The Shining

Disclaimer: Avoid King books if you're sensitive to the overuse of adverbs. Second disclaimer: The movie and the book are quite different, but neither will ruin you for the other since they're both excellent.King has spoken about how Jack Torrance, The Shining's main protagonist, is an extreme representation of himself. It's not as conceited as it sounds though, because Torrance is written with a rage that borders on self-hatred.Why it made the listFirstly, King's influence on speculative fiction is undeniable. The Shining is an excellent example of the things that make his books so popular: An intense energy that drives the plot along, characters that grow (not always in the right direction) and an atmosphere that's both threatening and thrilling.The Overlook Hotel is given such life that it becomes one of the characters in the book. And it's creepier than a bald Donald Trump. It's also one of the things the movie doesn't depict – it's a supernatural force in the book. As with all of his books, the plot is filled with intelligent ideas and solid writing.You might struggle to read this if you've watched the movie, but if you do give it a shot, you'll find it as much of a classic as the film.