The Shining, Week 2

Welcome to Week 2 of the Online Book Club discussion of The Shining.

What were your first thoughts about the book this month? Did you feel like the beginning was too scary, or were you able to read right through? I'm glad I get to read the book at the library where it's busy and well-lit. I don't think I could read the book at home when it's dark! I'm a big wimp when it comes to scary books and movies. I get scared very easily!

What do you think of our three main characters? I am not a fan of Jack at all. He's just not nice, and I don't trust that he is really mentally sound enough to be in this hotel through the winter. What did you make of his incident while he was teaching? I just can't picture a teacher acting that way. And, I didn't feel like Jack felt bad for beating up a student. I think he felt bad that he lost his job, and I think he feels bad that his actions affected his family, but I didn't think he felt particularly bad for hurting a child. Were you surprised when you read that he had broken Danny's arm? I wasn't. I think Jack is an unhinged person, and I'm really nervous what he's going to do as the winter goes on. 

I was confused about Danny and his abilities throughout this first section. I can't really understand what he's able to do. Hallorann explains that Danny has "a shining," and he's the shiniest person that's come through the hotel. But, that didn't really explain things to me. It seems that he's able to telepathically interact with people, and he's able to hear his parents' thoughts. And, he seems sensitive to spirits. Do you think there's anything more to his gift? What do you think "Redrum" is? Who do you think Tony is? Why does this invisible friend keep showing Danny such horrible visions? It's all so hard for me to understand. 

Wendy seems like a normal person, but I don't think she'll be able to stand up to Joe if things get out of hand. Do you think Wendy is a weak person? I just worry about them during the winter since they have already had trouble in their marriage.

I did like the idea of the hotel itself. It seemed beautiful. The hotel was modeled after a hotel that Stephen King actually stayed at before writing the book. Check out the hotel's website or this article if you'd like to learn more about the hotel. Does it look like a place that you would like to stay? I definitely wouldn't stay in a room that is full of ghosts and spooky things! I thought it was interesting that the hotel had enough food and provisions to help the family last through the winter--do you really think the supplies will last? I also thought it was very interesting that the staff could not wait to leave the hotel to go to their winter destinations. Do you think they were just excited to be done with work, or were they excited to be away from the hotel? What do you think the hotel is like during the summer? Do you think spooky occurances still happen during the season? 

Danny definitely experiences some weird things in this first section. There was the whole part where he is attacked by wasps, even though Jack was sure he had killed them all. And, then, at the end of the section, Danny is convinced that the fire extinguisher hose is moving like a snake. Why are those weird things happening to Danny? What do you think is going to happen next? 

I'm nervous that Jack is becoming obsessed with the hotel after finding the scrapbook in the basement. I think he thinks writing about the hotel will bring him the fame and fortune he lost after being fired from the school. But, I just worry the quest for fame will overtake him, and he will not be kind or patient to his family. I just don't know how they are all going to get through the winter. 

Do you think the family is going to make it through the winter? Do you think Jack is going to find fulfillment in the hotel, or is he going to continue to struggle? Do you have any guesses about what could happen in the next section? 

If you want to get to know author, Stephen King, better, check out the video below. Have you read any of the books that he has enjoyed? Let me know in the comments below. 

Thanks for reading along this week! Make sure to read through chapter 38 before checking back next week. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments!