The Shining is one of those books you simply have to read if you enjoy classic horrors. I really wish I’d read the book before I watched the movie, because it was hard to separate myself from it. Some of the most iconic scenes from The Shining do, after all, not even appear in the book. And Wendy…wow. Totally different person in the King version compared to the Kubrick version.
The book follows the Torrance family—Jack, Wendy and Danny—as they spend the winter taking care of the notorious Overlook Hotel. The catch is that when the blizzards bring the heavy snow, the hotel is cut off from the world, only reachable via radio and snowmobile. Danny, Jack and Wendy’s young son, has an ability to ‘shine’: a psychic skill that shows Danny visions of the future. The longer the family stay in the hotel, the clearer it becomes that the hotel has a life of its own and Danny’s visions become more and more disturbing.
Here are my thoughts:
The Shining was a great book. While it certainly wasn’t the gore and in your face horror we are exposed to today, there were parts of the book—the human horrors—that forced me to have to take a break from reading every other page because I was genuinely disturbed. King wanted to scare me, and he did a great job of it.
This is especially prominent during scenes from Jack’s point of view. His constant battle against himself—the alcoholism, his temper and conflicting feelings towards Wendy and Danny. He has such wonderful inner conflict, constantly telling himself that he has it all under control when we as the reader can clearly tell that’s not the case (pretty much from page 1!).
King is the master of great characters. Each voice felt distinct, with each character having their own well developed inner world. I especially liked Wendy. She was very endearing and sweet, and it was easy to empathise with her struggle. She seemed to really want the best for her family and, while clearly having some negative feelings towards the family’s stay at the Overlook, she tried her best to make the most of it.
The story settings were great too. I loved the descriptions of the hotel, especially in the first few chapters on the hotel’s closing day. The vibe was grandiose and bustling, full of life and colour.
And when it comes to settings, beware the hedge animal scenes. Those were really creepy…not the animals themselves, but that slow, stalking feeling that King creates through pace and description. Just amazing! Never thought a haunted plant could creep me out, but here we are…
The plot was also enjoyable. It kept me on my toes even though we are told from the beginning how we can expect the book to end. I would have preferred a little less foreshadowing—it’s not great to literally be told how the book is going to end, regardless of whether this helps to build tension.
Overall, a 4-star read for me. If you enjoyed this book, also check out The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson—yes, there’s a book! King pulled a lot of inspiration from Jackson’s creepy tale, which really is the OG haunted house story.
Maan Atelier 