Anyway, The Shining
is the story of Jack, Wendy, and Danny Torrance, a young family on the verge of
falling apart. Jack, an alcoholic and an aspiring playwright, had a successful
job at a Vermont prep school before he was fired for violently beating a
student. Jack’s rage lies close to the surface, and his life only slides
further downhill when he decides to live a life of sobriety—now there is
nothing to temper his fury. He takes a winter-long caretaking job at the
Overlook Hotel in the mountains of Colorado, bringing his wife and son with
him.
However, five-year-old Danny has a gift. His parents are
unsettled but not overly concerned about Danny’s uncanny ability to understand
or know certain things without being told; however, Danny’s power is quite
beyond what they realize. They also fail to realize—almost until it’s too
late—that the Overlook has some sinister power of its own, and is intent on
absorbing Danny’s. Finding Danny too difficult to possess, the hotel begins to
work through Jack, gradually overtaking him until the malevolent spirits
finally force him to attempt to kill Wendy and Danny.
Although I love Stephen King, I’m honestly surprised to find
him on the list “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” It was also
something of a surprise to me to find that The Shining was his one book to make the list; but since it was
his first hardcover bestseller and also probably boasts the most successful
movie adaptation of any of his books, I suppose it makes sense. And I did
really like The Shining, which is
part of why I thought the movie was so terrible.
It was very interesting to watch the deterioration of Jack
Torrance, both from outside perspectives and from inside his own mind. It’s
important to note that he doesn’t start out totally crazy—he’s violent, yes,
and an alcoholic, but he strives to be better than that, despite how
terrifically difficult it is for him. He doesn’t want to be the way he is, and
I always found it admirable that he does try to be a better father and husband.
Even though he ends up being a slave to his—and the hotel’s—impulses, he fights
mightily not to bend.
There isn’t a lot I can say other than that it is a really
good horror story. The suspense builds until you feel like you’re as tightly
wound as a coiled spring—and then releases, but not all the way. Eventually,
this tension builds up so completely that there’s no release, and it’s impossible to put down for the
last 30-50 pages. The last time I read it, I read the entire thing in twelve
hours. This turned out to be a bad idea as I started reading it on my return to
college, and finished it that night, but I was alone in my apartment for that
entire night. Suffice it to say that even though I am usually ruthlessly
rational about these kinds of things, I still didn’t turn out all the lights in
the apartment that night.
Even though I still find it a little strange that The
Shining is on “1001 Books You Must Read
Before You Die,” I would still definitely recommend it. It’s a quick, intense
read, and one that I will read again for sure—just not when I’m by myself in my
apartment.
4 stars
This review was originally posted on my personal blog.
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