The best of the Stephen King novels for its subtlety. Jack Torrance, unlike his film counterpart, is a much more nuanced and tragic figure here. His descent into madness is his own fault, but for as horrible as a person he is you can’t help but pity him.

The one thing about this novel that is an unfortunate reality is the tired use of having a ‘magical Black man’ trope fitted in. Not only that, but having Dick speak in an insulting bastardization of AAVE also brings the score down. The multiple instances of the n word with the hard R are unneeded as well. Without these factors, the book would be perfect.