Hi Shaina, I prefer the book to the movie because the characters are better fleshed out and, as you mentioned, Nicholson looks crazy straight away so there’s no deterioration, it’s just there at the start
I have sympathy for Jack in the book as I have known people like that in real life and his issues are well described and detailed. However, there is no sympathy for movie Jack
Kubrick was quite scathing of the book calling the story weak and the ending hackneyed so it’s no surprise him and King didn’t see eye to eye
I admire the movie but don’t like it and ironically I find Kubrick’s ending really weak and the character of Wendy ridiculously written
Wow, I didn't know that about Kubricks's opinions of the book. Interesting that he still wanted to make it into a film. I suppose he was trying to tell the story the way he thought it should have been told.
Agree with your points on the film. I enjoyed it, but the book is far, far superior.
While I enjoyed both the film and book, I think the book captures the sense of the Overlook as an actual entity moving pieces to ruin and trap characters. The film produces key moments but they all seem happenstance (ie when the hotel room door is opened for Danny). The novel is more terrifying to me as it seems all the characters are but bugs stuck in a spider’s web which is the sentient hotel capable of manifesting phantoms who can harm and actions that can line up as dominos.
Yes, the film does not capture the power of the Overlook at all. The whole story seems to center around Jack as a haunted human capable of evil and insanity. The book really conveys just how good the hotel is at manipulating people. The Overlook is a character in the book. The film, not so much.
As I always come to expect, I thoroughly enjoyed your introduction and detailed commentary! Confession, I have not read the book but did see the movie by chance a few years ago. I'm now self obligated to read The Shining and Carrie, although my to read list grows by the minute it seems. I easily remember the caricature of madness coming from Jack Nicholson in a stereotypical performance. Kind of wears you out by the end of the film and you just feel relieved.
Agreed! I’m anxious to see what you think about the book. It took me two read-through a to really see what King was getting at in his criticism of the movie.
Your post was a great gift, because it made me realize I want to re-read the book so thanks so much!
I read the book as a teenager and loved it. I did not realize the significance of REDRUM. The movie is iconic, almost over the top iconic at this point.
I prefer early King to later King, but no writer has scared me so much or given me more entertainment. In college (1980 or so), I read the Stand over a weekend. Could not put it down.
I'm so jealous David! I wish I could have read it without the cultural context, but I agree with you on early King vs. later King. He's written incredible books in later life, but there is something to the edge of that early writing. The imagination, the cohesiveness of the stories...pure magic.
This was great Shaina! I learned a lot about King that I didn’t know before. You did a wonderful job of laying out the story and showing the parallels to King’s life.
Thank you so much for reading Ben! I love diving into the person behind the book. This one was particularly interesting. I didn't realize how personal this story was to him until I read through interviews he did after the book was written. It was such a vulnerable admission.
I don’t know...I loved both so much but I wish I could have experienced the book without knowing what redrum meant...seems like it could have been a cool reveal...
Fantastic in-depth analysis, Shaina. I expect no less 😉
I watched the film (first time when I was probably a teenager) before I read the book, so can't answer that question about REDRUM -- I'd like to *hope* I would have spotted it in the test, but perhaps not.
As I just replied to Daniel, I enjoyed the film but the book is far superior. The character depth, the strength of each, the sympathy for Jack -- I felt all these things in the book. I also have to say that the scene with the bicycle on the road remained indelibly etched in my mind. For whatever reason, I felt that bit of Jack's backstory was just so so well written.
Agreed! As with most book to movie productions, there isn’t time to capture what King did. After this read, I felt like I experienced two completely separate characters/stories. I enjoy the film, but I completely understand why King was unsatisfied with Kubrick’s portrayal.
Hi Shaina, I prefer the book to the movie because the characters are better fleshed out and, as you mentioned, Nicholson looks crazy straight away so there’s no deterioration, it’s just there at the start
I have sympathy for Jack in the book as I have known people like that in real life and his issues are well described and detailed. However, there is no sympathy for movie Jack
Kubrick was quite scathing of the book calling the story weak and the ending hackneyed so it’s no surprise him and King didn’t see eye to eye
I admire the movie but don’t like it and ironically I find Kubrick’s ending really weak and the character of Wendy ridiculously written
So, definitely in the King camp on this one
I’m with you! Wendy is probably the worst character in Kubrick’s film. A completely different portrayal than King’s.
Wow, I didn't know that about Kubricks's opinions of the book. Interesting that he still wanted to make it into a film. I suppose he was trying to tell the story the way he thought it should have been told.
Agree with your points on the film. I enjoyed it, but the book is far, far superior.
While I enjoyed both the film and book, I think the book captures the sense of the Overlook as an actual entity moving pieces to ruin and trap characters. The film produces key moments but they all seem happenstance (ie when the hotel room door is opened for Danny). The novel is more terrifying to me as it seems all the characters are but bugs stuck in a spider’s web which is the sentient hotel capable of manifesting phantoms who can harm and actions that can line up as dominos.
Yes, the film does not capture the power of the Overlook at all. The whole story seems to center around Jack as a haunted human capable of evil and insanity. The book really conveys just how good the hotel is at manipulating people. The Overlook is a character in the book. The film, not so much.
As I always come to expect, I thoroughly enjoyed your introduction and detailed commentary! Confession, I have not read the book but did see the movie by chance a few years ago. I'm now self obligated to read The Shining and Carrie, although my to read list grows by the minute it seems. I easily remember the caricature of madness coming from Jack Nicholson in a stereotypical performance. Kind of wears you out by the end of the film and you just feel relieved.
Agreed! I’m anxious to see what you think about the book. It took me two read-through a to really see what King was getting at in his criticism of the movie.
Soonest. A couple or three in queue, plus a little short fiction here or there...
Your post was a great gift, because it made me realize I want to re-read the book so thanks so much!
I read the book as a teenager and loved it. I did not realize the significance of REDRUM. The movie is iconic, almost over the top iconic at this point.
I prefer early King to later King, but no writer has scared me so much or given me more entertainment. In college (1980 or so), I read the Stand over a weekend. Could not put it down.
I'm so jealous David! I wish I could have read it without the cultural context, but I agree with you on early King vs. later King. He's written incredible books in later life, but there is something to the edge of that early writing. The imagination, the cohesiveness of the stories...pure magic.
This was great Shaina! I learned a lot about King that I didn’t know before. You did a wonderful job of laying out the story and showing the parallels to King’s life.
Thank you so much for reading Ben! I love diving into the person behind the book. This one was particularly interesting. I didn't realize how personal this story was to him until I read through interviews he did after the book was written. It was such a vulnerable admission.
Fantastic article, and spot on with your thoughts on the book and film. I saw the movie first, mistake or not?
I don’t know...I loved both so much but I wish I could have experienced the book without knowing what redrum meant...seems like it could have been a cool reveal...
Fantastic in-depth analysis, Shaina. I expect no less 😉
I watched the film (first time when I was probably a teenager) before I read the book, so can't answer that question about REDRUM -- I'd like to *hope* I would have spotted it in the test, but perhaps not.
As I just replied to Daniel, I enjoyed the film but the book is far superior. The character depth, the strength of each, the sympathy for Jack -- I felt all these things in the book. I also have to say that the scene with the bicycle on the road remained indelibly etched in my mind. For whatever reason, I felt that bit of Jack's backstory was just so so well written.
Agreed! As with most book to movie productions, there isn’t time to capture what King did. After this read, I felt like I experienced two completely separate characters/stories. I enjoy the film, but I completely understand why King was unsatisfied with Kubrick’s portrayal.