The Shining is the kind of book that has 100% of Stephen King's style: it keeps you turning the pages, it's impossible to put down, and it gets you REALLY involved in the characters' lives. You literally start worrying about them. Get ready to be terrified by it to the point of not being able to sleep at night. Trust me, it will have such an impact on you that people will question your mental sanity. 
 There's no point in discussing King's writing, because it was too frightening and so full of emotion that I can't express my love in words, so I'll just move to my "characters" section. 
 My favourite part about the story is its characters. The Torrance family is very interesting, and even believable. The story somehow focuses on each of them separately, and also together, as a family. Danny is incredibly mature in thinking for a five-year-old and he is just learning to deal with his (view spoiler)[premonitions and mind-reading abilities (hide spoiler)]. Jack, his father, and the most awesome part of the book, is an ex-teacher who was fired because of being alcoholic. You basically get a tour inside his mind, you get to understand him truly, and you get to witness how he turned into the most famous horror story psycho ever. 
 The only reason why I gave it 4 stars, not 5, is because of the fact that I had greater expectations. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't disappointed by it, not at all, but I expected way too much, so don't do that. Anyway, I'm morbidly curious to read Doctor Sleep.