SK's scariest novels...

[vcalio372]

I certainly don't want to fight either. I just liked the way that (for those who saw the movie first and read the novel second) Kubrik made the audience wonder for the first half of the film if the hotel is really haunted, or if Jack Torrance simply is going insane because he's an alcoholic in early recovery (I myself am a recovering alcoholic - no drinks for 4 years and still counting). To me, the implication in the film version is that Jack Torrance did in fact attempt to strangle Danny, and probably snuck booze in to the hotel (us alcoholics tend to do that. We sneak alcohol in to places where we know we won't have access to booze - it's insane).

[blunthead]

I certainly don't want to fight either. I just liked the way that (for those who saw the movie first and read the novel second) Kubrik made the audience wonder for the first half of the film if the hotel is really haunted, or if Jack Torrance simply is going insane because he's an alcoholic in early recovery (I myself am a recovering alcoholic - no drinks for 4 years and still counting). To me, the implication in the film version is that Jack Torrance did in fact attempt to strangle Danny, and probably snuck booze in to the hotel (us alcoholics tend to do that. We sneak alcohol in to places where we know we won't have access to booze - it's insane).

First, congratulations on your recovery! I saw Kubrik's The Shining long before I read sK's. In fact, questions about the movie were why I chose that book first. I don't know if I'd say the audience didn't know the hotel was haunted during the first half, since Danny saw those twin girls in the hallway, but I did enjoy Kubrik's direction (always do); his use of the hotel's enormous size to induce feelings of loneliness and aloneness, and his exposing us to Torrance's gradual, inevitable decline.

My vote for scariest sK novel (so far. I am so far behind most of you guys) is Bag of Bones, first, and Misery second.

[gniknehpets]

I had nightmares for weeks after reading The Shining. Those hedges, the firehose, Danny's trances, the elevator, the lady in the tub, redrum... I moaned out loud in fear while reading. My husband thought I was nuts. "put it down and quit reading the $%@# thing if it upsets you so much" he told me but I couldn't. I tried reading it again a few months ago and can't. Just can't.

[mohctep]

It.

[bigbandtheory]

I love Pet Semetary, and it is by far the scariest in my book! It made me cry the first time i read it!