The Shining by Stephen King

from goodreads

1 star, but really should probably be like a 3.5-4 ish

Scary movies and I don't mix. Never have, probably never will. I remember watching the original Psycho when I was a teenager and asking to sleep with my mom for about a week after. Some scary movies I have been able to handle, like Saw II. Friends in University wanted to watch it, so I went, I feel asleep during it, so it didn't haunt me like others. I can't even watch Criminal Minds anymore. There is was one episode where a killer was dressed all in black waiting in the dark for the lead FBI guy to come home and then stabbed him severely. I was nursing my second child at the time and I had to ask my husband to escort me to her room. Seriously, that was a bit embarrassing. Books can have the same effect but not nearly as bad as seeing in a movie or show. For me, I can imagine a scary scene a lot less intensely if I must. You miss all the gore and ickiness. You can still get creeped out, but you are allowed to get creeped out on your own terms.

So, with the Shining... I got major creeped out and scared, and I didn't even get to the really scary parts. I got about 80 pages or so in and had to stop. I was having really freaky dreams and had to pluck up my courage when I had to do a night feeding with baby number 3. It doesn't help that the baby's room is at the complete other end of the hall from my room so I have to pass a hallway of doors, o.k. like two doors but still scary. Anything could be lurking in that bathroom.

So to be honest with my rating system I have to give the Shining an one star. But King has a fun writing style and I probably would have given it higher if I could actually get through it.

If you want to try a Stephen King but are like me, and a bit of a wimp, try The Stand. I read it for my book club last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Kinda long, but definitely not creepy.

Synopsis

Here is the Synopsis of The Shining from goodreads.

Danny was only five years old but in the words of old Mr. Halloran he was a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father became caretaker of the Overlook Hotel his visions grew frighteningly out of control.

As winter closed in and blizzards cut them off, the hotel seemed to develop a life of its own. It was meant to be empty, but who was the Lady in Room 217, and who were the masked guests going up and down in the elevator? And why did the hedges shaped like animals seem so alive?

Somewhere, somehow there was an evil force in the hotel - and that too had begun to shine.