The Shining
Stephen King · 1977 · Best haunted-place horror
Written by the booktheque team. This page has an Amazon affiliate link; we earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.
Our take
Read it if you like horror that builds. Skip it if you want a fast plot; the first third is slow on purpose.
Where to buy
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About the book
A family snowed into a mountain hotel for the winter. King spends a long time making you care about them, which is why the second half hurts. It differs from the film in ways that matter, so read it even if you know the movie.
What works
- + Strong, human characters
- + Dread builds slowly
What doesn’t
- – Slow opening
- – Long
Disclosure
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