The Shining

Most people have heard of The Shining. If you haven't heard of the book, you've heard of (or seen) the film with Jack Nicholson and Shelly Long.

For years I've shied away from Stephen King. Some people would call his work twisted, or insane. Others would call him brilliant. I figured it was time to decide for myself.

First off, Stephen King's writing is not for everyone. I had previously read Under the Dome and parts of A Bizarre of Bad Dreams, so I had a general idea of his style. It is generally blunt and bold. For example: instead of quickly saying there is a dead body in the tub, Mr. King goes into detail about the bloated body. I will admit, it was disturbing, but the novel itself is meant to be disturbing! A great horror novel walks the line between the real and the uncomfortable. The success or failure depending on timing within the novel.

The Shining walks that line perfectly. It plays on the familiarity of a hotel and hope for something better, while playing on the fears of ghosts, isolation and possession. It is an uncomfortable read that I couldn't put down. I don't often re-read novels, but this is one I would certainly revisit when I'm in need of a good fright.