This book is composed of four short stories, though they are not precisely short. I had a great affection for three out of the four stories, which led me to award it 3.5 stars.

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption - This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and I adored the plot. However, I found the movie to be far more captivating. The character Red is actually an Irish man, and I wonder what inspired Frank Darabont to select Morgan Freeman, an African American, for the role. No matter how hard I try, I cannot envision Red as an Irish person. Nevertheless, Morgan Freeman gave a highly commendable performance in the movie. In short, I rate the book 5/5 for this story.

The Apt Pupil - This was an in-depth study of human behavior in adverse situations, depicting how a seemingly normal person can transform into a raging psychopath. I rate this story 5/5.

The Body - I truly could not make sense of this story and had to skip the entire tale halfway through. I rate it 1/5.

The Breathing Method - This is a macabre and terrifying story, and the shortest one in the book. The ending is extremely revolting and equally spooky. I rate it 5/5.

All in all, it is a fabulous book if you disregard the third novella.

Well, what a great book it is!

I read this book when I was seventeen. At that time, I could never have imagined that The Shawshank Redemption would ultimately be made into a film starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman.

And what a remarkable film it is too! I don't usually say this, but in this case, the film is as excellent as the book.

In a recent TV poll, The Shawshank Redemption was voted as the greatest movie ever made. This is not really surprising considering that the master, Stephen King, wrote the original story.

So, Stephen King, with his work The Shining, not only tops the list for the greatest horror movie of all time but also emerges victorious for the greatest movie of all time.

Is Stephen King a literary God?

Fantastic!

Tales, not just ordinary stories, are truly remarkable. Each and every one of them has its own strange and unique way of captivating the audience.

I recently watched the movie Shawshank Redemption and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the story behind the movie brings something even more special that I like even more.

The tale of hope, perseverance, and friendship in Shawshank Redemption is truly inspiring. It shows how even in the most difficult of circumstances, one can find a way to break free and achieve their goals.

The characters in the story are well-developed and their relationships add depth and complexity to the plot. The movie's beautiful cinematography and excellent acting also contribute to its overall appeal.

In conclusion, I would highly recommend Shawshank Redemption to anyone who is looking for a great movie with a powerful and moving story. It is a tale that will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.

Audiobook (20 hours) narrated by the great Frank Muller

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

When I pressed play and heard Muller's voice begin narrating the first story of this collection, I took in a breath and my eyes got that feeling on the verge of tears. Muller is such a wonderful narrator, and those who knew him tell heartwarming tales. He was a frequent presence for audiobook enthusiasts like me. However, an unfortunate accident left him struggling for years, and he never fully recovered. Our esteemed author, Mr. King, and others supported him both physically and financially. Muller was and still is beloved by many, and his voice was truly a delight to hear.

Someone must be cutting onions.

Different Seasons has a different impact as an adult. The audiobook was published in 2016, but the original publication date of the collection was way back in 1982. When I was first introduced to King as a pre-teen, there was already a wealth of stories to explore, and I did just that! He was, and remains, a popular read, with his books being freely swapped and traded among us.

I find that while the paranormal stories were scarier back then, as I knew less and was more easily terrified by things that went bump in the night, other stories like Apt Pupil were scary but not fully understood. I thought I knew everything then, but now I realize I know nothing. Just wow!

My journey of re-reading all of King's books has been an experience not only with the books themselves but also with reconnecting with the thoughts and feelings of my younger self. King has always been a great escape for me. Now, my headphones bring me his stories while I engage in various activities, allowing my mind to wander into a different reality.

Along with my personal growth, I've also noticed a lot of growth in King's work. His fear of flying comes up here and there, evolving over time. While his writing is consistently excellent in character and world building, his inner thoughts and variables have seemed to change and mature. I think this is more noticeable when reading his current releases along with his back catalog in chronological order.

In conclusion, King's new books are just as entertaining, exciting, and enticing as his older stories. I've enjoyed them throughout most of my life. This book from the early 80's is a great read and well worth delving into.

Lastly, while I'm a fan of The Shawshank Redemption, both the book and the movie, in this collection, my favorites were Apt Pupil and The Breathing Method, the second and last stories of the novel.

Happy Reading!

Note: I used https://emojidb.org for quick and easy emoji access. No affiliation, just a user whenever I feel the need for spreading emoji awareness and/or awesomeness.

It is the story, not the one who tells it\\"


\\"It's as if God gave you something, all those stories you know how to invent, and said to you: This is what we have for you, boy. Try not to lose it.\\"

And King undoubtedly has the gift of being able to tell stories.

After crossing the threshold of five zeros, I had never approached King, wrongly considering him a genre writer. Which, upon delving a little deeper into the ignorant prejudice, does not reflect reality. Sometimes just a little healthy curiosity, reading the right review, and voilà, the correct reading to get to know the author who has been snubbed for so long is served. (Thanks to Streppy and NoodLesse).

Different Seasons is composed of four novellas. The common thread that holds the collection together is precisely declared in the titles of the novellas: meteorological seasons (one for each story), representative of what is emotionally experienced by the protagonists of each novella.

Spring is the season of hope, the hope of freedom of the story from which the film \\"The Shawshank Redemption\\" was taken. Splendid.

Summer is the season of corruption, not economic but emotional. The worst instincts, the darkest and dirtiest places, the most terrible actions are passed from one generation to another. From this story, the film \\"Apt Pupil\\" was taken. Perverse and almost unpalatable.

Autumn is the season that marks the end of innocence. This story, from which the film \\"Stand by Me\\" was taken, is one of the most beautiful things I have ever read about adolescence. For me, it alone is worth the collection.

Winter is the season of the stinginess of bigoted feelings and of morality made up of prejudices. Perhaps the weakest story in the collection, weak until noon, yet also really very powerful.

\\"The only reason one writes stories is to be able to understand the past and prepare oneself for some future mortality; [.. ]The only two useful forms of art are religion and narrative.\\"

It is impossible not to recognize King's talent. So, until the next story.

The kind old King was in his best period.

He was beloved by all his subjects. His wisdom and kindness shone through in every decision he made.

The kingdom flourished under his rule. The people lived in peace and prosperity.

The King was always ready to listen to the concerns of his people and take action to address them.

He was a just and fair leader, and his integrity was beyond reproach.

During this time, the arts and sciences thrived. The kingdom became a center of learning and culture.

The King's legacy would be remembered for generations to come as a time of great achievement and happiness.

By 1982, King, already a highly successful horror novelist, desired to demonstrate his ability to pen something slightly distinct. With four previously unpublished novellas at his disposal, he combined them into a single release titled Different Seasons.

Rather than providing a comprehensive review of the entire book in one long passage, I will share my individual thoughts on each story.

Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption: I'm certain that stating Frank Darabont's film adaptation is one of the greatest of all time won't cause any controversy. Having watched and adored the movie, I've always been eager to read the original source material. Without a doubt, Darabont did justice to King's work, and the elements he added to the movie enhanced the original rather than complicating the story. Also, it's nearly impossible not to hear Morgan Freeman's voice in your head, even though "Red" is supposed to be an Irishman. This was the only story that I felt was too brief, but I can always watch the movie if I ever crave more of Andy and Red.

Apt Pupil: Despite the subject matter, this was my favorite among the bunch. Todd Bowden discovers that a former Nazi, Kurt Dussander, is living in his neighborhood and promptly blackmails him into recounting his experiences as the head of a concentration camp in excruciating detail. Apt Pupil showcases some of King's strongest character work through Todd's gradual mental breakdown. In the film version, a different ending is employed, which I believe detracts from what the novel was building towards. The original ending is truly chilling.

The Body: Like Shawshank, I had seen the movie (Stand By Me) prior to reading this story. I hadn't watched the movie in years and only really recalled two scenes: the leeches scene and the moment when they find the deceased kid, Ray Brower. I remember watching this when I was very young and having to look away from the screen when they discover the body. I was terrified! I guess things seem scarier when you're eight. I didn't enjoy this one as much as I had anticipated. King inserted a few short stories by a character within the story, which I found unnecessary and which really disrupted the flow of the novella.

The Breathing Method: Among the four novellas in Different Seasons, this one is the closest to King's horror territory. The Breathing Method is the outlier that has yet to be adapted for film and is probably my least favorite story of the bunch, despite earning bonus points for being set around Christmas.

As someone who sometimes struggles with story collections, the fact that the book was limited to four novellas enabled me to engage with the characters and each story before moving on to the next. Although transitioning from Apt Pupil to The Body was a bit challenging, mainly because the ending of Apt Pupil left me in awe.

The first time I read Different Seasons (back when it was first published in the early’80s), I was initially confused, and then amazed.

Everything King had published up to that point fell more or less within the horror genre. As I read through the first novella in the collection, I kept looking for it to take a horror turn. However, it never did. Instead, it told a brilliant and memorable story. The same was true of the other three novellas in the collection. Each contained some dark elements, for sure, but these were definitely not horror stories. Different Seasons revealed that King wasn’t just a great teller of horror tales — he was a great storyteller, period.

It was this reread that truly impressed this on me. Often, when we talk of great writers, we talk about outstanding stylists, like Hemingway or Faulkner. King isn’t a literary stylist of that school. His talent lies in being an extraordinary storyteller. He can tell stories that we want to hear about people that he makes us care about, people he can make us feel we know.

Different Seasons truly showcases King’s storytelling talent. Three of the four novellas are told from the first-person perspective, which immediately makes us an audience to the narrating storyteller. Two of these tales (The Body and The Breathing Method) frame other stories within the major story being told. Different Seasons is practically a master class on the art of storytelling.

I’ve read a lot of King’s books — novels, short story collections, novella collections — 17 books in all. Different Seasons is the most memorable and my favorite of all of them. I consider it his best work. The fact that three of these four tales have been made into movies, and two of them — The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me — are iconic movies, supports my opinion on this work. It is a great book by a great storyteller at the top of his game.

“But there’s really no question. It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living or get busy dying” ~ Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

I’m not usually a big enthusiast of short stories and novellas. However, this collection is truly AMAZING, and I now regard it as one of my favorite works by King! I adored all four novellas in Different Seasons, with Apt Pupil and Shawshank being my absolute favorites.

Here’s a brief summary of each:

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: Even though I had seen the film many years ago, reading this felt like rediscovering the story for the first time. The characters and the setting are a testament to King’s finest writing!

Apt Pupil: This one had me on the edge of my seat the most. I had no idea where it was headed or what would happen. It follows the story of Todd, a school boy with an unhealthy obsession with the Holocaust. He befriends an elderly man, a former SS officer in the Nazi concentration camps during WWII, and makes him recount the atrocities. This was the most harrowing and darkest of the four novellas, but it had me hooked. I didn't know it had also been made into a film. Has anyone seen it?

The Body: Inspired by the film Stand By Me, this novella gave me a wonderful sense of nostalgia! It's a great story about friendship and growing up.

The Breathing Method: My least favorite of the collection, but I still enjoyed it. It's the story of a woman determined to give birth, with an ending I'll never forget!

Different Seasons has officially made it into my top ten King works!

Not really horror but definitely some horrific moments.

The body was my favorite because it reminded me of the looser' club in IT.

The story had elements that sent shivers down my spine at times. Although it wasn't a full-on horror piece, those specific moments were truly terrifying.

The description of the body was so vivid that it brought back memories of the looser' club from the famous IT.

Just like in that story, the body here seemed to hold some kind of mystery and unease.

It made me wonder what secrets it might be hiding and what kind of impact it would have on the overall plot.

Overall, while not a traditional horror, it had enough horror-like aspects to keep me on the edge of my seat and intrigued by what was to come.

5 stars for the stories, all of them, and 5 stars for the audio.

Audiobook – Narrated by Frank Muller – Excellent narration.

The only problem I seem to have when I listen to Frank Muller is that my breathing seems to sync with his, and he has a far larger lung capacity than I do. At times, by the time he pauses for breath, I can feel myself turning blue!

Nevertheless, Frank Muller is one of my all time favorite narrators. He’s done a few of Stephen King’s books and I’ve loved all of them.

Although I have listened to the audio of Shawshank, and enjoyed it, I prefer to read the book, as it’s Morgan Freeman’s voice I hear in my head as I read.

There is also an excellent live reading by Stephen King of The Revenge of Lard Ass Hogan (The Body) available on audio.

***

Ebook:

Hope Springs Eternal – Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.

This is one of only a few of King’s stories where I have loved the book, the audio and the movie, and after many rereads it still makes me cry just as much as the first time.

Exceptional.

CONNECTIONS:

The Castle Rock Call (Cujo, The Man In The Black Suit)

Mechanics Falls is mentioned in ‘Salem’s Lot, Mrs Todd’s Shortcut (Skeleton Crew),

Shawshank State Prison (Dolores Claibourne, It, The Body, Blaze, Bag of Bones, Under the Dome, 11/22/63).

Another Mangler gets a mention. (Carrie, The Mangler, Roadwork)

***

The Summer of Corruption - Apt Pupil

As far as I can remember I’ve only read this story once, many, many years ago and I’d forgotten quite a lot of it. It was great to read it again and as with most of King’s early books, when I come back to reread them I’m amazed at just how good they are.

CONNECTIONS:

Arthur Denker – Jack Torrence (The Shining) was writing a play called The Little School in which one of the characters, a sadistic headmaster was named Denker.

A man named Dufresne (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption) set up a stock portfolio for Kurt Dussander. Dussander recalls that the banker who bought them for him went to jail for murdering his wife a year after he purchased them.

Springheel Jack (Strawberry Spring, Night Shift)

Guidance Counselor, Ed French, mentions his hotel room is number 217 (The Shining)

Todd Bowden ponders on the possibility that Dussander may have hidden the key to his safe deposit box behind one of the rocks in the decorative stone wall.

Andy Dufresne (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption) had a key to a safe deposit box that was hidden underneath a piece of volcanic glass in a stone wall.

Also, while cycling Todd Bowden sees an injured blue jay, with it’s beak opening and closing slowly.

Audrey Wyler (Desperation) was given a .22 when she turned twelve. The first thing she did was shoot a jay. It was still alive and its beak was opening and closing very slowly.

Bart Dawes (Roadwork) shot a blue jay when he was young. It wasn’t a clean kill. Its beak was slowly opening and closing.

***

The Body:

This is another book I prefer to the audio, only because as I read I hear Richard Dreyfuss.

“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?” Makes me cry every time.

CONNECTIONS:

Castle Rock

Chamberlain (Carrie, ‘Salem’s Lot, Thinner)

Pownal (The Long Walk, The Dead Zone, A Good Marriage)

Ace Merrill (Needful Things, Nona), nephew of Reginald “Pop” Merrill (The Sundog, Needful Things)

Vern Tessio (Nona)

Aunt Evvie Chalmers (Cujo, Needful Things)

Gretna (Nona) is the town in Gordie Lachance’s story of The Revenge of Lard Ass Hogan.

The Emporium Galorium (Pet Sematary, The Sundog, Needful Things)

Sonny’s Texaco (Cell, Sun Dog)

Chopper, the dog (Salem’s Lot).

Cujo rates a mention.

The Mellow Tiger Bar (Cujo, Needful Things)

Jerusalem’s Lot gets a mention.

Harrison State Park (Night Surf) In 1968 Stephen King published a poem called Harrison State Park 68.

Teddy Duchamp (Carrie – Teddy’s son runs Teddy’s Amoco gas station in Chamberlain. Teddy passed away in 1968.)

Derry (Autopsy Room 4, Bag of Bones, Dreamcatcher, Insomnia, It, Pet Sematary, The Tommyknockers, The Running Man, Needful Things, The Road Virus Heads North, Uncle Otto’s Truck, Secret Window, Secret Garden, 11/22/63) gets a mention.

Shawshank State Prison (Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Dolores Claiborne, It, Blaze, Bag of Bones, 11/22/63, Under The Dome)

(Constable) Bannerman (The Dead Zone, Needful Things, The Dark Half, Cujo)

Sukey’s Tavern (Hearts In Atlantis)

Brickyard Hill (The Long Walk, The Body)

***

A Winter’s Tale – The Breathing Method.

I enjoyed this a lot, not because of the Breathing Method delivery, but because of the Club. To me, that’s what this story was about and I really wished there had been more.

CONNECTIONS:

Stevens (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

The Club at 249B East 35th (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

Emlyn McCarron (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

Emlyn McCarron – There is a McCarron Park in IT.

Johanssen (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

George Gregson (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

Peter Andrews (The Man Who Would Not Shake Hands)

The poet, Wallace Stevens, rates a mention here and in ‘Salem’s Lot as well.

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (4.5/5)
I truly relished this story. There is a wonderful resonance in the concept of maintaining a sense of determined equanimity. The idea that Andy Dufresne, even as a prisoner with no hope of parole, wears his sense of freedom "like an invisible coat" is truly captivating. I don't believe one can train oneself to have such a response to extreme adversity; it seems more of an ingrained personality trait. However, it does have an impact on others. I liked the strength that the narrator, Red, derived from Andy's unwavering calm and perseverance.

Apt Pupil (3.5/5)
This is a well-written tale that showcases King's prowess in painting detailed pictures of people and places. The horror is palpable and unambiguous; both Todd and Dussander are monstrous individuals in a mutually parasitic relationship. But was it enjoyable? I have mixed feelings. The racism and animal cruelty are difficult to read, yet they are integral and necessary elements in the horror of the story.

The Body (4.5/5)
In the late summer of 1960, four twelve-year-old boys embark on a mission to find the body of a missing boy said to lie several miles away, beside the tracks where he was hit by a train. Told retrospectively, the main character, now a writer, looks back with the jaded and faded perspective of an adult on a defining event in his life. The story is rich with sensory experience and exemplifies King's skill as a writer. It effectively presents the larger-than-life, technicolor memories that are characteristic of a twelve-year-old's self, and skillfully and subtly relates a journey that, like many childhood events, is only later recognized as transformative.

"These days I sometimes look at this typewriter and wonder when it's going to run out of good words. I don't want that to happen. I guess I can stay cool as long as I don't run out of good words, you know?"

The Breathing Method (3/5)
It's hard to say whether this is a story about a club that isn't really a club or a woman giving birth in grisly circumstances. It's an interesting construction of a story within a story, but perhaps not surprisingly, it's the only one of the four in the book that I don't remember a thing about. It's engaging to read, but it lacks the visceral emotional depth and memorable characters of the others in this collection.