Finished audio 3-24-10, rating 4/5, horror, pub. 1977
Jack and Wendy take their son to the Overlook Hotel for the winter. They are the caretakers, and only inhabitants, of this sprawling hotel set in the Rocky Mountains and they are completely cut off from the rest of the world as the snow strands them there. The hotel has a colorful past and present and the ‘ghosts’ in the Overlook want little Danny because he has the shine and they drive Jack insane to get to Danny. Can the love of a mother save her son or will Danny fall victim to the evil that surrounds him?
I don’t know how I made it to age 38 without reading this or seeing the movie. As a matter of fact I knew next to nothing about it except for the clip of crazy Jack Nicholson that most of us have seen at one time or another. I have to admit that even with that picture in my head that is not how I saw the dad in this book. Guess I’ll have to watch the movie now.
I liked this one. It was suspenseful and I was even surprised at the end. Stephen King knows how to tell a good story and this one was very good.
I checked this audio book out from the library and it was skillfully read by actor Campbell Scott.
Stacy's Books 
I don’t do well with horror written and don’t think I could handle it on audio. It would be much more graphic for me that way.
Interesting review, I haven’t read the book but I absolutely loved the movie. You must see it!
The Shining is very good isn’t it? It’s been who knows how many years since I read it. Too many to count. And I still remember Redrum, Redrum, Redrum! The movie was good, although I had a hard time with Shelley Duvall playing the wife. And that was before her Faerie Tale Theatre days. Jack Nicholson does a good crazy, but he never quite fit the dad for me. It’s hard to take Stephen King’s horror and translate it adequately to the screen.
I have not read the book, but the movie was great! Very creepy!
Well I agree with Bermuda – I don’t think I could listen to this book. Then again, reading it was so scary maybe listening to it would have taken some of the edge off? The movie is incredibly different – but very good too.
I haven’t read the book either but the movie scares me just remembering it, and I saw it quite a few years ago!
I haven’t read The Shining or seen the movie either! Nice review, I think I’ll give it a try. My husband always says SK can really tell a great story.
Have you ever read Rosemary’s Baby? I read it really fast one summer. I have no interest in the movie, but the book was strangely compelling…
This book is on my Wishlist, I really want to read more books by Stephen King. Glad you liked it.
I’m 33 and I still haven’t read this one! Need to rectify this. I borrowed the book from my sister eons ago.
I have read us one book byt his author and that one did not impress me, really. But I saw one movie based on his book – 1408 – which was scary and I liked it.
So I am not sure yet. Maybe I should give this one a try 😉
I saw the movie with jackie boy back in the day on TV and ended up not being able to sleep alone for a week. While I admit King is a master storyteller he scares the begeebies out of me and therefore cannot read any of his books!!! Great review!
This is one of the few King books that I’ve read and enjoyed.
King is definitely not for me but I’m glad you enjoyed it.
I’ve never seen this movie or read the book. Or anything by Stephen King, for that matter. I’m far too much of a chicken! The Historian gave me nightmares. For real. So I have to take the word of brave folks like yourself that it’s a good read/listen 🙂
This movie still scares the crap out of me. redrum baby redrum. Never read the book though. I got a bit burned out on King. Nice review.
I do think Stephen King doesn’t get enough credit … he does tell a good story.
I’ve read several of King’s novels; I liked a few, was “meh” about most, but this is far and away my favorite!