The Shining by Stephen King is a classic for a reason, it's King at his best. He keeps you gripped as the story unravels and gives such a strong picture that you can imagine every little detail in your mind.

On of his best.

The Shining is another fantastic novel by master author Stephen King. Most people would have seen the movie with Jack Nicholson playing the main character, Danny's father, Jack. While the movie was entertaining, I found it disappointing that it did not stick to the storyline as well as it could have. The Overlook hotel is where most of the action takes place, and is almost completely isolated during the winter due to heavy snowstorms. Jack gets a job as the caretaker of the Overlook, and the family finds out that the hotel has many dark secrets that attempt to disrupt their already fragile relationships. The hotel turns into a nightmare where no one is safe, particularly the little boy Danny due to his special talent. This book will get you jumping

Having read and loved many Stephen King books, the Shining did not disappoint. Once the novel begins there are no gaps in the suspense and mystery that unfold throughout the book. The best thing about the Shining was the character development. You really feel sorry for Danny, the main character, when he knows bad things are going to happen but can't really tell anybody.

I honestly think this as scary as horror can get. The relationship between Jack and Wendy Torrance is so realistic and is very simliar to any marriage that has its issues. I like the whole concept of Danny seeing and hearing thoughts and grusome images, imagine if you could read people's thoughts and see the past of a particular place right in front of you?

The Shining by Stephen King - Jack Torrance is hired as caretaker at the Overlook Hotel for the winter, along with his wife, Wendy, and his psychic son, Danny.
During the tour of the Overlook Hotel Danny learns that bad things happened there that only he can see.
The Torrance family steadily learn the dark secrets and legends of the malevolent hotel.
Overlook keeps them there, and it doesn't want them to leave. Soon they are turning against each other.

A true story of a family's struggles, fears, love, and sorrows. One of King's best novels. Throughout the book you will learn to feel for the characters. There are some happy moments in this book, but when it is meant to scare you, IT SCARES YOU. It's better if you read the book first before you watch the movie. This is King's most haunting book yet!

P.S. Be sure to watch the old Shining, because even though the new one is based strictly on the book, it's rubbish compared to the suspense of the old one.

I read The Shining years ago and it was a scary literary encounter. It's often regarded as King's best novel and is big on psychology and suspense. It's got some great set pieces and is actually a very absorbing study of breakdown and domestic abuse, following a writer and his family's decision to work as janitors in a ski resort hotel cut off by snow over the winter. The ending is different to the film!