Product Description

Danny is only five years old, but he is a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father becomes caretaker of an old hotel, his visions grow out of control. Cut off by blizzards, the hotel seems to develop an evil force, and who are the mysterious guests in the supposedly empty hotel?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2334 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
‘A writer of excellence...King is one of the most fertile storytellers of the modern novel’ (Sunday Times )

‘One of the great storytellers of our time’ (Guardian )

About the Author
Stephen King has written some 40 books and novellas, including CARRIE, THE STAND and THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (from the collection DIFFERENT SEASONS), BAG OF BONES, ON WRITING and most recently CELL. He wrote several novels under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman, including BLAZE (June 2007). He won America’s prestigious National Book Award. He lives with his wife, novelist Tabitha King, in Maine, USA.

Customer Reviews

Seriously scary
Browsing through "1001 Books you must read before you die" - it was something of a surprise to find The Shining listed, when so much of Stephen King's work is dismissed by critics. But what a revelation the book is, and I'm glad I read it. This really is superior horror material, crafted to keep the pages turning. Over-shadowed by the film (which King himself didn't like) - the novel is a deeper, scarier experience, a fine example of the skill of wonderful storytelling. In a specially written introduction for this edition of The Shining, King reveals this was the book that took him in a different direction - where the characters are all the more scary because their demons are real as well as imagined. Compelling.

Brilliant - I couldn't read fast enough
It all started when I saw the music video 'The Kill' by 30 Seconds To Mars (on You Tube), realised it was based on The Shining and decided I had to have a read of the book itself to see what it was all about. How's that for joined up thinking!

Apparently Stephen King thought up the storyline for The Shining when he went on an impromptu holiday with his wife to a hotel in Colorado. The hotel was closing down for the season and King and his wife were the only two people there. The eerie surroundings and long empty corridors gave King the ideas for his book.

The book is really well written. I love the way a character will say something and then King writes what they are really/subconsicously thinking in italics underneath. It gives you a lot more insight into what's happening. The characters are instantly believable and you can really feel for them - to me that's always the sign of a good book. You get so engrossed in the story, you forget everything else while you're reading. I'd thoroughly recommend this book. Enjoy!

The Shining
Its hard for me to write a review without at some point comparing it to the film so I'll get it out of the way with now. The film only takes the basics of the story and then adds a touch of hollywood clamour inlcuding the famous line "here's Jonny" and removes some darker and harder points to convey on film to make it appeal a larger audience. I was lucky to have read the book before seeing the film and I'm glad because whilst it wouldn't have ruined the story (it is a brillant film, well acted and directed) I was approaching it knowing nothing so increasing the suspense factor. It also meant that when watching the film with friends I could bore them all by constantly mentioning differences between the 2, we dont speak much anymore!

The basic plot is that the Jack Torrance has signed on to be the custodian of the Overlook Hotel in Colorado and takes his family (wife and child) to live there over the winter when it is cut off from civilisation. He is a recovered alcoholic carrying many deamons including breaking his son's (Danny) arm after losing a job. Going there, he believes, will allow him to recover and also to work on the play he has been writing. However Danny has a powerful gift "the Shine" allowing him to see things that he should not be able to including grim visions of the previous caretaker and family. The Overlook craves for this power for itself and through various ways attempts to influence Jack into killing his family so it can take the power for itself.

This was only the second Stephen King book I had read (1st being Desperation also good!) so I was taken a back by how far he works to develop characters and how he will not shy away from ugly scenes and plots that he feels important to a story. I think the most striking thing I felt from reading this is just how terrifying the book is! I was unable to go upstairs on my own for days, going to friends houses if left on my own because I was sure that someone had just stepped out of the bath tub, and paranoid about hedge animals that I swear had just started to move!

It is well worth reading however I would not recommend listening to the same album whilst reading it because it has ruined one of my favorite records because even now track 1 sends my pulse racing as I wonder if anything is coming up behind me! Once you start reading this you won't be able to put it down until the final page. Now to start reading the Stand...