Classic Trash discussion

I've decided to go back and reread The Shining because I am super excited about the release of its sequel, Doctor Sleep. If anyone wants to add to this topic please use spoiler tags for the sake of other readers.

I started The Shining last night and got about 25% into it before I had to stop. The power went out and I got too nervous to wander through the dark house to go to the bathroom, so I figured it was time for bed. (And then the power came back on and I was still too afraid to get up.)

The first part of the book is basically just the set up, and King does a really good job of letting the reader know the lay of the land. (view spoiler)[ 1. Jack used to drink and has a temper. 2. His wife Wendy is worried about him and the move to the Overlook. 3. Their son Danny can see things that most people cannot. 4. Some weird and nasty stuff has gone down at the Overlook hotel. (hide spoiler)] Take all of those things, stir in some isolation and let's see what happens!

Ah man, The Shining was good. The first time I read it, I was in high school. I remember it being late afternoon on a super foggy day. My dad was working night shift, so he was asleep, and my stepmom was at the airport picking up my uncle. I ended up getting so freaked out, I had to hide the book for awhile.

While I wasn't as scared this time around, I like the book even more. I think this book resonates with me so much because the horror isn't really an outside force; it's the weak parts of ourselves that can rationalize bad bahavior. The Overlook is a nasty bastard, but Jack Torrance doesn't put up much of a fight. He shows how easy it can be to succumb to our worst impulses.

I finished Dr. Sleep last night, and while it is not as good as The Shining, it's still pretty good. I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic and King was much kinder to his good guys than he might have been 25 years ago, but it's an engaging read.

The Shining is scarier because Jack Torrance is a scary guy with or without the haunted hotel. He's a drinker with a bad temper and you never know where he is going to land. The bad guys of Dr. Sleep - The True Knot - aren't particularly frightening, because they aren't even close to being real. The part of the book that resonated the most with me was the story of Danny's sobriety, and his efforts to not be forced down a path by genetics.

I also loved The Shining which I read in high school. A re-read is definitely needed before I start on Doctor Sleep. I don't like movies a lot but I loved the movie version. Jack Nicholson was fantastic. About 5 years ago, I had a chance to go to Denver. I extended my trip so I could spend the weekend at The Stanley Hotel which is the inspiration for The Shining. The hotel is gorgeous. Estes Park, CO, is gorgeous. Although I didn't see any ghosts (!), the town has some great geocaches. I highly recommend a visit for all Stephen King fans.

That sounds like a cool trip.

Yeah, the movie is quite different from the book, but I love them both. I can't say which one I like best because they are not the same at all. (Some of the story elements are similar, but the subtext changes across mediums.)

That is why I need to do a re-read. There is so much concerning the character of the father that I just didn't get the first time I read it. I really focused on the "haunting" more than Jack's inner demons. I am sure I will appreciate it at a whole new level now that I have experienced more of life myself. The trip was fantastic! We just don't have the kind of mountains and terrain here on the East Coast that you in the West have. A whole different kind of charm!