The Shining

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Campbell Scott

Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Before Doctor Sleep, there was The Shining, a classic of modern American horror from the undisputed master, Stephen King.

Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he'll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote...and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

©1977 Stephen King (P)2005 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A master storyteller." ( Los Angeles Times)

"He's the author who can always make the improbable so scary you'll feel compelled to check the locks on the front door." ( The Boston Globe)

"Scary!... Serves up horrors at a brisk, unflagging pace." ( The New York Times)

Classic !

Campbell Scott does an incredible job bringing this classic to life with clean narration and just enough differentiation between characters. Wonderful audiobook 👌🏼👌🏼👌🏼

One of King's best titles!

Would you listen to The Shining again? Why?

Yes - excellent character development (and degeneration) and in my opinion one of the few titles that earned Stephen King the title of being a "horror writer." The book is a great length, where it never feels too short or too lengthy.

What did you like best about this story?

The gradual degradation of Jack Torrence and how the hotel sucked him in.

What does Campbell Scott bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He did a great Jack Torrence, but not so good on his wife Wendy or Dick. He also did a pretty good job on Danny and Tony.

If you could take any character from The Shining out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I'd probably take Dick Holleran since he was probably the most enjoyable, laid back character. I've known people like him growing up.

Any additional comments?

Probably one of the best works by Stephen King. In my opinion "The Shining" is one of the few books that gave King the title of being a "horror writer". I feel that most of King's books are actually more science fiction than horror; however others may disagree.

Many of the elements from "The Shining" are executed very well, such as the ghouls that haunt the Overlook hotel, Jack Torrence's degeneration, and the general fears that come with being a small child in an unruly family.

King does an excellent job blending the ghost encounters with Jack's reality. I also think the horror pieces such as the ghouls, hedge animals, and gore were done very well. They were done so well, I wish King would gravitate towards them more often rather than focus on sci-fi plot devices such as telepathy and time travel for starters.

"The Shining" is a piece of work that readers can visit time and time again and never get tired of reading. The length is perfect and the characters are consistently developed.

Pros: One of King's best pieces being nothing more than a family trying to survive in a haunted hotel.
Cons: King tended to reach far, far back into the character's life experiences which could have been abbreviated.
Bottom line: Excellent read and chilling.

A great introduction to the audible experience!

King has surely earned his name in more ways than one with this novel. Very descriptive and touching deeply into the human condition, the environment is colorful. It feels real other than the supernatural bits.

I was afraid to start my audible journey, but King's brilliant story telling was given its due justice by the reader. I loved it all from start to finish.

a well wrought psychological ghost story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Shining to be better than the print version?

I think the audio version better than print because of the narrator's performance. He never overplayed a scene. His voice had a spare, grim quality which I found bracing and well-suited to the events that marched relentlessly to their tragic end.

What other book might you compare The Shining to and why?

"The Haunting of Hill House" by Shirley Jackson is similar to "The Shining". Both are ghost stories that adeptly rely on character study. In efforts to achieve a separate sense of self, each protagonist is drawn to an unfamiliar place where they face the very uncanny malevolence they tried to flee.

What does Campbell Scott bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

For one, his voice suited the narrative. I'm not sure how to describe his voices qualities. There is a bare bones quality--grim even. He read evenly, never overplaying a scene.

FANTASTIC as usual for King

Where does The Shining rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top twenty for sure it was fantastic but I do have a lot of favorite books. I love the detail that King breaths into all of his stories (oddly this is the biggest complaint I hear of people who don't like King). I can hear Danny's feat running on the carpet, I started to chew aspirin like Jack and felt sorry for Wendy. The book took me in and transported me to another horror filled world.

What other book might you compare The Shining to and why?

This will probably be an odd comparison but I'd link it with The Magicians by Lev Grossman in the sense you had these complex characters that all had their own motivations that you were privy to and all in a confined space and you gotta see it all play out in a terrible disaster. I didn't like The Magicians that much (I know string me up) but I did love the characters and how they felt like people I knew and I link this to the same as the shining.

Which character – as performed by Campbell Scott – was your favorite?

I think Jack was my favorite character he wasn't a "bad guy" just had so much confliction and draw to the evil he just wanted to be someone. He wanted to be a good father and husband but his desire to be important trumped those and I loved that even though he was the bad guy I felt so sorry for him at the same time.

If you could take any character from The Shining out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Dick Hallorann to just listen to all his stories and learn everything I could about the shining I loved him as a character and everything he did to help out people he barely even knew.

The frightening

First novel ever read by Stephen King sabotaged by Stanley Kubrick. The shining delivers thrills. That makes you weary about sleeping in hotels. Happy sleep.

Wow

Not only do I feel this is Stephen King’s greatest work, Campbell Scott steals the show with a wonderful performance. A great audible experience top to bottom.

Better than Movie by far!

Much much much better than the movie! Excellent Reader! He got into it as each character!

Immersive, Thoughtful, Terrifying

Outstanding reading by Campbell Scott, full of nuanced character work without being overbearing or interfering with the text. The story is as poignant and heart-wrenching as it is horrifying.

Great book!

loved it! I love how detailed Stephen is. you can picture everything so well. very easy to get through the whole book. i didnt want to stop listening to it. I'm looking forward to the next book!