability to "shine" which allows him to see and commune with spirits that others can't. This is emphasized in the novel when they are placed and mixed with Jack's conflict as an alcoholic and the history of the Overlook Hotel. Throughout the story, King's potent technique in describing the demonic Overlook hotel is slowly portrayed as the process of each character's loss of sanity progresses.

Each of the characters has their own mind twists coming along in their new environment isolated from the usual civilization. In the overlook hotel, Danny's shining ability is becoming stronger as he connects with his imaginary friend Tony who "tells him things", comes to him and shows him in the Overlook where he begins to uncover the past terror burried in the history of the hotel. He meets one of the hotel's chef- Dick Hallorann, who shared the same ability on a lower degree. The hotel chef tells Danny of the hotel's sinister nature and warns him to avoid room 217. Danny's premonitions makes it clear to his parents that he is in danger, as the hotel's personality attempts to demonically take over danny's shining ability by making him more prone to his urgings. As the hotel struggles to take over Danny, it choses to manipulate Jack who is already struggling with his own conflicts. Overall, the story is extremely full of suspense as each character's problems intertwines in to a whirlpool of insanity. The way that each character's loss of sanity affects one another is shown through details of their deterioration until the very last moment of book.

Although this book sounds like the typical haunting house taking over members of family, it is far beyond the usual. The descriptive novel about the possessive hotel, the uncovered terrors and character's delusions are evocative and leaves you in a state of desolation. Stephen King's exhausting attention to the detail to the maximum makes this novel a masterpiece, his ability to create a story within a story through those details serves a purpose to the mind- the special effects bring this story to a universal level of damnation that only Stephen King can force us to naturally imagine.

The book itself is thick with a slow plot filled with concentrated horror. It is a little advanced hence i would suggest it to a young adult or adult who enjoys reading suspenseful thrillers. I believe that this book is known as an american classic ( one of the reasons why i read it) and so it is also strongly suggested to anyone who likes to explore books enable to expand their "cultural" awareness. My last say is this book is a little hardcore on the suspense and horror and might leave you with haunting thoughts so just think twice about it before committing yourself to a 683 pg book like this.