Book Review-The Shining

[Emily Spencer]

Title of the book: The Shining
Authors: Stephen King
Series: Yes (The sequel is entitled Dr. Sleep)
Genres: Horror/Fiction/Thriller

*Disclaimer: This book is a horror novel, and contains graphic imagery that may not be suitable for younger readers.

Short summary of the story: The book revolves around the troubled Torrance family and the horrors that awaited them at the Overlook Hotel, a remote hotel in the mountains looking to reclaim its former glory. The Overlook had welcomed many famous (and infamous) people during her heyday. The problem was, not all of them were ready to leave. And even worse, they were not always pleasant about dealing with anyone who crossed their path.

It all begins when Jack takes a job as the winter caretaker for the Overlook. Jack Torrance is a troubled man-a recovering alcoholic in a troubled marriage, with a young son who can most kindly be described as 'different'. After his alcoholism led to his firing from his previous post as a teacher, Jack was desperate to mend his family and show his wife, Wendy, how much he had changed. The Overlook position was supposed to be a new start for them all.

It wasn't long, however, until the hotel and its otherworldly inhabitants took matters into their own hands. They wanted Jack to join them.forever. And they didn't particularly care who got hurt in the process. Overwhelmed by the pressure from both the job and the hotel's growing influence, Jack soon succumbs to drinking again, and his personality changes for the worst. Wendy and Danny are practically held hostage, trapped with Jack and the vengeful Overlook spirits. Horror upon horror are visited upon them, and being snowbound, they have little chance of escaping.

My take: While there are many horror elements (such as the lady in Room 317), I found the story more tragic than frightening. To me, it was less of a horror novel, and more of a family drama. The Overlook provided a very lush and provocative backdrop, but the real story was Jack's descent into madness and the effect it had on his family. We see Wendy going from a confident, outspoken woman to someone who is scared of her own shadow and withdrawn. Danny struggles with his gift of telepathy, and for a long time, only Danny is truly aware of the underlying horror beneath the hotel's rich packaging. The ability 'the shining' provides the basis for much of the action. In my opinion, the book is as much Danny's story as it is Jack's.

A word of caution: If you've never read the book, but saw the Kubrick movie, don't expect them to be the same. Many of the iconic film moments, including the infamous 'Grady twins' scenes never appear in the book. The outcome of some characters is also different, as is their overall characterization. Basically, the film borrowed heavily on the book, but did not feel the need to follow it exactly. Incidentally, Stephen King hated the movie.

Good and Bad Points: It's a King story-so, for me, that is a definite plus. As indicative of King's writing, the rich imagery allows the reader to immerse themselves in the moment. So good are the characterizations that you find yourself reluctantly cheering for the antagonists (namely Jack), who is presented as not only the villain, but as the victim as well. And to see Wendy's downfall is simply heart-wrenching. The book will definitely get you in the fees. And for true horror fans, there are definitely enough creepy moments to satisfy.

The only bad point is King's tendency to over-explain and delve off into side plots that have little to no value to the plot. Following the winding word path can get quite tricky, and there were times I had to go back and reread certain sections just to remember what the point of that particular scene was supposed to be. That said, I would still highly recommend the book. It's truly one of King's finest, and coming from a die-hard King fan, that's saying quite a bit.