I was truly overjoyed to revisit this remarkable collection last year in the company of a group of my dear friends from Bookstagram.

As I flipped through the pages once again, I couldn't help but be impressed by its well-rounded nature. In my humble opinion, each story within this collection has its own unique charm and allure. However, I must admit that The Body will forever hold a special place in my heart as my absolute favorite.

Despite being a rather chunky book, it is undoubtedly worth every moment of your precious time.

In fact, for many years, this collection reigned supreme as my all-time favorite. It was only recently surpassed by Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King.

I find myself wondering why I neglected to add it on here last year when we read it together. I suppose the underlying reason could be that I am often a chaotic mess, like a dumpster fire with arms, most of the time.

But hey, take from that what you will.

This is a remarkable book consisting of four novellas. Three of these novellas have been adapted into movies, and two of those three have been nominated for multiple Oscars. Interestingly, these three novellas are not even King's typical horror fare.

I haven't delved deeply into King's works, but what I have read, I've adored. This collection is said to showcase some of King's finest writing, and even with my limited experience, I can sense his peak form.

Lately, I've been on a King binge and couldn't resist reading the inspiration behind one of my favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption. I'm not sure if I'll get to the others anytime soon, but here's a review of the first.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (finished reading May 23, 2012)

The movie is simply titled "The Shawshank Redemption." Through my research, I learned that this was to avoid people thinking it was a movie about Rita Hayworth's life. Before the movie was fully underway, they received numerous solicitations from actresses to play the lead.

For me, and surely many others, the movie and the novella will always be intertwined. Not only did I see the movie first, but I had no idea it was based on a Stephen King story. It's a classic in both formats.

After reading this, I had to watch the movie again, and it's truly spot-on. There are very few changes to the story, and nothing that alters it in any significant way. I even wondered if Stephen King considered the minor changes to be improvements.

Also, for some final movie trivia, King considers this movie, Stand by Me (the film adaptation of The Body below), and The Mist to be his favorite adaptations of his works.

I doubt you need a synopsis, but if you've been living under a rock and haven't seen the movie, it's a tale of an innocent man wrongly imprisoned for killing his wife and her lover. It details his trials with people like the "sisters," the ways prisoners cope with prison life, and, as the title suggests, hope.

I've been told that this is some of King's best writing, and I have to admit it is some of the best I've ever read. So much of the movie contains the same narration and even some of the same dialogue as the book, and there's a reason for it - it's perfect as it is. (5 out of 5 Stars)

Apt Pupil (finished 2017)

After finishing the final novella in the collection, The Breathing Method, I think this one's my least favorite. However, it's my least favorite of four ridiculously good stories. I thought this was a great take on a tried and true topic - Nazis!

Spoiler warning: I enjoyed how this novella turned things around. The Nazi is bad, but the boy isn't much better as we soon learn when he not only blackmails the Nazi but commits similar atrocities. (3 out of 5 Stars)

The Body (finished reading July 1, 2013)

This was the second story in Different Seasons that I decided to read and probably the second most famous due to the Rob Reiner film. After reading the book and watching the movie, it's clear why the movie is so great. It almost mirrors the book exactly, with many of the great lines from the book. I don't understand why filmmakers don't learn that this is what makes a great book-to-film adaptation. Don't deviate or at least attempt a minimum of deviations.

From the "goocher" to "ranking out" someone's mom to everything being "boss," The Body might be a bit dated, but it still amazes me how King can bring you into his world, slang and all. This book really describes the relationship among boys, and the thought that kept occurring to me was how sad it is that kids today won't have experiences like this anymore. Well, not that anyone really wants this type of experience (this is King, after all), but we don't have adventures anymore, and that makes me truly sad.

Not only is the world we live in filled with pedophiles and psychos, so parents can't even let their kids out on their own, but kids are so busy with TV and video games (amongst a myriad of electronics) that we literally have to have commercials telling them to go play for 60 minutes a day.

There are so many things wrong with this that I can't even begin to explain.

So it's a sad day for adventures, but it's a good thing we have Stephen King to remind us what it's like to never show fear in front of your friends and never (and I mean NEVER) rank out someone about their family unless you mean it. (4 out of 5 Stars)

The Breathing Method (Finished November 23, 2018)

This is one of those stories within a story that King loves so much, at least in the Dark Tower books I've read. I thought the setup for the framing story was excellent, and I want to know more about the secrets the club holds. The story within the story was interesting and compelling, though it's kind of odd that it's a horror story about Lamaze. (3.5 out of 5 Stars)

This collection of novellas by Stephen King is closer to the excellent side of his work spectrum, like "The Green Mile", "Carrie", and "The Stand", rather than the mediocre side such as "Insomnia" and "Bag of Bones". The tales are somewhat familiar as three of the four seasons have been immortalized on celluloid.

It's not until the last Author's Note that King's intentions and themes converge. He wrote these novellas right after completing one novel each, with just enough energy left. This shows his creativity and productivity.

King is almost never a boring read. After reading over 20 of his novels, I know where to find entertainment. However, sometimes all his characters seem to share the same voice, regardless of gender.

These stories are mostly non-horror, except for one. "Shawshank Redemption" had a better reincarnation as a film. "Apt Pupil" is very morbid, like "American Psycho" meets "American Pastoral". The film is also better in some ways. "The Body", made famous by the movie "Stand By Me", is an idyllic tale about growing up. And "The Breathing Method" is an unexpected treat, extremely morbid and macabre.

The four-season motifs don't perfectly fit the representative tales, but they do add an interesting layer. King's statement that "It is the tale, not he who tells it" is very true here. The stories are so good that even his occasional flaws don't detract from their quality. This is definitely one of his better works.

The year this came out (1982), I was a junior in high school, deeply contemplating my future.

Every Wednesday, I would still go to the library with my two younger siblings. Even though I had a girlfriend, I had a huge crush on Mrs. Paladino, our neighborhood librarian. As soon as I arrived, she would wave me over. She told me that she had set aside some new books that she thought might interest me, which was something she did periodically. Different Seasons was one of those books. She knew my penchant for horror, especially King or Koontz. When I picked up the book to check out, she showed me the inside of her bag where she had her own copy of Different Seasons. That's just one of the many reasons I loved her.

Even though King writes a disclaimer stating that Different Seasons is meant to be a departure from his horror roots, in this book, he really hasn't strayed far. In my humble opinion, every single one of these stories has horror elements. Some are more pronounced than others, but nonetheless, the stories are all very powerful. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" is a remarkable story of an attempted prison break. "Apt Pupil" is about a high school superstar who discovers an interest in the darkest aspects of World War 2. "The Body" is the tale of four boys searching the woods for the body of a dead kid and instead finding the end of their innocence. "The Breathing Method" is about an unmarried woman determined to give birth to her child with dignity. I found the book captivating back then and devoured it in one week. I have read this book countless times in my life and always think of Mrs. Paladino and how we both adored this book. Clearly, that hasn't changed.

From the very best of the author, separately and together, in short works.

Genre. Short novel.

What it tells us. The book "Four Seasons" (original publication: "Different Seasons", 1982) is a compilation by Stephen King with four short novels. The first three are very well known both in the literary field and for their film adaptations. They are presented in an order with a palpable sense according to the seasons and what they propose: "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" (Hope, Eternal Spring), "Apt Pupil" (Summer of Corruption), "The Body" (Autumn of Innocence) and "The Breathing Method" (Winter's Tale). And they moved away from the type of narrations that King had offered until then without, in reality, straying too far in the fundamental aspects.

Do you want to know more about this book, without spoilers? Visit:

https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com...

My very first Steven King's book, and it's a solid 5 stars.

There are several reasons why I didn't pick up one of his books until now. Firstly, because I had watched some adaptations, and I wasn't overly impressed. The Shining was decent, but it was very much overrated. I even fell asleep during Dreamcatcher, and Under the Dome is one of the worst adaptations I've ever watched. The Green Mile was the only truly great thing I watched that was based on his book. (Until recently, I didn't know that Apt Pupil is also based on a book.) So, you might say that me and Mr King got off to a wrong start.

The second reason is that there are simply so many interesting books out there, and so many potentially great authors are waiting for their turn to be discovered.

This particular collection was truly great. All 4 stories are between 4 and 5 stars, except for Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, which deserves a few more stars. It's a captivating and engaging read that has really made me see Steven King in a new light.

A brilliant collection of novellas that truly showcases King's versatility as a writer, going far beyond the realm of just horror.

Let's now delve into the individual stories.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
(Crime fiction / drama - written after finishing 1979’s The Dead Zone - 96 pages)

This is a wonderful tale of the evolving friendship between two prisoners, one of whom is unjustly convicted. It explores the hardships of prison life and the fear of an unknown future outside that confined, quiet, and regulated world. It's about maintaining equanimity and perseverance in the face of adversity, with the great and memorable characters offering each other hope.

The movie adaptation is among the best of Stephen King screen adaptations. Despite being a box-office failure, it was nominated for 7 Oscars and, as I type this, is the highest rated film on IMDB. It's difficult to say which I prefer, the novella or the film. They are both outstanding.

4.5 – 5 stars

Apt Pupil
(Crime fiction / psychological thriller – written in a two-week period after the completion of 1977’s The Shining – 180 pages)

Wow, this story was both hated and loved by me. It's about a teenager obsessed with Nazi concentration camps who blackmails a German immigrant and wanted Nazi war criminal into sharing details about the camps and his actions there. The two main characters are monstrous, locked in a mutually parasitic relationship. Following their descent into madness was fascinating, often disturbing, and sometimes nauseating. The story takes some interesting turns towards the end. I was never quite sure where it was headed but was satisfied with each twist. The initial buildup seemed a bit long, but it was necessary for the exceptional character development. The pay-off is huge. The last part was filled with tension and suspense. The ending was brilliant.

There are no traditional monsters here, but it's one of the most horrific and unsettling stories I've read. I don't think I'll read it again.

I hear the film adaptation is also good, but I haven't seen it yet.

4.5 - 5 stars

The Body
(Coming-of-age / adventure – written directly after 1975’s Salem’s Lot – 147 pages)

This is the crown jewel of this outstanding collection.

It's a story of four 1960s boys who hear about a missing boy their age, presumably killed along the railway track from Castle Rock to Harrow. They embark on a 2-day hike to find the dead body of Ray Brower, but what they truly discover is themselves.

I'm not sure I've ever read a better story about growing up and leaving behind the innocence and security of childhood. It's one of two stories that made me fall in love with King's writing initially. And it was even better on this re-read.

You can read my full review of this exceptional tale of friendship, loss, and the big adventures of childhood here, if you wish.

\\n  

The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them.

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This one was adapted into another brilliant movie titled Stand by Me. It's amazing to think that two of the best King screen adaptations came from the same collection.

5 stars

The Breathing Method
(horror / drama – written immediately after 1980’s Firestarter - 62 pages)

This is the weakest novella in an otherwise excellent collection, but it's still not bad at all.

It's a story within a story. A Manhattan lawyer is invited to a club by a senior partner. There's an air of mystery surrounding the club, and it's hard for the main character to get answers or even ask the questions he wants. One year, shortly before Christmas, a member tells a story of his time as a doctor and his acquaintance with an unmarried and pregnant young woman in 1935. This is what I considered the actual main story, although opinions in my reading group were divided. Anyways, it's an almost tender tale that looks at how women in the 30s (and other times) were disregarded by society if they were unmarried and pregnant. It also shows a special doctor/patient relationship. At times, it feels almost like a budding romance but turns into something different and is the only story in this collection regarded as horror, perhaps more due to the framing tale of the club. For me, it was hard to decide which genre to place it in. Maybe I don't have to.

Atmospheric, slightly eerie, and surrounded by mystery, I enjoyed this. But it feels like the beginning of something bigger rather than a self-contained novella.

3.5 stars – 4 stars

Overall, I'm giving this collection 5 stars. Three outstanding stories out of four, with no disappointments. That's quite impressive. Stephen King can indeed write much more than just horror.

This has been a buddy read with The Stephen King Readers in SpecFic Buddy Reads. Thanks, guys. It’s been fun.

Spooktober read #1!

It's nearly impossible to have a Spooktober marathon without including a Stephen King book, isn't it? While some might debate that "Different Seasons" isn't truly a collection of horror novellas, each one does capture something horrific in its own unique way. Personally, I prefer King's writing when he's not in full-on horror mode. I'm not a big fan of vampires and homicidal clowns; the horrors hidden within human nature scare me much more effectively.

I usually don't review each story in a collection separately, but since "Different Seasons" only has four, one for each season, I will in this case.

"Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption": I've seen the movie countless times and love it, so I had a good idea of what to expect. There are some subtle differences between the novella and the movie, but the overall story remains the same. Andy Dufresne is sent to Shawshank for killing his wife and her lover. He befriends Red, gets involved in the warden's money laundering scheme, and finds redemption in an unexpected way. However, I have to admit that I still prefer the movie. Maybe it's because of the amazing performances of Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, or because the film focuses more on the friendship between Andy and Red and develops the supporting characters better. In the book, some of the characters I loved are only briefly glimpsed, and I wasn't as moved by the ending as I am by the movie.

"Apt Pupil": This story is truly disturbing and shows why I'm more afraid of humans than anything else. In the 1970s in LA, a young boy named Todd Bowden discovers that an older man in his neighborhood is a Nazi fugitive. He blackmails the man into telling him about the concentration camps, and a perverse relationship develops. By the end of the story, it's hard to tell which character is more repugnant. This story reinforces my belief that there's no need for supernatural monsters to scare people; some people are capable of truly inhuman acts. I also watched the movie, which was very unsettling. Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro give great performances, and the way their actions mirror each other is a great touch.

"The Body": I confess that I've never watched the movie "Stand by Me", which was based on this novella. But after reading it, I think I'll have to. This is a classic King coming-of-age story about four friends who go into the woods to see a dead body. The exploration of the effects of bad parenting on children is both interesting and heartbreaking. The passage where Chris talks about feeling trapped by what people think of him and his family really hit home for me. However, I did get annoyed with the intersecting stories written by Gordon that interrupted the narrative of the boys' adventure.

"The Breathing Method": This is a lovely homage to Lovecraft's brand of creepy. It's a framed narrative set in a club that might not be what it seems, and it details the story of a young woman's pregnancy and delivery. It's a bit convoluted, but it's an interesting and unsettling story about stories and the judgment people cast on each other. I enjoyed it a lot, but some reviewers seem to have found it a bit boring.

Overall, I think King writes great stories, but his writing sometimes lacks that certain something that would make them truly great books. The nuance is subtle, but when I think of King, I remember the stories and characters more than the actual words on the page. That doesn't mean he's not entertaining to read, and sometimes even enthralling. But compared to the writing of Laird Barron and John Langan, even the best King stories pale a little. So I give "Different Seasons" 3 and a half stars, rounded up to 4, for a collection of great stories that I wish had been written just a bit better.

Any other author, these four stories would be called novellas. For Stephen King, given how long many of his books are, I have to call them short stories

2.5 Stars

Meh.. I'm a minority here

Stephen King is a highly renowned author who has penned several novella collections. However, this particular one stands out as the best among them.

Among these novellas, there is one that has achieved the highest level of popularity, captivating readers with its engaging storyline and unforgettable characters. Another novella delves into the realm of the most evil, exploring the darkest recesses of the human psyche and sending shivers down the spines of those who dare to read it.

One of the novellas is considered to be King's best written, showcasing his masterful command of the English language and his ability to craft a story that is both compelling and thought-provoking. And then there is one that is just plain fun, offering a lighthearted and entertaining escape from the rigors of everyday life.

If you want to learn more about this amazing collection and my thoughts on each novella, be sure to check out my Great Stephen King Reread over at https://www.tor.com/2013/01/10/the-great-stephen-king-reread-different-seasons/.

EDIT ❗ I managed to finish it! I read 2 books written by Stephen King, one after the other.

I don't even know if it was a good idea