Once again, there are two stories in this book. This time, with a more spine-chilling touch than the previous volume.

My favorite without a doubt is the second one: "The Method of Respiration". It is fascinating in every sense. It is a story within a story that filled me with many emotions and sadness.

The way the author weaves the narrative is truly masterful. The details are vivid and draw the reader in, making them feel as if they are a part of the story.

The concept of "The Method of Respiration" is both unique and thought-provoking. It makes you question the nature of life and death, and the power of the human mind.

Overall, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good horror story with a deeper meaning. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you thinking long after you have finished reading.

I give it two stars but in reality this second part is much weaker than the first.

The first two stories (spring/summer) are far superior to these last two (autumn/winter), especially the last one, which is the worst of all.

However, the book is quite enjoyable and nostalgic for me. Since 3 out of the 4 novels have been adapted into movies and I really enjoyed their films, especially two of them.

Definitely recommendable ;)

This book has its strengths and weaknesses. The first part really captured my attention with its engaging stories and vivid descriptions. But as I got to the second part, I felt a bit let down. The stories seemed less developed and the characters not as fleshed out.

Nevertheless, the overall experience of reading this book was still pleasant. The nostalgia it evoked, especially when I thought about the movie adaptations, added an extra layer of enjoyment.

Despite its flaws, I would still recommend this book to others. It may not be a perfect masterpiece, but it has enough charm and entertainment value to make it worth reading.

The second part of Stephen King's collection of four short novels (or "novellas" in English). I will make comments on the ones included in this volume:

The Body / El Cuerpo: 7.5/10

It is a nice adventure story, probably inspired by "Lord of the Flies", one of SK's favorite books (from which he takes the name of the fictional town where the events of The Body take place, "Castle Rock"). It is highly autobiographical, bringing us close to the perspective of a writer in search of a mysterious body (the result of an accident that occurred in King's real life). It has a social component that gives it a reflective tone.

The Breathing Method / El Método de Respiración: 7.5/10

The only truly terrifying story in the book (although only the last few pages can be classified in this genre). It is divided into three parts, and the first part, which serves as an introduction and does not touch on the main story, seemed a bit long to me (40% of the length of the novella). In any case, the rest of the story compensates for this shortcoming and functions at the same time as a conclusion to the entire book.

The novel is very good. It achieves good atmospheres and depicts with sensitivity the end of childhood of a group of friends. There is a good dose of melancholy and a certain pessimistic vision in a narration that grows with the passage of the pages and that always maintains the tension.

The story unfolds in a captivating manner, drawing the reader in and making them empathize with the characters. The author's use of language is skillful, creating vivid images and emotions.

As the plot progresses, we see the characters face various challenges and experiences that mark the end of their innocent childhood. The themes of loss, growing up, and the bittersweet nature of life are explored in a profound and thought-provoking way.

Overall, this novel is a must-read for those who enjoy stories that touch the heart and make them reflect on their own lives. It is a beautifully written work that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

It's "Stephen King Month" because the 21st is his birthday. So the Book Addicts' Yorch is featuring a special on the author this month. And I, of course, am already participating (hahaha). Since it's his month, I couldn't pass up reading something by him. So the kind Yorch lent me this beautiful book. One that I had been dying to read ever since I became a fan of Stephen King and found out that one of my favorite childhood movies, Stand by Me, was based on this novel. It was a slow and cruel wait to have the book in my hands, but it was totally worth it.

The story is narrated in the first person by Gordie (the character played by Wil Wheaton, the arch-nemesis/friend of Sheldon Cooper when he was still a child). The story is the memories of when Gordie was 12 years old (almost 13) and his friend Vern convinced him and the whole gang to go see the corpse of the missing boy they had heard so much about in the news. They would be the first to find it, maybe they would be in the newspaper, or get a medal... or things like that that they imagined they could achieve.

And that's how the four friends (Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy) embark on the adventure of their lives. Gordie is a child ignored by his parents. Chris comes from a bad family and carries the bad reputation of his last name. Teddy has a crazy war veteran father who almost kills him but whom he adores, and Vern, well, he's not very bright. But what unites these completely different boys is the pure friendship that one can only have at 12 years old.

King, pigeonholed in the horror genre, is a genius when it comes to writing outside his label. It's a story of friendship, about growing up and transitioning from children to young people. Set in a small town called Castle Rock in 1960, King paints a perfect image in our imagination that transports you to this (nonexistent) town in a hot summer, in the era when children had fun playing baseball in the street and reading comics, smoking in secret and having tree houses they called "clubs". Personally, although I was born in 1985 and had a modern childhood, everything related to the 50s/60s I really like, and it gives me a strange nostalgia, as if I had grown up in that era and missed it (maybe simply because I would have loved to have grown up in that era). So the book hooked me from the first pages, and although I had already seen the movie a million times, it managed to make me imagine different scenarios and connect with each of the characters and develop a special affection for them.

It's a fun book, and I won't deny that it has a bit of filler here and there, but it's necessary for the development of the story and to bond with the characters and understand them a little better. But in general, even the filler I found entertaining. That gang of friends won me over, especially Chris. It has an emotional ending that tugs at your heartstrings. I didn't cry or anything, but it did leave me with a feeling of pressure in my chest. I feel like it's a story that any audience can enjoy.

Now, there's the second story called The Breathing Method. This one is much shorter than The Body, and already has a bit more of King's known style. It's about a gentlemen's club that meets in an old house to talk, on Thursdays, especially that day of the week, they tell the best stories, but at Christmas they tell a gloomy story. And one Christmas, one of the old members decides to tell his story about The Breathing Method. A completely disturbing story. I read this story super fast because besides being short and agile, it's totally engaging. It really surprised me and left me with my mouth open. A very good story.

So in summary, I highly recommend both stories, as they are completely different from each other. The Breathing Method helps the reader kind of get out of that nostalgic atmosphere that The Body leaves us with and leaves you with your mouth open and a little perturbed (hahaha). Anyway, if I continue praising this book I'll never stop. If you've read it, I'd love to know your opinions (or if you've seen Stand by Me, I'd also love to read your opinions about it).

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Esta é a segunda parte de Las Cuatro Estaciones, o livro que contém os contos O Corpo e O Método da Respiração.

O Corpo é o conto que serviu de base para o filme Stand by Me. Eu confesso que tinha maiores expectativas. Uma amiga me havia dito que se decepcionara com esse conto e eu também achei que não era tão impressionante quanto esperava. Só melhora no final, quando finalmente encontram o corpo em questão. O resto não me cativou muito, apesar de eu gostar muito quando o King escreve sobre crianças.

O Método da Respiração, por outro lado, é um conto menos famoso de King que me surpreendeu gratamente. Achei-o muito interessante e me prendeu do início ao fim. É mais uma história feminista do King: trata-se de uma moça que fica grávida e é abandonada pelo namorado, sofrendo todo o preconceito existente nos anos 30 com as grávidas solteiras. Tem um toque de fantasia que ficou bem legal.

Contando os 4 contos da obra (Rita Haywort y la Redención de Shawshank, Alumno Aventajado, O Corpo e O Método da Respiração), sem sombra de dúvida, o melhor é o primeiro. Ele é uma história cativante que me fez refletir e me emocionou. As outras histórias também têm seus pontos fortes, mas o primeiro definitivamente se destaca.

I have liked the stories, but I have liked the first one, "The Body", much more.

It has that youthful air that transports you to adolescence and reminds you of childhood, and also the return to Castle Rock and the reunion with old acquaintances from other King books.

The second story, "The Breathing Method" is not bad, but I have not found it as interesting as the previous ones.

In conclusion, I have liked the first book, "Four Past Midnight I: Spring and Summer" more.

This collection of stories offers a diverse range of themes and atmospheres. "The Body" stands out for its ability to capture the essence of youth and the power of memory. It takes the reader on a journey through the eyes of the young protagonists, making us relive our own childhood and adolescence.

On the other hand, "The Breathing Method" has its own merits, but it fails to engage me as deeply as "The Body".

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of Stephen King and those who enjoy short stories that explore the human condition.

Ahora sí terminé con "Las Cuatro Estaciones". Me tomé mi tiempo, pero disfruté cada una de las 4 historias. Las 2 presentes en "Otoño e Invierno" son las siguientes:

- Otoño de la inocencia - El Cuerpo: Cuatro adolescentes emprenden una aventura para descubrir el cadáver de un chico de su misma edad. En el camino, conocen su historia. Y al final, al igual que me pasó a mí, se siente como una aventura vivida en una infancia que no vivimos, pero al mismo tiempo vivimos junto a ellos.

- Cuento de Invierno - El Método de Respiración: La historia transcurre en un club "peculiar" donde un grupo de personas mayores se reúnen a leer. El club posee una biblioteca con libros que no se pueden conseguir en ningún otro lugar. Eventualmente, sus miembros cuentan algún cuento, especialmente los jueves. El cuento que da título al relato es narrado por el doctor ya octogenario de una paciente que una noche da a luz un niño de una manera milagrosa, dadas las circunstancias que van más allá de lo cotidiano.

Me han encantado los relatos presentes en este volumen. Ambos son muy interesantes y atrapantes. El primero, "El Cuerpo", da muchos más detalles de los 4 protagonistas, lo que me encanta y permite empatizar mejor con ellos. En cuanto a su adaptación "Stand by me" o "Cuenta Conmigo", es una buena adaptación, muy fiel al libro. Y ambas, creo, dan un claro y hermoso mensaje sobre la amistad.

En cuanto a "El Método de Respiración", es un relato del que no sabía nada hasta que lo leí y me fascinó. Poder imaginarse cada una de las escenas hace del relato aún más interesante. Sería genial hallar un club con las características del de la historia.

¿Ya leyeron "Las Cuatro Estaciones"?

This second part is composed of two short stories.

The first one, "The Body", told in the first person, tells the story of four friends with different personalities who embark on an adventure together. The situations they face make them feel more united than ever, and our protagonist shows us what catapulted his change to become what he is in his current life.

Many years ago, I saw its film adaptation "Stand by Me", and this is the first time I have read this story. Honestly, I have to say that it has been fascinating.

The second story, "The Breathing Method", is much shorter than "The Body", and for me, it has been very mysterious and eerie. I have remained a bit with some doubts and questions regarding "The Club". And the story shared by McCarron is chilling. In fact, for me, the entire story of "The Breathing Method" is so.

Overall, these two short stories offer different reading experiences. "The Body" is more about friendship and personal growth, while "The Breathing Method" is filled with mystery and a sense of unease. Both stories have their own charm and keep the reader engaged until the end.

Stephen King is a master at creating vivid characters and immersive worlds, and these stories are no exception. Whether you are a fan of his work or new to his writing, these short stories are definitely worth checking out.

I think this is the first horror book by Stephen King that I have read. The story is good. There were some details that I thought were unnecessary, and I must admit that the ending was sad. When I started reading it, I was quite bored and didn't understand much. Only in the last 40 pages did I finally get hooked.

Stephen King is known for his ability to create a sense of terror and suspense, and this book is no exception. The characters are well-developed, and the setting is vividly described. However, as I mentioned earlier, there were some parts that seemed a bit拖沓. Maybe it was because I was not used to the style of horror writing.

Overall, I would say that this is a good book, but it's not for everyone. If you're a fan of horror and Stephen King, then you might enjoy it. But if you're not a big fan of the genre, then you might find it a bit too much. In any case, I'm glad that I gave it a try and will probably read more of Stephen King's books in the future.

I really liked the two stories. In particular, the first one, "The Body", was very engaging.

The second story, "The Method of Respiration", started out a bit slowly. However, as the story progressed, it became more and more interesting.

The ending of the second story was quite good. It left me with a sense of satisfaction and made me think about the themes and ideas presented in the story.

Overall, I found both stories to be well-written and enjoyable. They each had their own unique charm and I would recommend them to others who enjoy reading short stories.

I look forward to reading more of the author's work in the future.

3.5