The ShiningThe Shining
Score Classic
What it's about
Jack Torrance takes a job as the off-season caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, high in the Colorado Rockies, hoping for a fresh start with his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, and time to write. But as the winter snows cut them off from the world, the old hotel grows more sinister, and only five-year-old Danny, who has a psychic gift, sees the forces gathering around them.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the most famous horror novels ever written and one of Stephen King's best. It's terrifying, but at its heart is a family coming apart under addiction and rage.
You'll love it if you liked
The Haunting of Hill House
It
DraculaGood to know
It differs a lot from Kubrick's film, especially in its ending and in how it treats Jack. Its sequel, Doctor Sleep, follows Danny as an adult.
By the numbers
- Readers84 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller85 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #3 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #69 of the 762 classics we rank
- #218 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
More by Stephen King
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
The Stand
11/22/63ItIf you like this, read next
The Picture of Dorian Gray
The Exorcist
Blood Meridian
Swan Song
Watchers
Light in AugustExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Shining worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the most famous horror novels ever written and one of Stephen King's best. It ranks #218 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Shining about?
Jack Torrance takes a job as the off-season caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, high in the Colorado Rockies, hoping for a fresh start with his wife, Wendy, and son, Danny, and time to write. But as the winter snows cut them off from the world, the old hotel grows more sinister, and only five-year-old Danny, who has a psychic gift, sees the forces gathering around them.
How long does it take to read The Shining?
About 12 hours (497 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Shining?
If you liked it, try The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, It by Stephen King or Dracula by Bram Stoker.