The Shining (The Shining, #1) in Bookworm Buddies

Aug 15, 2012 Janie Johnson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I picked this book up for a buddy read with some friends and I have to say this book truly is amazing. I am just sorry it took me this long to get to it. I felt as though I was totally immersed in this and actually became a part of the story. I could not help myself from turning the pages, and quickly I might add.

In this story we have Jack who took a job of looking after the resort hotel, The Overlook. SO he, his wife, and his son Danny pack up to stay at the Overlook Hotel during the winter sea ...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Chris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

Finally I'm finished. It took me longer than I expected but I have this feeling of pride finishing this book. Now by no means does this mean I didn't like the book. This was a great book but not exactly what I expected.

Most of King's work that I have read is new to me and I have no knowledge going in so I can form my own versions of the characters and events. This however, was made into a movie and a mini series, both I have seen years before I got around to reading this. Both were also pretty Finally I'm finished. It took me longer than I expected but I have this feeling of pride finishing this book. Now by no means does this mean I didn't like the book. This was a great book but not exactly what I expected.

Most of King's work that I have read is new to me and I have no knowledge going in so I can form my own versions of the characters and events. This however, was made into a movie and a mini series, both I have seen years before I got around to reading this. Both were also pretty scary when I was a kid and I was really looking forward to being scared out of my mind reading this. Sadly this wasn't the case at all through this whole book. Other books by King such as It, and 'Salem's Lot sent me checking windows at night and made me scared to walk across my house in the middle of the night. The shinning didn't and even though I loved the story, since my expectations were so high, I am sticking to my four star rating. Had it lived up to my expectations and scared the pants off of me, this would have easily been a favorite.

Ok, enough of the pet peeve. The reason I liked this book is because the story is so well written and the characters are so interesting. Some of King's lengthier books that have a lot of back story and character development such as The Tommyknockers, have left me bored to tears and wishing something would just happen already. Not the case with the Shining. The characters are so well done I wanted to know every little insignificant detail about them. There was a lot of build up before they even got to the Overlook hotel and were it might have been slow at times, I still found it interesting. Each character had me feeling for them in different situations. Knowing in advance what type of person Jack is, I still felt sorry for him and wished something would change and make the ending I already knew wrong. I wished I could pop into the story and rescue Danny and his mom during some of the more intense parts.

I think I have gone on long enough. The short version is I really liked this book. If you are looking for a great story, with amazing characters this is defiantly for you. For those that are not as desensitized to the Macabre as I am, you might find this really scary and I hope you enjoy it. However, if you are like me and have read a lot of King's work and stuff just doesn't scare you as much as it used to, this is still very much worth the read. ...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Damali rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, audiobook, psychological-thriller

Jack loses his mind after moving with his wife and son, Danny, to a remote hotel over the winter.

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Jan 22, 2024 Michelle Bacon rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books-you-must-read-before-you, king-stephen

I'm reading the back cover of this particular version of this book and I am questioning if these critics even read the book. Cosmopolitan says: "Guaranteed to frighten you into fits...freezing terror...with a climax that is literally explosive".
I'm thinking maybe I read the wrong book because that fright guarantee failed. Do I get my time back from reading this? My money back for the book?
Not as scary as what the critics make it out to be. Of all the King books I've read, Pet Semetery is indee ...more

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Apr 17, 2011 J.S. Bailey rated it it was amazing

I FINALLY finished rereading The Shining! Darn writing projects keep getting in the way of my reading. ;)

And since this review doesn't really have to do with The Shining itself, does that mean it violates Goodreads's new review policies? We shall see. ...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Raye of the Dead rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own

It was so good. It’s not one of my favorites by King, but I still really really liked it. There wasn’t anything I disliked about it so it probably deserves five stars. However, I didn’t love it for some crazy reason. So I’m giving it four stars.

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Jun 16, 2011 Lauren Kennedy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, series, horror, adult-fiction, read-in-2013, stephen-king

The best book I have ever read, I think. Everything about it was perfect. Wow. I'll be hopefully watching the movie adaption with Jack Nicholson soon. ...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Anne rated it liked it · review of another edition

Upon a second reading (to prep myself for Dr. Sleep), this remains a 3-star read for me. It just doesn't pull me into it as I wish it would. I do think Dick Hallorann is one of the most interesting characters Stephen King has created, and I highly enjoyed his chapters. ...more

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