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The Shining by Stephen King
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The Shining (1977)

by Stephen King

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Series: Shining (1)

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English (154)  French (2)  Dutch (2)  Danish (2)  Portuguese (Portugal) (1)  All languages (161)
Showing 1-5 of 154 (next | show all)
I had to wait a week after reading this to write my review. Why? I couldn't fit my computer under my bed with me to type it up.

Fricken terrifying. Terrifying! The entire time I spent reading this I felt sick to my stomach with dread. I was jumpy, paranoid, the whole shamboozle. King really gets into your head with this... He takes you right into the character's subconscious, and as they are slowly driven bonkers, you are driven bonkers right along with them.

Is it sad that even though I knew it couldn't possibly end well, that I still hoped maybe it would? Probably not, I'm sure a lot of people felt like that. Is it sad that I like to pretend it ended differently than it did, so I can feel less stressed when I think of it? Probably so. It's not that I didn't like the ending.. I did. It was perfect. It's just... It was stressful, ok? Let me live in denial! I'm happy there!

Er.. Back to the review. I really don't know what else to say! A year ago if you asked me if I would ever read The Shining the answer would have been an emphatic "HELL NO". Too scary. Not interested. But I was talked into reading it, even though I feared it would eat my soul. But as you can see from my five star rating, I don't regret it. My soul may be covered in itty bitty chew marks now, but it was worth it to experience King at his best. ( )
  breakofdawn | Jun 11, 2013 |
I have to admit that Horror is not my genre - I get way too scared - so much that I have never read a Stephen King novel before. But, I admire the author - he is a huge proponent of independent book stores and new authors. I picked this book up because it was Halloween and this book is on the sacred '1001 books to read before you die' list. As I listened to the book, I kept telling myself that it wasn't that scary. And although there are no grizzly slashing gross scenes, I found that I was having problems sleeping and would wake up with strange dreams. This book was definitely haunting me! Good story and interesting conclusion - just make sure you listen with the lights on! ( )
  jmoncton | Jun 3, 2013 |
Creepy and scary, yikes! Great narrator, too! What took me so long to getting around to reading this one! ( )
  dukefan86 | May 29, 2013 |
Paragonare il film di Kubrick al libro di King è inevitabile, eppure le due storie sono molto diverse e non solo a livello di intreccio: il film racconta una storia di pazzia e Jack Torrance sembra molto più "consapevole" di quello che fa. Nel libro Jack è la vittima principale dell'Overlook Hotel, che è il vero protagonista della storia. Inoltre è diversissimo il peso della storia del precedente custode, il signor Grady, nell'economia del romanzo: uno dei punti focali nel film passa molto più in sordina, perdendosi nella miriade di storie fosche del grande edificio.Molte scene memorabili da una parte non si ritrovano nell'altra e anche la fine è piuttosto diversa. Personalmente preferisco, anche se di poco, il libro, se non altro perché consegna al lettore tutte le risposte di cui ha bisogno per capire a fondo la storia... nel film molti elementi rimangono oscuri: chi è Tony in realtà? Chi sono il tipo vestito da cane e l'altro che Wendy vede quando è braccata? Cosa vuol dire la fotografia nell'inquadratura finale e perché c'è anche Jack dentro? Leggendo il romanzo si comprende tutto e la cosa dà una certa soddisfazione. Il film però ha delle scene indimenticabili e l'interpretazione magistrale di Nicholson e della Duvall. Per questi motivi consiglio comunque entrambi, se possibile prima il film e poi il libro. ( )
  Tonari | May 19, 2013 |
Ahh, Stephen King. His books are superb, movies, not so much, but the Shining movie was the exception. The book delivered on all levels. A triumph for King and a pleasure fot King lovers. ( )
  bcrowl399 | May 15, 2013 |
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» Add other authors (39 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Stephen Kingprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Davies, PaulCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Isomursu, PenttiTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Epigraph
It was in this apartment, also, that there stood against the western wall, a gigantic clock of ebony.  Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull, heavy, monotonous clang; and when the minute-hand made the circuit of the face, and the hour was to be stricken, there came from the brazen lungs of the clock a sound which was clear and loud and deep and exceedingly musical, but of so peculiar a note and emphasis that,
at each lapse of an hour, the musicians of the orchestra were constrained to pause, momentarily, in their performance, to harken to the sound; and thus the waltzers perforce ceased their evolutions; and there was a brief disconcert of the whole gay company; and, while the chimes of the clock yet rang, it was observed that the giddiest grew pale, and the more aged and sedate passed their hands over their brows as if in confused revery or meditation.  But when the echoes had fully ceased, a light laughter at once pervaded the assembly; the musicians looked at each other and smiled as if at their own nervousness and folly, and made whispering vows, each to the other, that the next chiming of the clock should produce in them no similar emotion; and then, after the lapse of sixty minutes, (which embrace three thousand and six hundred seconds of the Time that flies,) there came yet another chiming of the clock, and then were the same disconcert and tremulousness and meditation as before.
But, in spite of these things, it was a gay and magnificent revel.
E. A. Poe
'The Masque of the Red Death'

The sleep of reason breeds monsters.
Goya

It'll shine when it shines.
Folk saying.
Dedication
This is for Joe Hill King, who shines on.
My editor on this book, as on the previous two, was M. William G. Thompson, a man of wit and good sense. His contribution to this book has been large, and for it, my thanks.
First words
Jack Torrance thought: Officious little prick.
Quotations
Hallorann’s testicles turned into two small wrinkled sacs filled with shaved ice.
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
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References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Book description
The Overlook Hotel is more than just a home-away-from-home for the Torrance family. For Jack, Wendy, and their young son, Danny, it is a place where past horrors come to life. And where those gifted with "the shining" do battle with the darkest evils. Stephen King's classic thriller is one of the most powerfully imagined novels of our time.
Haiku summary

Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0743437497, Paperback)

"YOU'RE THE CARETAKER, SIR. YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE CARETAKER. I SHOULD KNOW, SIR. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE...."

-- DELBERT GRADY OF THE OVERLOOK HOTEL

THE SHINING

First published in 1977, The Shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of Stephen King. This tale of a troubled man hired to care for a remote mountain resort over the winter, his loyal wife, and their uniquely gifted son slowly but steadily unfolds as secrets from the Overlook Hotel's past are revealed, and the hotel itself attempts to laim the very souls of the Torrence family. Adapted into a cinematic masterpiece of horror by legendaryStanley Kubrick -- featuring an unforgettable performance by a demonic Jack Nicholson --The Shining stands as a cultural icon of modern horror, a searing study of a family torn apart, and a nightmarish glimpse into the dark recesses of human weakness and dementia.

(retrieved from Amazon Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:56:53 -0500)

(see all 5 descriptions)

First published in 1977, The Shining quickly became a benchmark in the literary career of Stephen King. This tale of a troubled man hired to care for a remote mountain resort over the winter, his loyal wife, and their uniquely gifted son slowly but steadily unfolds as secrets from the Overlook Hotel's past are revealed, and the hotel itself attempts to claim the very souls of the Torrance family. Adapted into a cinematic masterpiece of horror by legendary director Stanley Kubrick -- featuring an unforgettable performance by a demonic Jack Nicholson --The Shining stands as a cultural icon of modern horror, a searing study of a family torn apart, and a nightmarish glimpse into the dark recesses of human weakness and dementia.… (more)

» see all 11 descriptions

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