Sean Dorsey – Outside Reading 4 - The Shining by Stephen King

I think The Shining contains one of the most accurate descriptions of a slow descent into insanity (helped no doubt in part due to King’s experience with withdrawal from drugs, alcohol) than any other story about the subject (at least that I have read). It is a truly harrowing experience to be able to see into Jack Torrance’s thoughts as his mind is corrupted by both his own guilt and the influence of the hotel within which the story takes place. I recommend reading it if you think you can handle the intensity of the experience – it's not an emotionally easy read. As far as ‘essence’ goes, I think Stephen King put quite a lot of his own into the writing of this story, and it really shows. This raises the question: does one have to experience something in order to describe it in its utmost reality? The story suggests that this is true and yet I’m pretty sure there are cases where imagination serves just as well.