The Shining

By: Stephen King

Narrated by: Campbell Scott

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)

1st King reading.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes...I unwittingly already have. I was telling a friend that the book was not what I expected and in doing so I mentioned some parts that I really enjoyed- all the while I was advocating the indulgence and so she purchased the physical book as she hasn't caught the Audible buzz yet.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dick Hallorann. He introduced the substance of the talent of 'shining' thus helping to put Danny's capabilities in perspective. His actual involvement was limited yet very necessary!

What about Campbell Scott’s performance did you like?

Voice inflection character personality. Great Job!

If you could rename The Shining, what would you call it?

The name is perfect. Now I understand. I ask people who love the movie do they know what the title stood for and non could answer- I explain and all were like... "Oh, wow".

Any additional comments?

My first King book....I expected non stop thrill- not what it was; however definitely not disappointing. I am learning to appreciate his style: very descriptive. I like.

Engaging and Uncomfortable

When I first picked this book, I came into it with certain expectations. I had seen the movie already, and I wanted to see just how well Kubrick had adapted it to the big screen.

Unsurprisingly, the book is much better, and in ways I had not imagined, even after having seen the movie.

I found myself struggling to pick this up at night, because I was afraid of what kind of nightmares I’d have with it. I’m 20 years old. I don’t really worry about nightmares anymore, but with this book, I was hesitant about listening to it past 11.

This was my first Stephen King, I normally enjoy the works of Dean Koontz, and knowing that King was a master of horror, I wanted something well known, and notoriously terrifying.

This did not disappoint.

One of my favorite novels of all time

What made the experience of listening to The Shining the most enjoyable?

Well I've read this book twice before. The audiobook version is ok. Bad narration.

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

There aren't any books quite like this. Very original.

Did Campbell Scott do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

No. All characters sound exactly the same. If I had never read this, it would be more difficult to tell. He reads completely in monotone. He also sounds a little bored. Narrators can ruin amazing books. Enjoyable but could be way better. He doesn't add any drama to the story.

If you could rename The Shining, what would you call it?

Why would someone want to rename the book? Silly question.

Any additional comments?

I see a lot of comments about the Stanly Kubrick movie. Firstly, that is complete trash. This is the real story of the Torrance family. The movie could never compare to this, ever. In the 90's there was a mini-series made of this book. Not a great movie but a far better adaption the what Kubrick did. Steven Weber plays Jack Torrance. He read "IT" for audible and did an amazing job. I wish he could have read this. However, this is an audiobook site. Let's save the reviews for the book. Not movies.

Change of reader

Don’t know what happened during the recording of the book but it is obvious that the performer from chapter 1-39 was replaced at chapter 40.

So good!

When my brother told me about Doctor Sleep, I realised I'd never actually read The Shining. I've seen the Jack Nicholson movie several times, but hadn't actually read it. Can I just say, wow! This story is so much deeper than the movie portrayed. I know, that's to be expected, but this just opened up whole new plots that I had NO idea even existed! Its a MUST-READ before Doctor Sleep. Shine on, my friends!

Excellent

This is a great story with excellent narration. I highly recommend it. Didn’t want to turn it off once I started it.

Amazing!!!

The movie is of course perfect but the book is beyond words!!! Absolutely LOVED IT!!

A classic

I had seen The Shining movie numerous times before listening to the audible book and loved it. I had always heard that Stephen King was not a fan of the movie and I never understood why. Now, having finished the book, I COMPLETELY understand why! It's almost an entirely different story. Stanley Kubrick left out soooo much. I watched the movie again after finishing the audible and I have to say, I MUCH prefer King's version. The narrator did a great job of conveying the mood throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this!

My unpopular opinion. Not as good as the movie.

I’m sure that my opinion is an unpopular one but I enjoy the movie better than the book. That’s. It to say the book isn’t good. Far from it. It’s an outstanding book actually. And the performance was spot on and eerily read.

Awesome story and performance.

This was a great story. I'm glad I finally was able to get through it with Audible. The narrator did a wonderful job as well. Now I'm off to see the film interpretation!