The Shining by Stephen King

Synopsis:

Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

My review:

I’ve had Stephen King’s books on my shelves for years. First I picked up Salem’s Lot and loved it, even though it scared me so I couldn’t sleep for three nights. Misery was next and again loved the book, although I had to stop reading couple of times for all the gory details King is so good at. Rosie Madder was a slight disappointment for me - a little too strange an ending, but still a brilliant book to read.

And now - The Shining. For me it’s gone straight to the top. It’s a brilliant book. It has a fascinating back story for all the characters, their relationships and all the things and mistakes that lead them to such a fabulous finale in the book.

The characters developed throughout the story with some surprising outcomes and not the way I felt they were going. The suspense is typical for King’s work, his very suggestive, psychological way of getting you to the edge of your seat and holding your breath.

This is horror, but intelligent horror. It helps you create your own picture in your head and guess at what’s going to happen and then it takes that idea and twists it around.

I am happy to say that I have not watched the movie before I read the book. Once I finished the book I excitedly put the film on wondering how the special effects needed for the story would have been done in 1980. And I was disappointed and bored. None of the back story filtered into the script and details that really helped characters in the book develop into who there really were, were changed (for example Jack’s meeting with the Hotel Manager Ullman – in the book they clearly can’t stand each other, whereas in the film they are best pals). I felt that the movie was purely based on the scare factor of good old fashioned suspense music and dark things waiting around the corner. Also both Danny and Wendy were made to look quite dumb, which is the opposite of how they are portrayed in the book.

So my advice is that even if you have already seen the film, please read the book. You might have loved the film already, but I can guarantee that the book will blow your mind.

My rating: 5/5