Additional Reviews:
The Shining By: Stephen King
Recommended by: Steve W.
Plot: A story of a small American family commissioned to take care of Colorado's mysterious Overlook Hotel. It seems like just the job that the recovering alcoholic and fiction writer Jack Torrance needs, but the eerie nature of the hotel begins to affect Jack, his wife Wendy, and his son Danny. When strange occurrences � frequently physically harmful to them begin affecting the Torrance family, and the blizzard of the century locks them inside of the hotel, they are committed to solitude with their own demons, and it seems only Danny's gift of the Shining can protect them.
Why read? The Shining is a good read and one of Stephen King�s classics, set in the disturbing and occasionally violent setting of a massive, empty hotel. While I personally found much of the suspense to be overdeveloped, it leaves a profound mark on a reader and grants a view into human nature or moreover, insanity touched with the mystique of what appears to be a very lively setting.
Reviewer's note: Some blood and gore, some obscenity.
Recommended by: David K.
Plot: The Shining, by Stephen King, outlines the power and fragility of the human mind. A family of three a father, mother and son spends a winter at the deserted Overlook Hotel in Colorado because the father, Jack Torrance, is tasked to be the Hotel�s winter caretaker. The son, Danny, has a special power known as the Shining, which enables him to see the past, present and future. Danny can also sense the troubling emotional relationship between his parents and read his parents� minds. The Hotel has a hunger for Danny and his power, and the Hotel preys upon the family's vulnerabilities to achieve its goals. In particular, Jack, an alcoholic who resolved to never drink again, reacquires his drinking tendencies and talks to imaginary spirits.
Why read? This horror story is riveting and exciting. The suspense is sustained throughout the entire novel due to the intense foreshadowing through Danny. He has seen the Hotel's spooky and questionable past and he can sense the instabilities in his family that may lead to murder. The reader can conclude that murder will occur because the previous caretaker has also murdered his family. The various ways in which the Hotel haunts the family and drives the family to near-destruction include a wasp attack, animated hedge animals, and a dead woman in the bathtub of room 217. Embedded in this entire story is a single word that ultimately represents the family's greatest fears: REDRUM.
Reviewers note: I recommend that you read this book
Recommended by: Christopher L.
Plot: The Shining by Stephen King is a great horror science fiction novel. It is about the small family known as the Torrances. Wendy and Jack have been gifted with a very special son, who is very strong with his shining. The shining is a mystical power where you can read the basic thoughts of people. With his shining, Danny often looks into his father and mothers feelings and finds some surprises. Danny's Father, Jack has gotten a job as the caretaker at the Overlook Hotel. This hotel has had a scary history, and a cook that also has the shining warns Danny about the strange things he has seen. After a while in the hotel, Jack starts to develop what seems like Cabin Fever. From there the store takes off and ends with a massive climax.
Why read? The Shining has many twists and some good scares that came with them. This book was very easy to get into and even though the introduction might seem long, it is important later on in the story. There were many puzzles in the story, like what the word REDRUM meant. But later on all of this became clear. Overall this book had an addicting sense and should definitely be read.
Recommended by:
JK
Plot: A family moves into a hotel after the father,
Jack, gets a job as the caretaker. The little boy, Danny, has powers where he
can tell what people are thinking. He also has a "friend", Tony, who can show
him the future. He knows they are in danger, but can't do too much about it.
Why read? This book is worth reading because it is
very interesting and thrilling. There are a lot of twists and turns, and it
holds your attention for the entirety of the book.