The Shining Book Review

Kai Leo

The Shining, written by the infamous horror king Steven King, is well known in pop culture references and movies. The most famous depiction is a 1980 movie directed by Stanley Kubrick; this movie set a new standard for horror. But what is the book like? Is it as scary as the adaptation? The New York Times expresses the absolute horror of the book in a review, but does it live up to that standard? Well, you get to find out because this fall I have finished the book. The Shining takes place in the Overlook Hotel, where Jack Torrance and his family are moving into for the winter because Jack has just gotten the job of caretaker. The hotel itself, as we learn, has a dark past riddled with crime, shady owners, and unsuspecting murderers. One of the crimes we first learn about was from the criminal mind of the past caretaker, Grady, who murdered his wife and daughter before ending himself. This is a subtle foreshadowing of the dark presence the hotel has over the characters. The main cast consists of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance. Jack Torrance is the character we follow for most of the book, learning about why he lost his job, why his marriage is struggling, and his self-esteem. Jack himself is clearly a narcissist, and we are given hints of his psyche throughout the book, which makes his mind cracking apart even more frightening. We also get to learn about Wendy’s own personal struggles as his wife, a mother, and someone who wants to live. Danny, their 5-year-old son, is one of the most important characters, for he is the reason why the book is called The Shining. Shining is described in the book as a type of foresight, a spiritual connection to places and people. Danny has this ability, and throughout the book, he experiences dreams and a personification of this foresight, Tony, his imaginary friend. Throughout the book, these dreams and Tony are used as plot devices for the past and future of the hotel. In my opinion, The Shining is both a frightening book with well-written characters and foreshadowing, although it has a boring pace until the middle of the book. If you're interested in reading the book, know that it also includes some triggering topics, including domestic violence and racism. So in general, the book was good but had some uncomfortable parts for a reader to experience.