Book Review: The Shining by Stephen King

  I chose this book for my 2015 reading challenge as my "book that scares you". I never read this book, so I figured it would fit well into this category...wow, was I right! 

  King managed to scare me several times with this book, as well as deliver characters that I really liked and cared about. When there was something coming around the corner you were sure to know that it was terrifying, and that you better run like hell!

  The story revolves around the Torrance family: Jack, his wife Wendy, and their 5 year old boy, Danny. When Jack (whose alcoholism has ruined almost everything in his life) accepts a job as caretaker of the massive and infamous Overlook Hotel in Colorado, they pick up their lives and move in. The job starts at the end of Fall and ends in Spring. Beforehand Danny is visited by an imaginary friend, named Tony, who shows the boy terrifying visions of things to come at the hotel. Upon arriving Danny meets Dick Hallorann, the Overlook's cook, who tells him that things have been creepy at the hotel. And that he and Danny both have the Shining, an ability to reads people's minds, and communicate non-verbally. He tells the boy if anything bad happens to "yell real loud", and that he will hear him...all the way down Florida (where he spends his off-season).

  As you can imagine this ghost story builds gradually to the point where Danny does call for Dick Hallorann. It's fast-paced and is very good at depicting the struggles of alcoholism and insanity, and what a parent will endure to save the life of their child. It is down-right chilling and will stay with you for a long time after.

  If you have seen the movie by Stanley Kubrick, then you do not know the story of the Shining. The book is infinitely better and creepier than the movie. And the movie took a lot of liberties with the novel, making the story almost completely different from the book.

  I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I was entertained, scared, and met some awesome characters that I did not want to leave. Thankfully I also bought "Doctor Sleep" the new sequel that King has written.  Enjoy this with the lights on!

  

Because there is always time to read,
  Xepherus3

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All written content (c) Copyright 2015 by Thomas Bahr II