The Shining by Stephen King
Chapter 1
In the first chapter of the book, we are introduced to Jack Torrance. He is at the Overlook, a hotel in Colorado. He's being interviewed for the the job of being the hotels caretaker during the winter. We learn that Jack has had a difficult and shady past, including alcoholism, being fired from his teaching job for beating a student, and a time when he accidentally broke his son Danny's arm. This foreshadows that Jack can be a very troubled man. We are also introduced to Stuart Ullman, the manager of the Overlook and a man whom Jack has no liking towards what so ever. Ullman went over the Overlook's history and disclosed to Jack that the previous winter caretaker was also an alcoholic. He had murdered his wife and both his young daughters in a drunken rage, perhaps from cabin fever, and then killed himself. Ullman knew about Jacks troubled past and was seeking reassurance, as well as admitting a warning, that the 5 months of the winter could be long and harsh, with little to no communication with the outside world. Jack reassures who he refers to as the officious manager, stating that he hasn't had a drop of alcohol and that his family won't be subject to such an extreme case of cabin fever, because they are all very intelligent people who will have much to amuse themselves with, and that the job is the opportunity his family needs to become closer.
I was very intrigued after reading this first chapter. I was familiar with the plot and film, so I was curious to see if the book was any better. I actually finished the book and liked it better than the film. The organizational pattern I noticed most heavily was chronological order, used when Ullman was explaining the history of the hotel, and when Jack was thinking about his past.
The authors intent for this first chapter was to introduce one of the main characters, the main setting, and also to foreshadow events in the book.
Hi Riane! I am familiar with Stephen King and his great work. "The Shining" seems to have an interesting plot twist to it, don't you agree? I would like to know more about these characters, can you elaborate a little more? Overall, "The Shining" sounds like a thrilling novel.
ReplyDeleteHi Rosie, I agree completely. His style of writing had me on edge throughout the whole book, and the ending was definitely an unexpected twist. The other main characters in the novel were Wendy and Danny Torrance. Wendy was Jacks wife, and Danny was his son. What was very interesting about Danny was that he had very powerful psychic abilities, which was called a "shining," according to another main character, the hotel cook named Halloran. Halloran also possessed the same abilities as Danny!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Talk about plot twist! That's why the book is called "The Shining" because of Danny's psychic ability? You have to tell me how you felt once you finished the book! I would definitely be emotionally distraught with so much occurring in the book! Since Danny was psychic, was the book written in chronological order?
ReplyDeleteYes that's correct! That was a great inference. I was in shock once I finished, because the book has both positive and negative outcomes. The book was mainly written in chronological order, but often the characters would be daydreaming for example, and then the author would go back and explain the past in chronological order while the character was in this day dream. Does that make sense? At times the daydreams and reality would overlap and it got a little confusing.
ReplyDeleteWhat were the negative and positive outcomes? I prefer books that are in chronological order because for me, it seems easier to understand, does that apply to you too? And of course, it makes perfect sense!
ReplyDeleteOh but I don't want to spoil the ending for you! But if you'd like I would be happy to tell you, would you like me to?
ReplyDeleteThat applies to me as well! It's more difficult to read material when the author is jumping around between events.
SPOILER ALERT! But yes, indeed I would love if you told me! Yes, it's extremely hard to grasp whats happening because the author is not in chronological order but hey, that's what makes books so great right?
ReplyDeleteYes I agree, sometimes challenging books are the best ones.
ReplyDeleteAlright I will tell you! In the end, the father, Jack Torrance ends up dying, with Wendy and Danny surviving. It is sad because the father Jack, was possessed by malevolent forces in the hotel, but he was able to snap out of it for a moment in time for Wendy and Danny to survive.
WHOA! NOW talk about plot twist! Riane, you have just convinced me to go out and buy the book!
ReplyDeleteThat is great Rosie! Hope you enjoy it.
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