Let's say that there are four stars for "El Cuerpo", which is as wonderful as its movie adaptation.

And one or one and a half stars for "El método de respiración", which is a pastiche of styles (a bit of Poe, a bit of Henry James, and a bit of Cheever, why not) that doesn't quite work.

"El Cuerpo" manages to captivate audiences with its engaging storyline and出色的adaptation. It brings the essence of the original work to the big screen in a truly remarkable way.

On the other hand, "El método de respiración" tries to blend different literary styles but falls short. The combination of Poe's mystery, James' psychological depth, and Cheever's suburban realism doesn't gel together as well as it could.

Overall, while "El Cuerpo" shines brightly, "El método de respiración" struggles to find its footing and leaves something to be desired.

Just like in the first volume, "Las cuatro estaciones" consists of two short stories that the author didn't want to publish independently and that are compiled in the same book. This time, the stories that make up this second installment are "El cuerpo" and "El método de respiración".

"El cuerpo" is a very typical story of this aspect of King that is not so related to terror for the sake of terror. In my opinion, it is a journey to childhood, a summer memory narrated in the first person as if the narrator were one of the protagonists, constantly playing with the idea that it is an autobiographical account of the author. It has a somewhat unusual plot, but the description of the story and its way of being told is extremely detailed and even typical, transferring all possible details from an idealized view of childhood just at the moment when it is being left behind and the personality and future of the protagonists are being formed. Perhaps it is very detailed and repetitive, but personally I liked the always sublime treatment it gives to the characters and their tribulations, very far from the more well-known King but always maintaining that halo of mystery and not knowing where the matter will jump from.

"El método de respiración" is a much darker story than the previous one. It is a story within which other sub-stories succeed each other very quickly and that always maintain the shadow of mystery in the background. In this case, it does not focus so much on the characters but rather seeks to establish a constant suspicion about everything that is described, giving minimal information and constantly seeking to arouse the curiosity of the reader. Its development seemed to me to be much more agile than that of the previous one, although perhaps I did not appreciate the end, of which I undoubtedly remain with the open conclusions it poses.

Two good stories in this volume, although for me they do not reach the level of the two that make up the first book. As a conclusion to the two installments, I would point out that they have changed my preconceived idea about this author, inextricably linked in my mind to terror, and have opened a line of interest that will surely make me return to him. Without a doubt, it is recommendable.

Both stories are very good despite being very, very different. While "The Body" is a classic that inspired the movie Stand by Me, I liked "The Breathing Method" much, much more.

In "The Body", we follow a group of boys on a journey to find the body of a missing boy. It's a coming-of-age story that explores themes of friendship, loss, and growing up. The movie adaptation is also very well done and captures the essence of the story.

However, "The Breathing Method" is a different kind of story. It's a supernatural thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The concept of the breathing method is both fascinating and creepy, and King does a great job of building tension and suspense.

Overall, both stories are great examples of Stephen King's writing talent. Whether you prefer a classic coming-of-age story or a supernatural thriller, King has something for everyone. As always, he is the master of his craft.

The Body. A short novel that contains the germ of what will later become It, and yet, it is a very different story. It is a rite of passage seen in retrospect. All the fear and courage (and also the brief moments of secret beauty) of a group of friends who venture into the forest to search for the corpse of a boy their age. But it is not just that first encounter with death that will turn them into men, but the journey itself. All the effort and challenges they have to overcome to reach that goal which, even from the start, they know will not be pleasant.

The Breathing Method. In a mysterious club that hides some secrets, a group of men gather around the fire to fulfill a tradition as old as humanity: telling stories. But this story contains another story within it. The story of a birth in such extreme situations that it borders on the supernatural, told by the old doctor who assisted it in front of the fire.

Both of these stories offer unique perspectives and engage the reader in different ways. The Body takes us on a journey of self-discovery and growth through the eyes of a group of friends, while The Breathing Method weaves a tale within a tale that keeps us on the edge of our seats. Stephen King's masterful storytelling shines through in both of these works, making them must-reads for any fan of horror and mystery.

The Body:

It is an existential journey where some children take the necessary step from one stage of their life to another. Growing up is, in part, realizing one's own mortality, one's finitude. And the destiny of these children makes them face death head-on.

They experience the harsh reality that life is not eternal and that they must come to terms with the fact that everything has an end.

Through this journey, they learn valuable lessons about life, love, and loss.

The Breathing Method:

It is a beautiful story about will and determination, even after death.

The protagonist in this story shows an unwavering spirit in the face of great adversity.

Even when faced with the ultimate challenge, their willpower and determination remain strong.

This story teaches us that we should never give up, no matter how difficult the situation may seem.

It also reminds us that our actions and choices can have a profound impact on those around us, even after we are gone.

Overall, both of these stories offer deep insights into the human condition and the power of the human spirit.

After the first volume left me ecstatic, I expected something similar from this one, but it was nothing like that. A magnificent way of presenting, but "The Body" has bored me extremely (a clear example that the movie is much better here). The second story is quite decent, but it still didn't completely satisfy me.

Nevertheless, King writes very well. His descriptions are vivid and his characters are well-developed. Even though some of the stories didn't quite hit the mark for me, I still appreciate his talent as a writer.

I will continue to read his work in the hope of finding more gems like the first volume. Maybe the next one will be the one that truly blows me away.

Overall, while this collection had its ups and downs, it's still a worthwhile read for fans of King and short stories in general.

Stephen King's collection of two novellas, "Four Past Midnight" (1992), is the second half of the original collection of four novellas, "Different Seasons" (1982). The novella "Fall from Innocence: The Body" has become well-known through the film adaptation "Stand by Me" (1986) starring River Phoenix, and there has also been at least a plan for a film adaptation of the other novella, "A Winter's Tale: The Breathing Method", but I don't know if the project has progressed anywhere.

The novellas in the collection have the flavor of filler work, and King himself states in a compulsory end text that all four novellas have originated directly from the leftovers of longer novels; sort of like a tailwind when there is still some gasoline left in the tank. King calls the novella in his 1982 afterword a problematic literary measure: it is neither a novella of less than 20,000 words nor a novel of more than 40,000 words. According to King, 25,000 - 35,000 words are the figures that make "even the bravest writer's pants feel more intimate", because novellas are traditionally difficult to publish. "At some point, the writer wakes up restlessly and realizes that he has come or is coming to a really horrible place, the anarchic banana republic of literature called 'novella'." In any case, King has over time found a working and financially viable publishing channel for his novellas in these numerous collections.

As mentioned, the stories in "Four Past Midnight" have the flavor of filler work, and there is so much meandering in both novellas that with a little condensation, both stories could have been made to fit the novella length. Tapio Tammisen's Finnish translation does not rise to the liveliness of King's court translator Ilkka Rekiaro, but feels in places rather jerky and clumsy. Neither novella evoked greater feelings or experiences, but rather a certain kind of narrative complacency and amateurishness marked both stories. In my opinion, King's 10-page final words were actually the most interesting and, in their insight, also the funny part of the collection. Diehard King fans will surely strongly disagree with this.

My rating: 2.9 out of five stars.

When I started reading this book - I was reading it because I had seen the movie "Stand by Me" - I knew that completely different stories were waiting for me, and for the review, it would be a different review.

1) THE BODY

It is a tale about a writer who narrates a "living experience" he had with his childhood friends when they were 4 boys (including the protagonist) who embark on the journey.

The story, although it is a narrative about friendship and growing up, seemed to me more about how all friendships are perfect even when one is silly, intelligent, tall, and thin. That's what the story is about and about letting go of some things or people to make way for others while traveling on a path you have made throughout your life; we have all done it, and that's what the story consists of, because we all have a bit of these people who, although not perfect, don't mind showing who they are to have a great friendship.

The next story is

2) BREATHING METHOD

It is a story of a worker to whom a coworker invites him to a type of social club where on the last Thursday before Christmas, they tell a story, and one of those members tells the story that has the same name as the narrative, and after narrating disturbing facts, the protagonist leaves.

Personally, I think "Breathing Method" should not come together with "The Body" because both are stories that contrast too much since one is about childhood and growth, and the other is about a suspenseful narration with disturbing facts. However, I really enjoyed these stories. I think they make you think a lot. However, they are very short for the stories they try to tell since they leave some questions open, at least for me, "Breathing Method" was like that.

A beautiful story about friendship, where you keep rediscovering facts from the past. However, despite the fact that it kept me entertained and there were moments when I let myself go and laughed, I felt it was weak. Although that doesn't detract from the fact that it is entertaining and yes, the words at the beginning are perfect. It's just that that ending left me a little cold and distant with respect to the characters and the bond they had.

It seems that the story had great potential with its theme of friendship and the element of uncovering past events. The moments of entertainment and laughter were definitely enjoyable. But perhaps the weakness lay in the overall development or the way certain aspects were presented. The beginning was strong, with perfect words that drew the reader in. However, the ending failed to fully engage and connect the reader with the characters and their relationship.

Maybe more could have been done to deepen the characters and their bond, to make the reader truly care about them. Or perhaps the ending could have been more impactful, leaving a stronger emotional impression. Overall, while the story had its entertaining moments, it also had some areas that could have been improved to make it a more memorable and engaging read.

The two stories that I had pending.

"The Body", which is more famous because of the movie, is very focused on that step of leaving childhood. Four friends go to look for the body of a young man who was left near the train tracks, and their adventure of a weekend is narrated. More than the narration of the adventure, the crudeness of growing up is outstanding. The nostalgia that things will not be the same in a few years, and that people change and leave our lives is tremendous.

In "The Breathing Method", I liked the "base" story more than that of the breathing method itself, which for me was more anecdotal. Again, that sense of things and life changing, and people coming and going, is what left the best taste in my mouth. The breathing method, the story within the story, is very well told and very interesting, but the ending is very... anticlimactic.

- The best of the author, separately and together, in short works.

- Genre. Short novel.

- What it tells us. The book "The Four Seasons" (original publication: "Different Seasons", 1982) is a compilation by Stephen King with two short novels. The first one is very well-known both in the literary field and for its film adaptation. They are presented in an order with a palpable sense according to the seasons and what they propose, "The Body" ("The Autumn of Innocence") and "The Breathing Method" ("Winter's Tale"), and they deviated 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...

Three stars for the autumn story because I didn't fully engage and just read it without much thought. However, five stars for the winter story as it has kept me very, very hooked from the first to the last word. The autumn story might have had some elements that didn't quite draw me in deeply. Maybe the plot wasn't as captivating or the characters not as well-developed. On the other hand, the winter story was a real page-turner. It had a unique charm and a narrative that held my attention throughout. The descriptions were vivid, making it easy to imagine the winter setting and the events unfolding. I found myself completely immersed in the story and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.