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26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of his best, August 17, 2001
Sometimes collections like this can be hard to judge. Most of the time the author will have ups and downs, with one story that may appeal to one audience and another which appeals to a different one. Different Seasons, however, manages to provide a good body of work that should appeal to just about everybody.To be clear on the content of the book, this is actually two novellas and two short stories--both Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and The Breathing Method are both on par with such classics as "Bartleby the Scrivener." The format of the book is perhaps a little hokey--the stories follow the seasonal theme--but ultimately that artistic touch is irrelevant to the real appreciation of the book, at worst, and endearing, at best. The stories themselves are excellent, a fact attested to by the production of three major films based on the first three of these pieces. The first presented is Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, and of them all, it's probably the best on the whole. The characters in the story are well written and, all things considered, it's really just a fine story with a positive message that you might not be used to seeing in Stephen King's writing. Second is Apt Pupil, which is more reminiscent of King's usual subject matter and tone, but still manages to provide an engrossing and interesting view into the nature of evil and the parasitic relationship that a man can develop with it. The Body is probably the most endearing of all the stories in the book, even if it is the roughest in terms of production. With a reflective, old-man-on-the-porch-in-the-sunshine voice, King is able to relate this tale of the loss of innocence and the passage into adulthood. The final tale is actually reminiscent of other, older authors than King. The Breathing Method uses several old tricks of such superluminaries as Melville and Hawthorne in its presentation, and manages to wrap an entertaining story around an allegorical examination of the writing process. Taken as a whole, this collection is truly one of the most excellent efforts that King has ever put forth. While he still does tend to bloat a little (a complaint many have about his novels) in the middle two stories, all of them manage to create an atmosphere wholly their own and to take the mind of a reader away to another place, which, as King says in the afterword, is his first and highest goal. While little new ground is broken in the themes King analyzes, the themes themselves all still bear examination. His storytelling is at its height here, and this is a book that all readers should pick up at one point or another. It may not be horror, but that, in this case, cannot be said to be a failing, as King showcases his cross-genre talent. A truly fantastic book.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ages of Man - Stephen King Style, August 21, 2002
This 1982 collection of three superb novellas and one also-ran is a valuable addition to your book collection. Insert Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" into the CD, settle in your favorite chair, and get ready to enjoy. "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" I am one of the few people I know that has not seen everyone's favorite movie, "The Shawshank Redemption." Yes, I do live on this planet, but I stubbornly avoid prison movies. After reading this life and hope-affirming story, I will have to break my rule and give Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman a chance to wend their magic. Wily old Red, a lifer who has seen it all, tells the story of Andy Dufresne, an innocent man who is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and her lover. Andy gradually wins the respect and finally awestruck admiration from the cynical Red by his patience, determination and understated kindness and true sense of self. As I approached the end of this story, I could think of at least six awful ways clever and manipulative King could end the story. I caught myself saying "not this time--please!" knowing that I was firmly caught in any web King cared to devise. "The Apt Pupil" I will state at the outset, was my favorite. Mysteries and thrillers are my preferred form of escapism; "The Apt Pupil" is a psychological thriller at its finest. Todd is frighteningly enough, every parent's dream child. Modest, polite, handsome, gifted student and athlete with a winning grin that melts teachers and friends alike. At 13, he has the world in front of him. He also has a peculiar interest in what went on in concentration camps in WWII. By sheer chance he discovers a neighboring old man, Mr. Henker aka Dussander is in fact one of the most brutal Nazi war criminals and who has been living under an alias for all these years. Rather than being shocked, Todd wants to hear all about it. Dussander does all he can to drive the boy away, but finally gives in from the very justified fear that Todd will turn him in. Thus begins a descent to the depths with Dussander's depravity reawakening and Todd's symbiotic parasitism of Dussander's soul. The novel is so well done, it gives you a series of small shocks until you are so weakened, the huge momentum of last big horror about does you in. What is interesting is you can't decide who is the more depraved, Dussander or the boy. Brilliantly conceived and executed. "The Body" made into that sleeper hit, "Stand By Me," is a coming of age story of one Labor Day weekend in the lives of four 12-year old boys. I suspect King is so excellent at this type of story is because there is still a great deal of the 12-year old boy remaining in him. That is my one criticism of this tale; King, the grown up narrator, interferes too much. A corpse of a 12-year old boy has been discovered and abandoned by the "big" boys of Castle Rock who fear they will get in trouble. The four youngsters decide they will "discover" the corpse themselves and become famous heroes in the local TV and newspaper. The boys are not morbid, and it is clear they see this as an adventure, camping out in the woods, hiking, and then their just rewards. The body is just incidental or a means to an end. A breathtaking example of King's lyric abilities is when he describes a wild scream heard by the boys in woods at night: "The scream climbed with a crazy ease through octave after octave, finally reaching a glassy, freezing edge. It hung there for a moment and then whirled back down again, disappearing into an impossible bass register that buzzed like a monstrous honeybee. This was followed by a burst of what sounded like mad laughter ...and then there was silence again." "The Breathing Method" I noticed was dedicated to Peter Straub and his wife Susan. Alas, I am afraid that is what "The Breathing Method" is. Bad Peter Straub. Old men gathering in a strange club telling chilling tales to one another. The title tale was almost comic in its horror, the type that makes me want to go, "Oh puh-leez." This is a 5-star book with one not so good story (and many people liked it). By all means, get the book, read it and then rewatch the DVDs.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A book for all seasons of the year, February 20, 2000
Different Seasons was the first Stephen King book I have ever read. I chose to read it after watching the movie "The Shawshank Redemption", which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was interested in reading the story on which the movie is based, so I soon found that "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" was one of King's novellas in Different Seasons. One of the ways I determine whether or not I like a book is if I become involved in the story; not as a reader, but as a character. If I can envision the actual events and feel that I am watching the story unfold, then the story is worthwhile and a pleasure to read. I felt this way while I was reading Different Seasons. The first of the four novellas, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption", was interesting to read. It was somewhat unfortunate that I had seen the movie beforehand because I found myself making many comparisons and contrasts. Nevertheless, I came to enjoy the story of Andy, Red, and prison life in Shawshank. The story "Apt Pupil" was the basis for a recent movie of the same title in 1998. I have not seen the movie -- yet. I found this story to be the most captivating of the four; it left my eyes riveted to the page and I almost finished it in one sitting. The story of a young boy who becomes obsessed with a Nazi was well-written and intriguing how King built up to the final climax. By far, "Apt Pupil" was the best story in the book. Next comes the story "The Body", which served as the basis for the eighties movie "Stand By Me" (I have not seen this movie either). The story of boys on a quest to find the dead body of another teenage boy was quite interesting, but seemed to drag on and became boring at some places in the middle of the story. I expected, based upon the other stories in the book, to be met with a climax in the end, but was disappointed. If you enjoy reading stories about life and the pros and cons of growing up, then "The Body" is a good read. If you expect a climax or unending suspense like myself, then this story does not make the cut. Lastly, there is "The Breathing Method", the story of a young pregnant woman who learns the Lamaze breathing method from her doctor. This is a story within a story, however, since the story is told to members of an obscure club to which the narrator belongs. This story did not disappoint me, however, since "The Breathing Method" ended with an awe-inspiring climax that was well-written by King. Although it was the shortest story of the four, it is still a good novella. By the way, "The Breathing Method" is the only story of the four that has not been made into a movie -- yet. To conclude, I enjoyed Different Seasons and recommend it to anyone who is willing to let his/her imagination wander into the realm of fiction. If you dislike King's horror stories, I recommend this book as an alternative to his more gruesome books, since there is only a little bit of horror to spur the mind. Overall, these four novellas are worthwhile reading for all seasons of the year. Enjoy.
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