Just finished The Shining. For 470 pages it was absolutely brilliant, kept me hooked and I preferred it to the brilliant film. One of the best things I've read, so nasty and sinister in places.
The ending though :/
Very, very weak IMO. It turns out the films most famous part, "Here's Johnny!!!" never actually happened in print. Sure he caved doors in, but he used the infamous roquet mallet. The axe seems much more suitable. The other good bit, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" also is a Kubrick fabrication.
What I really didn't like was what Torrence eventually was by the end of the book, and the blindingly obvious near miss after the creatures demise. Really didn't buy that and it was so obvious it hurt.
I wouldn't say it spoilt it, but I'd say the films ending is far superior. The book goes into tremendous detail in painting this huge sinister hotel (Redrum is brilliant) and then maybe lets itself down.
It's the 1st King I've ever read, however I've been told this is the norm for him. Huge build up, slightly poor end. Apparently he's also hugely formulamatic and just keeps to a rigid plan. Is this the case?
Was going to start Dark Tower but if I'm going to be a bit let down then I'm not sure.
Just started "Vernon God Little". Seems quirky and interesting, very Catcher in the Rye though. Hopefully I can have more empathy for Vernon than I did Holden.
The ending though :/
Very, very weak IMO. It turns out the films most famous part, "Here's Johnny!!!" never actually happened in print. Sure he caved doors in, but he used the infamous roquet mallet. The axe seems much more suitable. The other good bit, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" also is a Kubrick fabrication.
What I really didn't like was what Torrence eventually was by the end of the book, and the blindingly obvious near miss after the creatures demise. Really didn't buy that and it was so obvious it hurt.
I wouldn't say it spoilt it, but I'd say the films ending is far superior. The book goes into tremendous detail in painting this huge sinister hotel (Redrum is brilliant) and then maybe lets itself down.
It's the 1st King I've ever read, however I've been told this is the norm for him. Huge build up, slightly poor end. Apparently he's also hugely formulamatic and just keeps to a rigid plan. Is this the case?
Was going to start Dark Tower but if I'm going to be a bit let down then I'm not sure.
Just started "Vernon God Little". Seems quirky and interesting, very Catcher in the Rye though. Hopefully I can have more empathy for Vernon than I did Holden.
Comment