Stephen King
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
My first Stephen King. Loved every second.
The Shining was thrilling, exciting, and intense — all things I imagined King would be and bring to a story. I was not disappointed.
I always figured I’d like King, i just had yet to dive in. His writing is phenomenal. I love his literary style and use of underrated big words. And I was definitely hooked from the start and I definitely devoured this novel. My collection of King is now rapidly growing.
My expectations were for sure met, and then some.
This is a classic haunted house story at its best. I don’t know if I’d consider this a slow burn because there seemed to be something intense happening within every character in every chapter that you just can’t look away from. It was like watching a train wreck in slow-mo. You don’t really get bored throughout, you just want to keep watching the story unfold.
The slow progression of Jacks’s madness in hallucinations or hauntings was ridiculously well done and King really ties you into that feeling of confinement and being trapped.
The characterization was also phenom. It’s impossible to not feel for Wendy and Danny as their father and husband go crazy, but King somehow makes you feel for Jack sometimes too. The family dynamic was well done when everyone was at their sanest. But the drama? The drama. *chefs kiss.* The background on their family throughout the novel was helpful because it tied into the present happenings that much better. It was just so well done.
It’s a great horror overall. Whether you look at it as a family being attacked by ghosts or a father with murder on his mind, this is a story that sticks with you long after it’s over. And I wasn’t disappointed with the movie either. I think a new rendition of the film could be amazing though.
TheKaitlynBlog 
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