For about 3 years I couldn't concentrate enough to finish even a short book, even though on a free day I could devour 250 pages without any problem. However, months ago I was given a physical copy of The Shining, so I ventured to take a peek at it.
I loved it. It might not steal the podium from It as my favorite Stephen King novel, but I would definitely put it on a list of the best. When people say Kubrick's movie is a bad adaptation, they aren't kidding. It's not a bad movie in itself, because even though I finished the book, I still love the film, and its media impact is impossible to ignore. Nevertheless, what King wanted to portray throughout the entire novel, Kubrick abruptly omitted. So, man, even if you've seen the movie, you should start reading it right now!
Now let's move on to the spoilers and my thoughts. I read it months ago, but I had forgotten that I interact on this sub, so I didn't write a review back then. Also, my memories are vague; I'll try to put down what I remember, and it would be exceptional if you guys could add what's missing so I can refresh my memory.
First of all, the characters are nothing like what the movie portrays. To me, they are much more human, and that adds a weight the movie lacks, which I'll explain next. Here, at least, it's made clear that the Overlook is a cesspool of malice. It's not that Jack is stark raving mad; he was simply a man trying to reform who became the hotel's favorite toy. We know Jack is inspired by King himself and his battle with alcoholism, so the portrayal of his descent is much more believable. He's a father who made a huge number of mistakes in his life that almost cost him his marriage and his family in that first stage of the book. I'm not an alcoholic, I'm not a father, nor am I married, and yet, in some parts, I managed to put myself a bit in Jack's shoes—to feel what it's like to be rejected (or despised?) and to have to beg for salvation, only for the hotel to turn out to be Jack's doom. In the movie, he's a non-stop lunatic, and Nicholson's manic face doesn't help at all in scenes where he's supposed to look gentle. In the book, on the other hand, he does show himself to be—or rather, tries to be—a good person. He's not perfect, because anger often got the better of him, but despite his mistakes, he tried to take care of Danny and stayed as firm as he could in his process of staying sober. I genuinely felt sorry for him.
Now, Wendy; I loved her more proactive role. I devoured the book in about three nights, so I probably don't remember half the scenes and might confuse a few things with the movie. But what I do remember from this version of Wendy is how firm she was in defending her son. I don't know what you think of her, but as far as I'm concerned, she had the courage any woman would probably have finding herself in that situation. Locked in a hotel in the dead of winter with no escape route and her crazy, aggressive husband trying to kill her and her child. Here, she was firmer in her acceptances and restrictions; although she had to compromise a lot given the circumstances, she didn't entirely let her guard down. Danny, for his part, is also more sensible and intelligent. He still has a child's naivety, but not to an absurd degree; the shining was much more present in the story, which gives the title more reason. Maybe I should take a look at Doctor Sleep to see the evolution of his character; I liked him a lot.
The dysfunctional family dynamic is better worked out because it's not just the two of them with a lunatic-looking Jack, but rather different moments of happiness that slowly break down due to a succession of events—something that easily happens in real life. On some occasions, we see Danny just wanting to be next to his father or preferring him over Wendy, but it's not for a silly reason; it's because, even with the presence of supernatural powers and Danny's intrusion into his parents' minds, it is truly impossible for him to comprehend just how broken that marriage is.
The desolate atmosphere was perfect; it completely hooked me. You genuinely felt there was no help or possibility of escape—it was either freeze to death or fight a corrupted husband, and the only option left was to support Wendy in the fight. Even knowing the ending beforehand, there were moments when I worried about her and Danny.
The hotel is another character, not just a setting in itself. It's sadistic and meticulous, attacking Jack from his weak points. Jack tried to stand his ground against the circumstances, but once the Goldroom scene arrived, we knew he was screwed; it had trapped him and wasn't going to let go.
Silly me, waiting for iconic scenes like the twins in the hallway, the hedge maze, or the famous "Here's Johnny"; I didn't know that was exclusively from the movie. However, I didn't dislike the book's scenes. At first, I thought the topiary animals were ridiculous, but every time Jack turned around to see the creatures baring their fangs, all I could say was: "Run away from there, you motherfucker."
Anyway, I would have liked to cover more points, but I've forgotten most of the details. Maybe I'll give it a re-read in a while, after reading the next books on my list (I have to take advantage of the fact that I've gotten my reading groove back). For anyone who has been postponing this read for whatever reason, read it as soon as possible! You won't regret it (or well, depending on your tastes). The book is long like most of King's works, and I liked the ending better than the movie's. You could consider the film more supernatural horror than psychological, unlike the novel. So when you read it, I recommend keeping in mind that you're diving into the family's psyche rather than just the hotel itself.
Anyone who wants to add a point or correct me on something is very welcome, as I want to chat a bit about the story and remember things I might have forgotten.
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