From the Bookshelf of Crazy Challenge Connection…

The Shining (The Shining, #1)

Stephen King

Why we're reading this: I was real young when the movie came out and only recently started reading some of his books. I LOVED it.
[close] I was real young when the movie came out and only recently started reading some of his books. I LOVED it.

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Oct 21, 2021 Elle rated it really liked it

4.5 stars.

I get the hype. Sure, I've enjoyed King's writing before, but I've always shied away from The Shining. I blame it on Joey from Friends. And yes, it definitely brings the scare. But I will say that my shock and horror at this book was hurt by the fact that I've read it so far down the road from its heyday. I KNEW TOO MUCH. Dang it. Sucked the air out of it just a tad. Granted, the things I know about the movie (I haven't seen it) do tell me that there are differences between the book an ...more

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Oct 25, 2014 Kari rated it really liked it

Shelves: ghost, horror

Every time I read a book by Stephen King I remember what a compelling writer he is. I love that when I read his works I get the feeling that I'm savoring something from both a master storyteller and a technically accomplished writer. It's not necessarily what you expect when you sit down with a horror novel you picked up simply for the thrill factor. It's refreshing.

In this book we follow Jack Torrance and his family as they spend their winter at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Every time I read a book by Stephen King I remember what a compelling writer he is. I love that when I read his works I get the feeling that I'm savoring something from both a master storyteller and a technically accomplished writer. It's not necessarily what you expect when you sit down with a horror novel you picked up simply for the thrill factor. It's refreshing.

In this book we follow Jack Torrance and his family as they spend their winter at the isolated Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Colorado. Jack is a recovering alcoholic and child of an abusive father who's specter comes back to haunt Jack at regular intervals. His wife Wendy also struggles to break free from the influence of a mother who had profoundly bad influences on her life and current attitudes. Their child, Danny, is an especially perceptive child who has "the shine". With his shine he can perceive the thoughts and emotions of others, as well as being tuned in to the extra perceptions of the world where past and present collide. As the snows come in and the Torrance family is cut off from the outside world, Danny's powers act like a battery that provides all the ghosts and ghouls of the Overlook with the juice they need to terrorize and attempt to overtake each member of the family. The family's struggle against the malevolent of spirits of the Overlook is truly captivating as you watch Jack slowly succumb to a madness that is suffused throughout the hotel, and Danny's despair as he watches everything happen and is powerless to stop it.

I picked this up as a Halloween read and it more than satisfied my want for a scary ghost story. When it comes to horror, I prefer the psychological to gore and slasher horror. This book was everything I could have wanted and more when it came to messing with my head. I had to be careful about how close to bedtime I read each chapter of I would be up thinking about it and not sleeping. Also, I'm from Colorado so reading something set from home was a treat as I could see how well the author actually used the setting, even if the book is almost 40 years old. If you are looking for a good horror read then I would highly suggest this book! ...more

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