Discussion for the Shining

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Start discussion here for The Shining by Stephen King.

[Alison]

My library has a long wait list for this one so I won't be able to join in for a while but I'm looking forward to the discussion.

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

If you have a Kindle, or a Kindle app on one of your devices, it is currently $3.99.

[Amy]

Not quite finished but am hurrying to get through before my husband goes out of town!!! What a creepy book, I`m glad I'm not staying in a hotel anytime soon. I liked reading some of the backstory of the hotels history and occupants.

[Karel]

This book is so creepy, but I just cant put it down. I'm when Jack discover the scrapbook. I love Halloran, hope to read more of him later. I have to sleep now and dont know if I will be able to. :o

[Bogdan]

I have read it in June last year, but if you don't mind, I will participate in the discussion.

I recall I especially liked the characters, more precisely the attention given by the author to build them. It is almost impossible for most readers not to like at least one of the characters from this book. Which was the one you most liked so far?

[Karel]

I finished, of course I wasnt able to put it down, it scared the bejesus out of me.
So, I will forever be stuck with the image of Jack (view spoiler)[ with the croquet (or roquet?)club banging the walls and screming :O (hide spoiler)] I kept bitting my nails. I wont spoiled the end but It was awesme, King doesnt dissapont!

I saw the 1980 movie, and as a horror movie, it is awesome, but as an adaptation... well, I understand why King hated it ho ho. The screenwriters only used like 20% of the book, ergo in the movie the child is really perturbed and Wendy is this stupid woman who only screams and cries. But Jack Nicholson is amazing, that´s for sure. Anyway, if you had The shining movie in your mind, rest assure, cause U still have a lot of surprises coming your way ;D

[Karel]

Bogdan wrote: "Which was the one you most liked so far?"
I loved Halloran, he is adorable and nice =)

[Diane , Armchair Tour Guide]

Karel wrote: "I finished, of course I wasnt able to put it down, it scared the bejesus out of me.
So, I will forever be stuck with the image of Jack [spoilers removed] I kept bitting my nails. I wont spoiled t..."

I hated Wendy's character in the movie adaptation.

[Karel]

Diane wrote: "I hated Wendy's character in the movie adaptation. "

I know exactly what you mean =)

[Sham]

I first decided to read this book because Joey from 'Friends' kept it hidden in his freezer because he was so afraid of it! I had to check it out and it was long but creepy all the same.

[Karel]

Well, then Joey put Little women in the freezer too hehe ;)

[Alison]

I finished it just now. So scary but thrilling. Way way better than the movie. I found the movie dragged in parts and then other parts were supposed to be scary but just weren't for me. I'm glad I read the book. I should know by now the book is always better. ;-)

[Kirsten]

Alan Cheuse reviewed the sequel Doctor Sleep on NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

If you like book reviews, book podcasts, author interviews, please check out my Talking About Books group: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Sham]

And that's why I read Little Women too! Though Rachel did kind of ruin it.

[Gabriella]

I just finished reading it, and it was so incredible! I've never seen the movie, but I imagine if it is anything like the book - that it has to have won many Oscars! Such fun suspense and half the book I was biting my nails in protest. Thank god for Stephan King, right?

[Kai]

I read several Stephen King books when I was in high school, so it was nice revisiting his writing with The Shining (which I hadn't read before). I love the movie, so I was surprised at how different the novel was, but can understand some of the changes (pre-CGI hedge animals - probably wouldn't have been that eerie). I think King often gets disregarded as not a "serious" writer, and although I don't think he's a literary giant, I do believe his books always have interesting things to say. I wonder how much of Jack Torrance was autobiographical, since King also struggled with drug and alcohol dependency. And there are quite a few Oedipal themes running through the book - Jack's jealousy that the hotel wants Danny, the way Danny's shining makes him more of a partner to his mother (as in someone she seeks comfort from/asks for advice, etc.) than a son, etc. Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable and interesting read. Someday I hope to stay in the Stanley Hotel.

[Kirsten]

Kai wrote: "I read several Stephen King books when I was in high school, so it was nice revisiting his writing with The Shining (which I hadn't read before). I love the movie, so I was surprised at how differ..."

I haven't finished yet. But I too spent a lot of time with Stephen King in days gone by. (Ever since my dad insisted I HAD to read The Stand!) For some reason, I never read this one though. I am enjoying re-discovering just why I loved Stephen King.

Sometime around The Tommyknockers I gave up on him. I just couldn't take all the over the top (to me) profanity. No one talks like that.

It wasn't until I read Joyland recently and started The Dark Tower series that I've been rethinking that decision.