The Shining by Stephen King

The Shining (1977) is my first Stephen King novel which I chose because it's one of his most popular and critically acclaimed books.  It's a horror novel but also a tremendously interesting family drama centering around three characters: Jack Torrance, his wife Wendy and their five year old son Danny who has psychic abilities.

Jack is a writer and a recovering alcoholic.  He hasn't had a drink in two years since the night when in a drunken rage he accidentally broke his son Danny's arm.  Wendy almost left Jack after that but he vowed to stop drinking and he hasn't had a drink since.  

Jack continues to feel guilt about what he did to Danny.  These days he is a good father and Danny loves him.  But even sober Jack's temper can be a problem.  It's why he lost his last job as a teacher at a prep school. And when The Shining begins Jack has a new job as a caretaker for the winter at the Overlook Hotel located high up in the Colorado Rockies. The Overlook closes down during the winter months and so Jack, Wendy and Danny will be the hotel's only residents.  

It's not an ideal situation but Jack and his family need the money. Jack is also hoping to use the time at the Overlook to finish writing his play.  Wendy and Danny are not thrilled about accompanying Jack to this isolated environment but they want to be supportive. However it soon becomes clear that moving into the Overlook was a very bad idea.

Stephen King has done a marvelous job creating the characters of Jack, Wendy and Danny.  And there is also Dick Halloran who works at the Overlook. Like Danny, Dick Hallorann is psychic, the shining he calls it.  He is going home for the winter along with all of the other guests and employees.  But Hallorann tells Danny that if he needs him to reach out through his psychic powers and he will come back to the Overlook.

I really liked Dick Hallorann. Wendy and Danny are also very well drawn. I would say though that the most fascinating character is Jack Torrance. You can't say he is likeable exactly but he has good in him.  But Jack's emotions can run from remorse to self pity to rage and in a haunted hotel with evil forces at work it's a powder keg situation.

The Shining is a horror novel and things can get pretty intense, particularly as you near the end.  But it is also a wonderfully written book, gripping, with great characterization.  I am glad I chose The Shining for my first Stephen King novel.  And there is a sequel, Doctor Sleep, published in 2013.