Stephen King – Starry Night Elf

*The Shining Behind the Scenes Movie Poster* is a mixed media by Martin Rois which was uploaded on March 31st, 2021 centered on a light turquoise background | Movie Poster Source: FineArtAmerica

Seeing the Story/ Review of Book to Screen Adaptation

Released by Warner Brothers in 1980

**All screen adaptations will be referred to in the following format “Title (Date).”**

4.2/5 I recently posted my Starlight Book Review (SBR0 Stephen King’s The Shining as my “Back in the 1970s” Book for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC) in anticipation of watching a screen adaptation. Mostly due to availability and recommendations from others, I chose Stanley Kubrick’s movie The Shining (1980) featuring unforgettable performances by Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and the young Danny Lloyd.

Click here to read my SBR of Stephen King’s The Shining.

Click here to learn more about the Back in the Day SRC.

“Haunted by a persistent writer’s block, the aspiring author and recovering alcoholic, Jack Torrance, drags his wife, Wendy, and his gifted son, Danny, up snow-capped Colorado’s secluded Overlook Hotel after taking up a job as an off-season caretaker. As the cavernous hotel shuts down for the season, the manager gives Jack a grand tour, and the facility’s chef, the ageing Mr Hallorann, has a fascinating chat with Danny about a rare psychic gift called “The Shining”, making sure to warn him about the hotel’s abandoned rooms, and, in particular, the off-limits Room 237. However, instead of overcoming the dismal creative rut, little by little, Jack starts losing his mind, trapped in an unforgiving environment of seemingly endless snowstorms, and a gargantuan silent prison riddled with strange occurrences and eerie visions. Now, the incessant voices inside Jack’s head demand sacrifice. Is Jack capable of murder?—Nick Riganas“

As with King’s book, I also prepared for The Shining (1980) to scare me silly. Yet, I felt the mental pictures I formed while reading The Shining more frightening than the film. Yes, I was on edge and a bit anxious as I watched the movie but I didn’t flinch as much as I expected. Nicholson easily dominated his scenes in this film with his electrifying performance. I still liked Hallorann as portrayed by the charming and seemingly affable Crothers. I found some of the changes necessary — Danny showing the audience that he and the invisible Tony were talking by moving his finger being one — I wished for a little more adherence in other spots. A few things, such as more about the horrific topiary and more of Hallorann’s struggle and outcome, deserved more air time. I do realize that the former might be due to the limitations of special effects in 1980 but The Shining (1980) could have somehow nodded more to this. On its own, The Shining (1980) excels as a film but… I ultimately preferred the book I read for the SRC.

Quotes come from description on IMDb and are featured on color blocks. Click here to access this webpage.

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Starlight Book Review – Stephen King’s The Shining

November 17, 2022November 17, 2022 The Starry Night Elf

*Cover of* The Shining by Stephen King centered on a dark blue-green background | Cover Image Source: Goodreads

Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge – 1970s

Published 1977

4.25/5 I determined to return to adult literature for my 1970s entry for the Back in the Day Stellar Reading Challenge (SRC). Still, I wanted to read something a little different from my usual fare and I chose a book from the Horror genre. While I have read several books by Stephan King, a few of his Horror books even, I had yet to read The Shining.

“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.”

I must note that one reason it took me several months to read The Shining was that I had to check in the book several times. Another would be that it was scary enough that I restricted my reading to certain times of day. King’s an amazing writer, providing evocative descriptions of characters and settings. I especially liked Dick Hallorann and I greatly cared about what happened to Danny Torrance. Several other characters were empathetic, too. I took off a partial star, though, for some of the rough parts, (yes, I know that this is definitely Horror) and an abundance of gratuitous details (again, I know). Will I read Doctor Sleep, the next in the series? Maybe after I read some lighter, cozier books. Still, I get why Stephen King reigns supreme. Also, I appreciated being able to step out of my reading comfort zone for this SRC.

Quotes come from book flaps/cover and are featured on color blocks.