The Shining - Book Review
The Shining ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror
Author: Stephen King
Published in: January 1977
Buy at: Amazon
“Sometimes human places, create inhuman monsters.” ― Stephen King, The Shining
Review
'The Shining' is my third book by Stephen King as I am reading his books in chronological order. It is unbelievably scary and I loved every bit of it.
The Shining is about Jack, Wendy and their 5-year-old son, Danny. Jack is struggling with issues of anger and alcoholism. It gets extreme when he breaks his son's arm in a fit of rage. As much as he is determined to control his anger, his craving for alcohol always hinders his determination. Danny, on the other hand, is blessed with "The Shining", a power to see things before they happen and to read people's minds. Jack is fired at his current job and is now offered a new job of an off-season caretaker at 'The Overlook Hotel'.
I used to wonder why Stephen King's books are huge. Since I started reading them, I understand that he lays the groundwork so brilliantly that the objects in his books are also unusual characters that you can't afford to miss. The Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. The hedges, elevators, dead wasps, and mallet - all play a crucial role in building the spooky and the quarantined atmosphere. I have never been afraid of just thinking about being quarantined in snowfall.
Stephen King always entwines a serious issue along with the scary element of the story. The Shining reflects the issue of alcoholism and its after-effects. It is said to be based on Stephen King's own experience of alcoholism when he was 30. The author points out the horror and the psychological distress the family suffers due to an alcoholic person in the family.
The characterization is as always brilliant. The background of the characters and how they enter into each other's lives and their relationships with each other is also masterly laid.
I have never read a Stephen King book so fast because I was so curious to know what happens next. It caused my hair on my arms raise with sheer horror but I did expect all the creepiness coming from a Stephen King's book.
I'd recommend this book to everyone who is a Stephen King fan or not, have watched the movie or not, like horror books or not, it is about writing and characterization!
The Shining is about Jack, Wendy and their 5-year-old son, Danny. Jack is struggling with issues of anger and alcoholism. It gets extreme when he breaks his son's arm in a fit of rage. As much as he is determined to control his anger, his craving for alcohol always hinders his determination. Danny, on the other hand, is blessed with "The Shining", a power to see things before they happen and to read people's minds. Jack is fired at his current job and is now offered a new job of an off-season caretaker at 'The Overlook Hotel'.
I used to wonder why Stephen King's books are huge. Since I started reading them, I understand that he lays the groundwork so brilliantly that the objects in his books are also unusual characters that you can't afford to miss. The Overlook Hotel is a character in itself. The hedges, elevators, dead wasps, and mallet - all play a crucial role in building the spooky and the quarantined atmosphere. I have never been afraid of just thinking about being quarantined in snowfall.
Stephen King always entwines a serious issue along with the scary element of the story. The Shining reflects the issue of alcoholism and its after-effects. It is said to be based on Stephen King's own experience of alcoholism when he was 30. The author points out the horror and the psychological distress the family suffers due to an alcoholic person in the family.
The characterization is as always brilliant. The background of the characters and how they enter into each other's lives and their relationships with each other is also masterly laid.
I have never read a Stephen King book so fast because I was so curious to know what happens next. It caused my hair on my arms raise with sheer horror but I did expect all the creepiness coming from a Stephen King's book.
I'd recommend this book to everyone who is a Stephen King fan or not, have watched the movie or not, like horror books or not, it is about writing and characterization!
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