Madison Meeks – Media Director 

mvm7037@psu.edu

Photo Credit: Doubleday Books

A spooky hotel, a horrific past, and a child’s psychic abilities: “The Shining” is a book for readers who love horror stories. “The Shining” written by famous author Stephen King was published on January 28, 1977. The book is based on King’s past stay at the infamous Stanley Hotel and his struggles with alcoholism. King also wrote a sequel to “The Shining” released in 2013 called “Doctor Sleep” which focuses on the character of Danny, who is a child in the first book. 

 “The Shining” focuses on Jack Torrance, a struggling alcoholic and writer who accepts an off-season job at the Overlook Hotel.  A place with a horrific past, its story told by several characters. Contained in tales are the deaths of some past guests, the last winter caretaker being one of them. Hopefully, this family knows what happened to the last winter caretaker if they don’t, well they are in for a nightmare. Jack, his wife Wendy, and their son Danny all move into the hotel so Jack can work as the winter caretaker.  Jack while recovering from his alcoholism is also struggling with anger issues. His anger issues cause him to, before the start of the book, break his son’s arm. Breaking his son’s arm caused him to lose his teaching job. 

Danny happens to possess the psychic ability that lets him read people’s minds, also known as ‘shining’. He can read people’s minds? Interesting. Are the psychic abilities connected to the hotel? So, Danny does not tell his parents about his abilities, which it feels like he should have told them earlier than he had later in the book. The family arrives at the hotel on closing day. Danny meets Dick Hallorann, the chef at the hotel, who happens to have an ability that is like Danny’s. It’s nice to see that even in a psychological horror novel they still have characters like Hallorann that know what Danny is going through. Danny starts seeing ghosts and terrifying visions but does not tell his parents because he felt like his father’s job was more important. He should have told his parents about the supernatural activity they would have probably been more considered about the visions than Jack’s job. 

Wendy thinks about leaving the hotel with Danny but decides to stay. It would have been a better choice to leave the Overlook instead of staying. The supernatural activity inside the hotel becomes stronger because of Danny’s presence. Due to Danny’s abilities, the Overlook has can’t take control of Danny so it takes control of Jack instead. Jack becomes irritable so he decides to drink at the bar. While Jack is drunk, he sees and meets some of the ghosts that haunt the Overlook.

While I would like to tell you the rest of what happens in “The Shining”. I hope I convinced readers to find out what happens. Both “The Shining” and the sequel “Doctor Sleep” have film adaptations if you are interested. “The Shining” is perfect for readers who love psychological horrors, thrillers, and the supernatural.