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)

Exceptional

Story telling was great. The narrator did a great job with all the characters and voices.

Much better than the book!

I loved the actual story of The Shinning. The movie is a classic in its own right, but not the Stephen King story. If you enjoy a character strong, chilling book, read this.

Better than the movies!

I got mixed reviews on this when asking about it, but seeing as it was part of my Book Bucket list I decided to give it a try. It was my own mistake following IT with the Shining and sadly it could not shine through the shadow left by It. Most of that has to do with the narration. I was spoiled with Weber's raw acting as he read me IT. When character's screamed, HE screamed. This felt very lackluster in comparison. The Campbell Scott has a pleasant enough voice but it always remains in a very calm and low register. Instead of getting in there and really SCREAMING when it was needed he did the old 'fake' scream that comes out more of a whisper. I didn't necessarily feel the narration added anything to my journey this time and could have read it to myself to the same effect.

That being said the story itself is not what you remember from the film where a great deal of visual liberty was taken to create a visible horror experience. A great deal of what you expect to see from the movie isn't actually in the book. While the story does talk about ghosts it doesn't rely on them for the horror aspect. In fact most of the tension is built through the knowledge of Jack's struggle with alcoholism and the uncertain and tense limbo he exists in with his wife and son. The fear comes from knowing you're looking at a powder keg ready to go off and wondering how the power of the Overlook will use it to it's advantages. You know it's coming but the question is WHEN. This story did a wonderful job of painting a terrifying image of being isolated both physically and emotionally in a situation you KNOW is a bad one. but there's no escape. It captures the claustrophobia of being trapped in a dying relationship that has turned detrimental to your health by the ball and chain of loyalty. This book is just as much about Wendy's struggles to forgive Jack and stand beside him, while trying to care for her special child. The movies lead you astray with the finger twitch and the 'RedRum" chants from Danny who isn't nearly as annoying in the book. In fact he's incredibly capable for his young age and unlike the movie you actually WORRY about his well being. Getting that look into his relationship with his parents really drove home the story being within the relationship in the family and the monster of addiction and the setting just happens to be a supernatural hotel. So don't go into this expecting a lot of scary ghost stuff or blood pouring out of the elevator. This story is a quiet simmer that delves more into the addiction mindset than the ghosts of the hotel. But don't let that turn you off to it! I found this revelation refreshing honestly and even a bit more terrifying than the hotel itself which really doesn't make it's presence know until the latter half of the book. As a recovering addict and someone who suffered in a relationship with an addict, this book resonated with me. I can understand why people are so disappointing by it because you expect it's going to be all ghosts and gore. That's what they took from it to make the movie and the reason the movie felt empty has a great deal to do with the fact that they left out the ACTUAL story in favor of trying to make a ghost film. which is fine, let them exist as they are separate as they are. these are two different animals all together.

One of my favorite parts of this book was seeing Wendy as she was MEANT to be. A woman who's never known real challenge, from a sophisticating relationship with her mother and a deep desire to protect her family, but the willingness to sacrifice her husband if it comes to it. She's not the sniveling weakling they made her in the film. Danny isn't a strange little kid floating in the corners of the story, he is central as much as Jack and Wendy and plays as big of a role in the unfolding of the story as they do. It's a shame they reduced his character to a horror movie trope in the films. All those nameless ghosts you weren't sure where they came from have story as well and will finally explain to you WHO THE HECK THE FURRY IS! yes the Furry is there and he ACTUALLY has something of a story. and the way he was used in the book was FAR more horrifying than the quick glimpse you got in the film. I wish someone would try to properly adapt this in the way King framed it. And Now i FULLY understand why he hates Stanley Kubricks Shining adaptation. He took the fluff that looked good and tried to fluff it more to make a movie, while ignoring the ACTUAL arc and development of the characters which left his film feeling empty and superficial. BECAUSE IT WAS! If you want to understand what the Shining is SUPPOSED to be, go ahead and give this a listen. Don't listen to people saying it was boring and BAD or that the Movie was BETTER. They didn't get it, Just understand that what you THINK you know about the story, is not what you're going to get in this WONDERFULLY penned masterpiece by King, about the decent of the mind into stress, self loathing, addiction and failure and how that can drive a wedge between everything and make it easier for the Overlook to divide and concur. The Overlook herself is a character all her own and probably could have been removed from the tale completely and you'd still have a tense and horrifying glimpse into the horrific reality so many of us suffer with on the daily. If anything the Overlook and her ghosts are a garnish to a hearty meal. A Side dish, not the main course. Enjoy it for what it is and don't walk in with expectations because THAT'S whats going to disappoint you. Let it be new, like you don't know a thing and you'll SEE what King was doing and have a better understanding of his own struggles through the projection into the characters. The realism of the struggle is horrific all on it's own.

A Must Read

If you think this book will be anything like the movie you are wrong.
This is a million times better then the movie and probably one of the best books by King.

Fantastic

cliche: it was better than the movie
I grew up watching the film and think it is great but the book fills so many holes left by the movie. Great narration! Thought that King wrapped this one up nicely, to me this was better than 'The Stand'.

An American Classic

After binging all of the Harry Potter books, I thought I’d change things up a bit. So, being a big fan of the Kubrick classic movie, I gave this book a go. It was a great choice. The story is chilling and the narration is great. I definitely recommend!

Loved it!

This was a fantastic story with absolutely wonderful reading. Much better than the movie. A+

one of the great earlier works by King

one of the great earlier works by King performed wonderfully. truly a value add to my library.

Good Book

Very happy to have listened to the book. Much more different than the movie. There were items within the book that were brought to your attention, however I didn't gleem why they were so important.

Great story but flat performance

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

It's hard to listen to this title because I know how great and exciting this book is and is meant to be, but the performance of this man falls flat. Mr. Scott's performance is so lackluster that it actually detracts and distracts you from an otherwise great story. I won't be buying his narrations again,should I run across any.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Shining?

The scenes with the hedge animals are claw-your-chair arm fabulous!