Review of The Shining [The Book]

The Shining by Stephen King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Whenever a movie comes out, pedantic people will always (and I mean always) say, "the book was better". And while 9 times out of 10, the book IS better than the movie, it doesn't always have to be said.

It's just a fact, books are better than their movie adaptations.

Except, some aren't, and The Shining is one of those exceptions. Stephen King, who I adore, has always made a point of stating that he didn't like Stanley Kubrick's version of his story and for good reason. The book and the movie have a lot of major differences, namely in the ending and in the backstory of the characters. I mean, these are major differences, not just small little changes. As a writer myself, I would usually side with the author rather than the director, but in this regard, I actually think Stanley Kubrick did a better job of telling the story of The Shining than even Stephen King. The Shining is just that good of a movie.

Now, that's not to say that the book is bad, as it's not. It's really good. In fact, many of the best scenes in the movie come directly from the book. But Kubrick just took those moments and put them into overdrive. The dead woman in the bath tub is scary in the book, but horrifying in the movie. The bar scene in the book is fascinating, but the movie version is chilling. Even Danny's revelation of REDRUM being MURDER in the book isn't as potent as it is in the film version. Add in the major change in the movie's ending, which has stuck with me since childhood, and you have a movie that is much better than the book. No question.

Now, if I had read the book first, I might have a different opinion, but all throughout reading it, I just kept thinking, this was better in the film, this was better in the film, and I rarely ever say that, even after seeing the movie first.

This book, and Fight Club, are the only instances where I feel the movie is much, much better than the book. It's rare, but it happens, and this is just one such example. Enjoy the book, but love the movie.



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Review: The Stand

The Stand by Stephen King

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I don't know if I'd recommend "The Stand." Considered to be the best work by King, from what I've read from him ("The Green Mile," "Carrie," and the entire "Dark Tower" series), I'd tend to disagree. For one thing, the book is far too long. I read the uncut edition, and in paperback form, it clocked in at over 1400 pages. That's ridiculous. And so much of the book seems overwritten. The council committee sections are especially trying. I just wanted the book to get through with those scenes and push on. It was tough to sit through and I feel most of it could have been left out. I was not a fan.

But my biggest problem is probably how it ends. It's very unsatisfying. I won't spoil anything, but after the big event that is the stand itself, it spends about 90 pages winding itself down and in a very unsatisfactory way. It's spent with characters I never really cared for in the first place, so it was a major drag. I hated it.

But for all its problems, it does have some shining moments. I mostly read this book because I was interested in Randall Flagg since he appears in "The Dark Tower" novels, and he didn't disappoint. In fact, there was SO much build-up, that that may have been my biggest complaint. The pay-off wasn't worth it. It would have been so much better if King kept to his promise of a stunning conclusion. But alas, he didn't, and that's what makes it a disappointing book. You read all those pages and get to know all those characters, and it just falls completely flat. What a bummer.

Overall, it's not a bad book, but far from what I would call his best. And that front cover shot of the grim reaper fighting Luke Skywalker (That's what it looks like, right?), just ignore it. Nothing in the book like that ever happens. If you want to get more perspective on "The Dark Tower," pick it up. But if you never even read "The Dark Tower," series, I would advise against it. It's just too long. Read something else.



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The Wind Through the Keyhole by Stephen King Review

The Wind Through the Keyhole: A Dark Tower Novel by Stephen King

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Wind Through the Keyhole is an excellent book, but it feels more like a side story (And it is) rather than another book in the Dark Tower series. That's because fan favorites like Eddie, Jake, and Susannah are barely even in it at all. Instead, we're given two short stories in one, "The Skin Man," and the title story itself, "The Wind Through the Keyhole," which is the better of the two. In this way, I feel this book might have been better as one of the graphic novels of the Dark Tower stories rather than a so-called new novel in the series. It's a bit of a tease, really. If you're reading the series for the first time, you can actually skip this book as it in no way affects the outcome of the later titles or even really offers much insight into the world of the series itself. This book stands alone. That said, Stephen King will always be a master storyteller, and if you just want to read a good book and not have to deal with the 7 other titles, then go on ahead. You won't be missing much, and the stuff you will be missing you could always just check on Wikipedia. Overall, it's a great book, but an unworthy entry in the series, not because it's bad, mind you, but because it doesn't advance the overarching story. Buy it with that in mind if you're a big fan of TDT.



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I Love Authors Who Reference Their Other Work in Their Other Books

(Image taken from: Passionforcinema.com)

So, I'm reading the Dark Tower saga (And I'm on the penultimate book, Song Of Susannah, in case you were wondering), and man, Stephen King just references the HELL out of his other books in this series. From The Stand to Salem's Lot to even referencing HIMSELF in these books, if you're a fan of his work, then it's an absolute pleasure to see some of his other characters make a appearance in this series. It's almost like a reward for reading his other titles, and I love that about the man. I love getting that reward. It makes it all the more awesome to read his work, and also, that much more unexpected. I keep wondering if Pennywise from It will make an appearance here. I mean, the turtle already has, so really, anything can happen with the Dark Tower. Anything.

(Image taken from: straighttothesource.blogspot.com)

As a reader, and, as a writer, I dig that. It's showcasing that for an author, the books aren't just separate galaxies, but rather, one enormous universe where all of their ideas circulate into one. It's a bold approach to crafting novels, and I adore it. Hopefully, after my first book gets published (And it will get published...it will), I'll do a similar thing. I just hope that it will all make sense.

In the end though, it's a great way to build a fan base from being just plain dedicated, to being utterly obsessed to read everything that that author has written. And I can tell you one thing, if Chuck Palahniuk had done it, I'd probably still be reading his books.

Then again though, not many authors do do it, and the only other two who I can actually think of off hand are Kurt Vonnegut, mainly with Kilgore Trout, and Sinclair Lewis, who delightfully placed Babbitt in his novel Elmer Gantry for a brief, cameo appearance. Can you think of any others? If you can, please put them in the comments box below. I'd love to hear a few.

(Image taken from: wgfriends.com)

No, no, no, no, no, no, no to Javier Bardem as Roland. No.

(Picture taken from: darekkocurek.com)

Javier Bardem is a badass. If you need somebody with a Prince Valiant hairdo to say "Friendo," into the camera, you have your man. But as Roland from the Dark Tower series? Get outta here! But that's what Cinemablend says. You can find the article here: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Javier-Bardem-Has-Been-Offered-The-Lead-Role-In-Ron-Howard-s-The-Dark-Tower-22841.html

Now, here's why this would suck. Roland is basically Clint Eastwood. Read the books and you'll see the influence immediately. Roland of Gilead is the man with no name from the Fistful of Dollars trilogy. That said, when I hear his voice in my head, I actually hear Stephen King's voice. It's crazy, I know, but I do. Listen.



And to me, and a lot of people, Javier Bardem doesn't fit that part. Ron Howard, who's directing the film, must have forgotten the face of his father if he honestly allowed casting directors to settle on him. There had been word that Christian Bale or Viggo Mortensen might have been up for the role. I don't know if I like those two choices, but they're definitely better than Bardem, who I sometimes have a hard time understanding. Ideally, I would have liked Josh Brolin. He could bring a gravitas and coolness to it like no other. Alas, this is turning out to be a big mess. Just read the books, people. Javier Bardem as Roland is insufferable!