Review: The Shining by Stephen King

[lemming]

Usually I love the books waaay more than the movies but then there is Jack Nicholson and they don't come better than that!

I hadn't actually considered when I wrote my previous comment that the Joker and Jack are the same actor - nobody does crazy like Jack Nicholson.

[MrsAmyM]

The Shining is one of my favorites. I'll be honest, I've never seen the movie from start to finish, just parts here and there, so I can't compare the two.

[Ropis]

I have always been a fan of The Shining and in all honesty this is probably one of the only horror novels that has stuck with me for years. I recently re-read this novel and to be completely honest I was as horrified by it the second time around. I thought the movie was done well but I definitely appreciate the novel more. The way King was able to draw out my fear in the simplest moments is what got to me the most. I never thought I would be scared of hedge animals, to name one example! I also enjoyed the ending of the book more than the movie. I found it slightly more gruesome and I liked the finality of it. I really did enjoy the movie but I feel like King's work stands on its own. There are just some things that you can do with a novel that can never be done on the big screen.

Yeap, I agree with you, but I really did not enjoy the movie.

[RMcCain]

I loved the book. Big fan of his work.

[ipekbunsal]

I started reading this book but I couldn't finish it :/

[chrystal_vaughan]

I love this book, but I can see where the movie was much scarier because of Jack Nicholson. He's just frightening. But I recently read the follow up book to The Shining, called Doctor Sleep, and I loved it. I thought it was brilliant. Has anyone else read it?

[7Shane6]

Great review. This is in my top 3 Stephen King books. I like that the book focuses more on the hotel itself as malevolent, rather than Jack.

[lisateb]

I love this book! The movie is a classic and it's something I always love watching! However, I find that it really lacks the deeper father and son relationship that is highlighted in the book. I'm really looking forward to reading Doctor Sleep and seeing what happened to Danny after watching his Dad become "a thing," and not even a person anymore.

[blue_soliloquy]

This book scared me so much I had to put it down several times and come back to it...lol. It's the only time I have ever done that!

[rssllue]

The mini-series was much better than the movie.

[crag83]

I always think of Jack.

[rssllue]

I think of the topiaries. Freaky!

[Gravy]

The mini-series was much better than the movie.

So true

[rssllue]

I was so excited when it was coming out, and I was not disappointed at all!

[abbierakes]

I think that the movie cast was chosen very well. The movie is convincing and terrifying but the novel pulls you in! The novel has a much stronger character development with the cook and Danny. You also get to see more of the transition in Jack from being an overworked father pressured to provide for his family to a raving mad man. I loved the bit in the book where Jack was conversing with the "people" at the bar. The movie doesn't give you enough connection of the elements where the book lays them all out and gives some background. King's books are almost too blunt and crude at times for my taste, but real life is blunt and crude sometimes.