Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.
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This week’s neglected book
The Shining by Stephen King Series: The Shining #1
Published by Penguin Random House on January 28, 1977
Genres: Fiction / Horror
Pages: 674
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Before Doctor Sleep, there was The Shining, a classic of modern American horror from the undisputed master, Stephen King.
Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.
Why did I add The Shining to my bookshelf?
I have wanted to read this book for close to forever. Well, maybe not that long but it seems like its been forever. I read a short story written by this author as a teen and decided that I didn’t like his writing and had no desire to read any of his books for years. I randomly picked up Revival at the library in 2014 and loved it. This book went on my tbr right away and since then I have collected quite a few copies. I currently have 3 mass market paperbacks, 1 Halloween special edition paperback, a hardcover, a hardcover omnibus that includes this book, and the kindle edition. You would think that I would have found the time to pick up just one of the 7 copies I own and actually read the book. Maybe I need to set a goal of reading a Stephen King book every month next year?
What are your thoughts? Have you read this book? Would you recommend it?
I read a lot of his books but if I saw the movie I don’t remember if I did read it
I have the same thing with a few Stephen King books. I’ve been wanting to read them for years.. but I just can’t seem to get to them. I think I only read It so far. And that book freaked me out so much I still hate clowns! LOL!!
I’ve never read a Stephen King book but I always imagined that I’d start with The Shining if I did. Of course I’m not exactly a big fan of horror but still it’s Stephen King and I feel like I’m missing out.
I have multiple copies of Libba Bray’s The Diviners series and I still have only read book 1. It’s somewhat of a sickness. Lol. I do hope to one day read the rest of the series, but the books are so long, it’s intimidating when earlier in the year I was trying to get my reading challenge completed…or at least on a good track. So maybe after my bout of spooky reads this month I will pick that one up!
You certainly have your pick of options when you decide to read this one. LOL I read a paperback copy years ago (likely before I ever got a Kindle) and when it was super dense (and needlessly long, IMO), it was so engrossing and really stayed with me.
I can’t believe you have seven copies of a book you have never read. Wow!
I read one of his books, Colorado Man after I watched a TV show, Haven, based on it, but I can’t do his really scary stuff.
King seems to be one of those authors people love or hate. I happen to be in the love (like) category. I’ve read a LOT of his books but lately steer away from his more definitively horror ones – for one thing, they’re super long, but also I’m kind of over horror. BUT, his non-horror, of which there are many, I REALLY like. The man is nothing if not creative. It would be interesting to be inside his brain for a week. Sheesh! There are many I’d recommend. I’m sure I read Shining a bazillion years ago but it doesn’t stand out in my memory like some of his others. And so many have been made into movies, it’s easy to get swayed by those – but, the books are worth the read. Let me know if you actually want recs and I’ll share. 🙂
If you liked The Shining, you will LOVE the SEQUEL, Dr. Sleep, which begins with the little boy in The Shining getting off a bus at the age of twenty-something. He will be the hero of many kids who share the “shining” like he had as a kid against a group of vampires who feed on the kids’ “shining energy.”
I have seen several versions of the movie and always enjoyed it but have never picked up the book. I never realized the boy was supposed to be 5!