The Shining, by Stephen King

This was a book I’ve been meaning to read for years now.  I never saw the original movie, but I *did* see the television miniseries that aired several years ago, with Rebecca DeMornay and Steven Webber (that guy from Wings – anyone remember that show?), and was quite underwhelmed.  In fact, I couldn’t understand how any part of that story could be deemed scary.  It just seemed…silly.  I was advised by my wise mother (always listen to Mom, kids) that I NEEDED to read the book.  After nearly two decades, I finally listened to her.  (I’ll be honest – it was the appeal of the upcoming sequel, Doctor Sleep, that sucked me in.  But, don’t tell Mom that!)  I eagerly downloaded Mr. King’s early masterpiece to my Kindle, and hunkered down for a long read. 

For those of you who don’t already know the gist of The Shining, it centers around the Torrance family – Jack, Wendy, and son Danny – and a famous Colorado hotel, called the Overlook.  Jack is out of work, and decides to take a job as caretaker for the hotel during the long winter months, when it’s closed for the season.  In a nutshell, the family will be cut off from civilization until the warm weather returns.  Sounds like the perfect setting for a horror story, doesn’t it?

The book was fairly easy to get into, although I admit I was a little bored early on.  I’d say I wasn’t fully engrossed until somewhere around the halfway mark.  That’s when inanimate objects started to come to life, and all that other good, spooky stuff!  Unfortunately, most of the iconic frightening elements of the story were already familiar to me – not necessarily from the movie, but because they’ve become a part of pop culture.  For example, do you know anyone who’s not familiar with the word ‘redrum’ by now?  But, if I had come across it here for the first time, I’m sure it would’ve supplied a shiver or two.

The Shining was just the ticket for me.  I like horror stories and scary, creepy stuff, but I’m also a big-time scaredy cat.  (In high school, I bought a book about Jack the Ripper, and had to leave it in my parent’s room between readings, because I was too scared to have it nearby.  Yeah, *that* wimpy.)  This had just about the perfect level of eerie happenings for me.  A true horror fan, in today’s day and age of blood and gore, may be a little disappointed.  (Remember, this book was written in 1977, when people were still afraid of Vampires.  Little did they know that the future held Robert Pattinson – ewwww.)  For those of you brave souls who think The Shining is for wimps, may I recommend a little book called Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill (who just so happens to be Mr. King’s son)?  If you want a book to scare the holy bejesus out of you, that’s the one to get.  (I got about a third of the way through before I gave it away.  Being a married woman, my parent’s bedroom was no longer accessible, and I couldn’t find another hiding spot that was safe enough.)

I’m glad I finally read this classic.  My copy of the sequel should arrive next Tuesday, and hopefully, I won’t have to give that one away, either.  I’ll let you know!  ;)

 4 Stars