pineconek's Reviews (816)

I listened to this exclusively on audiobook. The book overall is soothing and well-paced. I agree with criticisms that other reviewers have posted about it being unrealistic, especially given the main character's excellent social skills. That said, I found it relatively easy to suspend disbelief and enjoyed the reflections on identity, loneliness, belonging, and morality.

Things I thought about Stephen King before 2020:
- overrated drug store paperback mass producer
- generic and dull
- enjoyed primarily for shock value
- overhyped
(ok these are all the same things)

I need to apologize. Profusely. I was so, so wrong.

Things the Shining (and other books of his I've now read in 2020) proves about Stephen King:
- he writes complex and vibrant characters who drive the plot
- he has valuable things to say about abuse, addiction, and human pain
- his writing is superb, descriptive, engaging, and funny
- damn, he's really good at his job

The Shining moved me in ways I did not expect from a horror classic and motivated me to read more King. I was honestly floored by how much of a mismatch there was between my expectations of King versus what my experiences with his writing have been ever since I picked up a short story collection earlier this year. The shining is a damn masterpiece about guilt, abuse, and addiction, and the haunted house just serves as a backdrop... I absolutely love it.

I struggled to get through the first 2/3rd of the book - not that I didn't like it per se, but... something felt off. I'm not sure if it was the pacing or what. Anyway, I'm glad I stuck with it. I think I would have prefered to first read this book at 16 rather than at 26, but it was still interesting. I didn't really know what to expect, other than the narrator's angst, so I was surprised with how much of the book dealt with grief. I'm glad I finally read it.