Roberta Writes – Halloween Book Festival: Different Seasons by Stephen King

Uncategorized 3 Minutes

Different Seasons by Stephen King is the scare of today.

What Amazon says

A “hypnotic” (The New York Times Book Review) collection of four novellas—including the inspirations behind the films Stand By Me and The Shawshank Redemption—from Stephen King, bound together by the changing of seasons, each taking on the theme of a journey with strikingly different tones and characters.

This gripping collection begins with “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” in which an unjustly imprisoned convict seeks a strange and startling revenge—the basis for the Best Picture Academy Award-nominee The Shawshank Redemption.

Next is “Apt Pupil,” the inspiration for the film of the same name about top high school student Todd Bowden and his obsession with the dark and deadly past of an older man in town.

In “The Body,” four rambunctious young boys plunge through the façade of a small town and come face-to-face with life, death, and intimations of their own mortality. This novella became the movie Stand By Me.

Finally, a disgraced woman is determined to triumph over death in “The Breathing Method.”

“The wondrous readability of his work, as well as the instant sense of communication with his characters, are what make Stephen King the consummate storyteller that he is,” hailed the Houston Chronicle about Different Seasons.

My review

This is a collection of four novella’s by Stephen King. Two of these stories I had already seen as movies prior to reading this collection, and two were entirely new to me.

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is the story of a prominent banker, Andy Dufrense, who is convicted of killing his wife and sentenced to life in a notorious prison. The story depicts in fairly graphic detail, the boredom and hardship of life in prison with hardened and malicious criminals, some who are also rapists and prey on any they deem to be weak. Andy befriends another “lifer” called Red and, during the course of his journey to finally becoming a prisoner whom the prison manager and wardens rely on for financial services, becomes firm friends with Red. Andy learns how to survive and makes some interesting decisions about his life. This story provides a lot of insight into the different types and characters of men and how they react and plan in different and adverse situations. A great story.

The Body is a story about four young boys, living in a deadbeat town where not much happens and who seem to have limited future prospects, who overhear some older teenagers saying that the body of one of their peers had been found some distance away near the railway line. The boys set off on a journey to find the body. The face some adversity and must overcome their fears, but they also learn the value of food, drink and shelter as well as friendship and standing together. Another story with interesting psychological angles.

The Breathing Method was my personal favourite of this collection and tells the story of an ordinary and unassuming man in a good job where he will never be selected for promotion due to his nature. His boss, while recognising his limitations, also sees his strengths, one of which is that he is a great reader, and invites him to attend a men’s evening out at his exclusive club. One of the past times of this club is to tell a story of their own experience or origination on Christmas Eve. Each year the story teller is chosen in advance. The breathing method is one of the stories told and it really creeped me out. Stephen King’s build up and descriptions are superb and really have you looking over your shoulder. An excellent story.

The Apt Pupil is the story I liked the least. It is about a twelve year old boy who identifies a Nazi war criminal who is living in a small American town under an assumed name. The boy, Todd, is fascinated by the detail of the concentration camps and confronts the aging man and compels him to tell him all the horrible details of his life in charge of a concentration camp. These stories have a big impact on both Todd, who loses weight, starts having nightmares and failing at school and the elderly gent also resurrects all these terrible memories and starts reverting back to his previous hardened and unfeeling persona. This story did not suspend disbelief for me. I could not believe that a boy from a good family, with a curiosity about the concentration camps which is not itself unbelievable, would degenerate into a serial killer. I also found it hard to believe that an elderly Nazi war criminal in hiding would start murdering people. I didn’t finish this story and it is the reason I gave this book a 4-star rating.

Amazon US purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Different-Seasons-Stephen-King-ebook/dp/B018ER7L3Y

Unknown's avatar

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

23 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – Halloween Book Festival: Different Seasons by Stephen King”

  1. I did not read any of these but I’ve seen the movie Shawshank Redemption a few times and I love the movie. They sound like great books, well you were hesitant about the last one. Incidentally, about horror, I just watched Hellraiser and Hellraiser II Hellbound Heart, which are based on the book Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, which I read. The movies are quite different from the book. Both the movies and the book are quite disturbing. Anyway, your reviews were great and very informative.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  5. I’ve read all but “The Breathing Method.” (Or if I did read it, I don’t remember it at all.) “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” was my favorite of the three. I enjoyed “The Body” until the end when King engaged in something gratuitous, but I don’t remember what. I thought “The Apt Pupil” was so so.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Liz, it is always interesting which stories resonate with people. I always seem to be the odd man out – haha! Hubby likes Shawshank Redemption and The Body. In fact, it was he who chose this collection. We are now listening to The Green Mile.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. An excellent collection, Robbie. I read this book over thirty years ago. You’ve made me think I might want to give it a second read. I loved “The Body”, of course, but had forgotten about Shawshank and “The Apt Pupil”. Thaks for the reminder. Stephen King has always been a favorite author, but he has a lot of new stuff out that I’ve missed. Wasn’t able to get onto his reviewer list. 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Funny how memory works. I remember reading “The Body” and “Rita Hayworth..” and enjoying them — also enjoying the movies based on them (back with many Stephen King movies were not good). I also remember reading “Apt Pupil” and being disturbed by it. But I don’t remember “The Breathing Method.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Hi Dave, I suppose it depends on what captures your imagination. As a mother of two sons who have both suffered chronic illnesses, I suppose the concept of saving the baby at all costs beats strongly within me and that is why that story resonated with me so much. I just couldn’t stomach Apt Pupil, it had to much cruelty in it.

      Like

      Reply

Leave a comment