The Shining
(The Shining #1)
by Stephen King
★ ★ ★
So I was going to initially do a comparison post of the book and movie but I’ve never done that before and I feel like I wouldn’t be good at it so I am just going to do a review of the book. I will say I don’t recommend the movie at all. I don’t think I have ever disliked a movie so much in my life. Anyways on to my thoughts for the book.
It took me pretty much the entire month of March to finish this book. Yes it’s a pretty big book coming in at 683 pages but that’s not why it took me so long. It took me all month to read it because I could only read so much of it before I just completely lost focus and had to put it down for a little bit an read something else. That has to do with Kings writing. He is so descriptive and it was all a little much for me. I mean why do I need to read a full chapter explaining all of the food that was in the kitchen for them to eat? It doesn’t do anything for the story so it could have been left out in my opinion.
It wasn’t creepy to me either. I mean things that are meant to be scary to me usually aren’t because they are usually very predictable and I tend to laugh at them but this being Stephen King I had some pretty hefty expectations. This was my first Stephen King book and I definitely want to read more of his work even though I pretty sure he’s still going to be very descriptive.
Overall I was into the story enough to want to finish it but it was just an ok read for me.
Yikes about the movie! Haven’t seen it yet, but I’m planning on watching it at some point.
Too bad the book didn’t creep you out though! But it simply proves I’m a real wimp when it comes to anything horror-related, haha.
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Idk I’m thinking maybe the book wasn’t that creepy to me because I kept starting and stopping it. Like I wasn’t as immersed into the story as I hoped to be.
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That could definitely be it.
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Honestly, I’ve never been able to get into Stephen king, so I really relate about the writing. Great review!
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Yeah I’m not so sure he’s going to be for me either. I’ve only ever read this one book. I started IT but I haven’t finished it yet. I do plan on trying some more of his books.
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Yeah totally get that- I’ve read one and dnf’d three now, I just don’t think I gel with the writing style
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Yeah it doesn’t sound like he’s for you at all. I think I own 3 or 4 more of his books that I plan to read at some point.
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Oh and thank you!!
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And you’re welcome?
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Hehe sorry bout the question mark, didn’t mean to put that!
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It’s ok neither one of us can type today apparently lol.
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I tried to read The Shining when I was about 14, but I must be a big baby because it scared me and I tossed it against a wall, LOL!!! Now it probably wouldn’t at all, so I keep saying that I’m going to finish it, and try to read IT (but I’m actually afraid of clowns, so probably not-see big baby!) 😉
I just finished 11/22/63, and I will say that it is now one of my favorite books. It was long…very…but I never imagined that King could write a book like that!! It was romance and suspense with time travel and a little horror. I was crying at the end..of a Stephen King novel! I’d reread it again, gladly. Now, I’m also a JFK nut too, but I had so many other bloggers tell me when I was reading it that I was going to love it. I thoroughly enjoyed the 3 books in his Mr. Mercedes trilogy too-no horror, more like detective books with lots of suspense. I hope you can find a King book you enjoy. I never thought I would, but I was pleasantly shocked!
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I’m terrified of clowns as well but I managed to watch the movie and read the first 250 pages of IT. Horror stuff doesn’t usually scare me because it’s all so predictable. I’m definitely going to be giving some of his other work a try.
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I’ve never tried to watch the movie, so I might try to watch the new one since my hubs said it wasn’t scary and not to be a baby (he’s so sweet, lol). I guess that is true about horror. I’ve just never been able to try and read it, and I refuse to watch it at all. Maybe I should live a little. I do hope you find one you like. I pre-ordered his new one that’s coming out in May from audible, The Outsider since it sounds more like a suspense/thriller than anything. Good thing is if I don’t like it, I can return it!
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Thanks I hope I’m able to find at least one I like. It’s a little bit scary for someone who doesn’t like clowns but for the most part I was confused but I guess that’s because I haven’t read it.
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I hope you do too! I never thought I would find one that I would, but I kept getting suggestions from other bloggers who knew I didn’t like horror, and they turned out to be right about the ones that I’d like. But I’m definitely going to give a horror one a try.
Hmm, well I’ll watch it during the day, lol. I don’t need nightmares. Even after reading 11/22/63 I dreamed that night I was trying to save JFK’s life and being chased by men with knives and falling through time…it was a bad night’s sleep. I definitely don’t want to dream about clowns!
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I didn’t have any dreams about clowns after I watched it. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever had any bad dreams after reading something that was scary or suspenseful or whatever lol.
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Yeah, that was pretty intense! It was just Sun night this happened. I’ve had it happen to me before but its been awhile. I’m always being chased or killed in the dreams, so I’m sure there is something to them, lol. Probably stress related and not really caused by anything else.
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Oh dang that’s crazy.
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Yeah, it is! Good thing it doesn’t happen often!
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Lovely review! I’ve just finished reading the book and have decided not to watch the film; for me, the scariest moment in the book centred around the moving hedge animals, and apparently they have been entirely excluded from the film?
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The hedge animals didn’t even scare m and you’re right they are excluded from the film.
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That’s such a shame!
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