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The shining paperback5/29/2023 ![]() I’m not usually drawn to domestic fiction but the way abuse is handled in this story and the portrayal of Jack is interestingly balanced in a way that provides nuance to the character. He feels regret for his actions and has changed at the start of the story but like the matter of his addiction, the circumstances that led him to act out in violence are not completely resolved and the trust between he and his wife, Wendy, is strained. He also has a history of abuse toward his wife and son. Though he’s tried to stay clean and sober, not drinking has been a constant and daily battle for him. ![]() This is particularly true of who could be considered the main character of the three, Jack Torrance. The Shining in particular is so utterly character-driven, digging deep in the psyche of its three main leads and seeking to bring them to life via lengthy flashbacks, nitty-gritty details of their reactions and feelings, and occasional use of repetition to really drive home their demons and struggles. His style (or at least, the style present in The Shining) requires a level of patience and maturity, I think, that might have had me DNF’ing this book years ago and not getting along with the characters. ![]() That might sound weird so let me elaborate. After intending for years and years to read a Stephen King novel, I’m glad to have waited so long. ![]()
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