Reading The Shining after 30+ years (because of Dr sleep)

**Tiny** · November 26th, 2012

Back in ancient times, in the days of Yore, I watched a movie called : The Shinning.
I was 12 and it was the year 1981. I watched it on Reg. TV, heavily edited .

(I don't believe there are any spoilers below, but some of you might think so )
The Shinning was literary one of the 3 or 4 movies that got me started on Horror fiction. Later I would take to reading horror fiction. I never picked up the book : The Sinning, because I had believed I all ready knew the story. I was mistaken.
Since the announcement of Dr. Sleep I have resolved to read it , after a wait of more then 30 years. I am currently reading the part where Jack is messing roof. (shingles and wasps and such). I hope very soon , the same situation will arise with the book: Fire Starter . I hope I am forced to read that book because of a pending part 2. This would please me to no end .
I can not find any dates for The Shinning. It is the late 70s of course, But Id like the exact year .
I have been listening for clues; like say “a movie called JAWS'” was “in the theaters” at the time ...but nothing... no clues . I am interested in making a universal time line (see my profile) for S.K's work .
Like... for instance : Did Carrie White die the same summer that Charlie McGee went to Rolling Stone? And was that the same summer (or year) that Jack Torrence(and his friend) ran over the bicycle in the road ? And was this the same year that a lot of bad stuff happened in a town called Salem's Lot ? And are these four tales from one universe? , or four ?
Id like Mr King to settle some of these questions ...someday. The Shinning universe is, most certainly, “ of ” or “closely related” to the IT universe (Via the cook, who was also at the Black Spot.)
I believe our beloved Sai King is plain 'stubborn' and obstinate about making any finale statement about these connections... preferring to leave it all 'open' . I can not say that I am a fan of this Open, lossey Goosey , way of doing things. Not for 30+ years anyhow....Gheeesh.
I Don't believe its a 'spoiler' to say : That bicycle , at the begging of The Shinning plays a key role. I wanna know who put it there...and why. I wanna believe it was one of the “Old farts of the apocalypse” or one of the folk of “the Good Mind” . The bicycle is one more loose end that needs to be tied up .

**AchtungBaby** · November 28th, 2012

The Shining is one of my favorites. It was published in 1977, I believe.

**Shoe** · November 28th, 2012

If you only know Firestarter from the movie then that needs to change. You must read Firestarter because I thought it was a great book.

**blunthead** · November 28th, 2012

The Shining is my first sK, so lotsa sentimental value for that score. I'm looking forward to a reread which, at the rate I'm reading, might be in the clearing.