Should I read this book?

[Prussian to the Iron]

I saw the movie The Shining a couple days ago, and I've heard that the book is way better, and has lots of different stuff than the movie.

So to anyone here: Is it any good?

[Fragony]

Movie is soooooo much better, a true horror classic. Book is the usual Stephen justcantwrapitup King, it takes a good filmmaker to make something out of it. It's one of his better books but that isn't exactly saying a lot. It IS entertaining though, snobs frown on it but it's great fun.

[johnhughthom]

Yep it truly is that rare thing, the movie being better than the book. Though if you enjoyed the film the book should a lot more to the story for you, so I would say go ahead and read it.

[Lemur]

Haven't read the book since I was a kid, but I remember it being scary in very different ways from the film. The hedge animals, in particular, rocked my world, and the FX to do that just didn't exist when the film was made.

All early King is worth a read.

[Ramses II CP]

If you like horror novels The Shining is a good one. The usual King flaws are present; it's too long, you know who is going to die as soon as the characters are introduced, and the 'exceptionally gifted child saves the day' theme is all too obvious, but those flaws are also (IMHO) present in the film. I do enjoy the film (I presume we're talking about the original, not the made-for-tv (IIRC) one that came out a few years ago), especially the long rolling steady cam shots, but two of my favorite scenes from the book are not present in the movie and make it difficult for me to appreciate it in the same way.

[Prussian to the Iron]

thats the thing: i dont really know what kind of books i like.

i guess ill give it a shot then. thanks guys!

[Fragony]

Yep it truly is that rare thing, the movie being better than the book.

The Godfather, book is good holiday-reading, but a truly terrific movie.

[johnhughthom]

The Godfather, book is good holiday-reading, but a truly terrific movie.

Yep, the only bit really cut out of the movie was that strange part about the doctor and Lucy Mancini (I think that was her name).

[Lemur]

Yep it truly is that rare thing, the movie being better than the book.

Also Fight Club, a pretentious book that got turned into one of the best black comedies of all time.

[drone]

Which movie did you see, the one with Jack Nicholson, or the remake with Steven Weber? The first one is a classic, the second one is truer to the book but not nearly as good.

Read the book. I went on a King trip back in high school with all the old stuff: The Shining, It, The Stand, The Dead Zone, Salem's Lot, Pet Sematary, etc. He does have a problem finishing stories sometimes, which is why I think his short stories/novellas are his best work.

[Prussian to the Iron]

jack nicholson of course!

[Monk]

Also Fight Club, a pretentious book that got turned into one of the best black comedies of all time.

Yes.

thats the thing: i dont really know what kind of books i like.

All the more reason to read it.

[Lemur]

One area where the book was vastly superior to the film version of The Shining: In the book the father is not insane from the very beginning. In the film, Jack Nicholson is clearly out of his freaking mind from frame one. You're just waiting for him to crack. In the book, his descent into madness is much more of a journey.

[Tratorix]

Jack Nicholson is clearly out of his freaking mind.

Haven't read the Shining, its on my to do list. I've been working through some early Stephen King lately and the only one I'd truly recommend is It. He actually manages to pull off an ending that doesn't suck in that one.

[johnhughthom]

It. He actually manages to pull off an ending that doesn't suck in that one.

Really? I thought the ending was atrocious (the underage sex bit seemed out of place too), though it is probably my favourite King book.

[Tratorix]

Really? I thought the ending was atrocious (the underage sex bit seemed out of place too), though it is probably my favourite King book.

Anyone who doesn't dislike the underage sex bit is probably screwed up in the head. But I thought other than that it was good. He actually managed to wrap up the storyline and have an ending that wasn't just, "welp, books over". That's pretty good by Stephen King standards.

[Fragony]

Anyone who doesn't dislike the underage sex bit is probably screwed up in the head. But I thought other than that it was good. He actually managed to wrap up the storyline and have an ending that wasn't just, "welp, books over". That's pretty good by Stephen King standards.

He's great at building up a story but it always becomes a bit silly. I think 'It' is his best book, it's also one of the worst offenders when it comes to uh, wut?

[Zain]

Reading rots your brain.