The Shining is a horror novel by Stephen King.  It’s a fascinating combination of a psychological breakdown in the midst of supernatural threats.  The Shining focuses on the Torrance family and their stay at the beautiful Overlook Hotel during the closed winter season.

The Overlook is beautiful, isolated, and haunted.  I loved reading about the corrupt history of the hotel patrons and what events turned the hotel into such an evil place.

Jack Torrance is a father and husband trying to overcome the recent loss of his job while fighting his increasing temptation to relapse back into alcoholism.  Jack takes on the role of the off-season caretaker in hopes of bringing his family closer together and finishing up a writing project.  Jack sees his job as caretaker as his last chance to salvage his failing career and family life.  Jack’s fragile psychological state is exploited by the Overlook Hotel and Jack becomes one of the main horror’s the family has to face.

Wendy Torrance is reluctant to leave society and civilization for months on end, but does her best to be supportive of her husband.  She hasn’t completely forgiven Jack for breaking their son’s arm after he lost his temper after a night of drinking.  Wendy’s number one priority is her son and even though she wants to repair her damaged relationship with her husband, she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her son safe.

Danny is the gifted son of Jack and Wendy.  He is a five year old who possesses the skill of “Shining.”  Shining is described in the book as psychic abilities that range in power depending on the person who has the gift.  Danny is described as one of the most gifted people Mr. Halloran has met, who also has the gift of Shining.

Mr. Halloran is a cook at the Overlook Hotel and warns Danny that many bad things have happened at the Hotel.  People with the Shining can see images of those things, but tells Danny to not be scared because they are just like pictures in a book and can’t hurt you.

Unfortunately for the Torrance family, Danny’s gift amplifies the sinister forces of the Overlook Hotel and no one is safe.

The book has quite a few parts that were left out of the popular film adaptation directed by Stanley Kubrick.  The reader also gets an in depth look at what is going on in the main characters heads, which is where many of the most unsettling aspects of the book take place.

One of my favorite things about this book is the characters mental state.  Experiencing the deterioration of Jack and his subsequent outbursts towards his family are where the real horror is.  The book delves into effects of complete isolation and leaves the reader feeling that “this inhuman place makes human monsters.”