Four mesmerizing novellas, including the inspirations for the movies The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil and Stand By Me.
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Aug 07, 2011
Ashley
rated it: 
In the Shawshank Redemption, several different stories are combined together to produce a novel, which is basically a different season for each story.
Hope Springs Eternal- The first story, Rita Hayworth, is about a man by the name of Andy who is Shawshank Redemption, a prison, on a false charge of murder. But in the end, his brain outsmarts the warden and guards. What he does his stunning... but I cant say what it it... you will just have to find out.
Summer of Corruptio More...
Hope Springs Eternal- The first story, Rita Hayworth, is about a man by the name of Andy who is Shawshank Redemption, a prison, on a false charge of murder. But in the end, his brain outsmarts the warden and guards. What he does his stunning... but I cant say what it it... you will just have to find out.
Summer of Corruptio More...
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Jan 24, 2008
Beau
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I first read this book when I was at a lousy college in Oregon. A friend of mine was into Stephen King, and I'd just discovered that I liked him, and I plowed through all of this guy's King books in a semester, including The Stand.
This book has stuck with me the most, and it is the one I keep returning too. While the fourth "Season" The Breathing Method, never did anything for me, the other three stories in it, Apt Pupil, The Body (Stand By Me), and Shawshank, are astou More...
This book has stuck with me the most, and it is the one I keep returning too. While the fourth "Season" The Breathing Method, never did anything for me, the other three stories in it, Apt Pupil, The Body (Stand By Me), and Shawshank, are astou More...
Jan 27, 2009
D_Davis
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I just finished my fourth or fifth reading of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, one of my favorite stories. I wish King wrote more short novels and novellas, because he excels at the form. He is often overlooked as an author of short fiction, known more for his lengthy tomes, but it is in the short form that his true talent lies, and the Different Seasons collection is among his very best.
With Shawshank King tells an extraordinary story about hope, humanity, perseverance, More...
With Shawshank King tells an extraordinary story about hope, humanity, perseverance, More...
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Aug 26, 2011
Raegan
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Stephen King says that he wrote this novel in 2 weeks just to "decompress" after he finished "The Shining". Evocative characters, a real sense of creeping madness and a twisty plot with more convolutions than a fire at a Slinky factory make this one of the author's best books. Too bad they muffed the film version.
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Jan 21, 2012
Anthony
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The four stories in "Different Seasons" are "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", "Apt Pupil", "The Body", and "The Breathing Method".
Most readers can relate to Shawshank and The Body, which have been made into big hit movies, and somewhat with Apt Pupil which was also made into a movie, although it is not as well known. (For those unaware, The Body was titled "Stand By Me") Oddly enough, it was the fourth and final stor More...
Most readers can relate to Shawshank and The Body, which have been made into big hit movies, and somewhat with Apt Pupil which was also made into a movie, although it is not as well known. (For those unaware, The Body was titled "Stand By Me") Oddly enough, it was the fourth and final stor More...
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Sep 25, 2008
Fabian
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This one is closer to the EXCELLENT side of the S.K. spectrum (THE GREEN MILE, CARRIE and THE STAND come to mind) than the MEDIOCRE side (INSOMNIA, BAG OF BONES). Yes, these tales are familiar: three of the four seasons have become immortalized on celluloid.
Not until the last Author's Note do his intentions and his themes finally converge. He wrote "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", "Apt Pupil", "The Body" and "The Breathing Method" as More...
Not until the last Author's Note do his intentions and his themes finally converge. He wrote "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", "Apt Pupil", "The Body" and "The Breathing Method" as More...
Jun 19, 2007
Lindsay
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"Different Seasons" is a collection of 4 novellas by Stephen King. It is not typical King fare - none of these novellas fall into the "horror" genre that King is so well-known for.
The book starts out with "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," which is absolutely superb. If you liked the movie, you will like the novella. It's one of King's best non-horror pieces, in my opinion; the film version is also (again, in my opinion) the best adaptation of an More...
The book starts out with "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," which is absolutely superb. If you liked the movie, you will like the novella. It's one of King's best non-horror pieces, in my opinion; the film version is also (again, in my opinion) the best adaptation of an More...
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Aug 26, 2011
Michaela
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This book is pure evil, but I truly enjoyed it. Todd Bowden is a paper boy/high school student who discovers his neighbor, Kurt Dussander, is a wanted Nazi war criminal. Basically Todd becomes engrossed in Dussander's terrible war crime stories and goes over to his house frequently. The creepy part is that Todd has no intention of turning Dussander in..he just wants more and more information out of him. In hindsight, the only thing I really didn't like about the book was that the plot was highly
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Aug 07, 2011
Carly
rated it:
most people are surprised Stephen King wrote this. first, you can read this in 1 hour because it's a 100-page novella. Second, while most books do not translate well into film, with the exception of two minor character developments, this film is a REMARKABLE reflection of the book. If you liked the movie, read this. if you have not seen the film, read this first, then see the film. But wait a month or so after you read, then watch. because if you watch right away, you will be reciting line
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Aug 07, 2011
Lisa
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I'll do this by story.
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption:
Not bad, but it lacked something that the movie had. The characters in the movie were so well portrayed and had so much depth. I didn't feel anything for them in the story. They could've been anyone. I'd recommend the movie instead of this.
Apt Pupil:
I saw the movie version years ago and from what I remember, this is much better. It also seemed to span more time than the movie does. When Todd fir More...
Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption:
Not bad, but it lacked something that the movie had. The characters in the movie were so well portrayed and had so much depth. I didn't feel anything for them in the story. They could've been anyone. I'd recommend the movie instead of this.
Apt Pupil:
I saw the movie version years ago and from what I remember, this is much better. It also seemed to span more time than the movie does. When Todd fir More...
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Oct 26, 2011
Bipin
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"There's guy like me in every state and federal prison in America,I guess -I'm the guy who can get it for you.Tailor made cigarettes,a bag of reefer,if you're partial to that,a bottle of brandy to celebrate your son or daughter's high school graduation,or almost everything else...within reason,that is."
So begins "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption".A novella written by Stephen King,it is about a man Andy Dufresne,who has been unjustly convicted for murdering is More...
So begins "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption".A novella written by Stephen King,it is about a man Andy Dufresne,who has been unjustly convicted for murdering is More...
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Aug 07, 2011
Jed
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One of my professors used to say that you can't judge between books and movies since they're different artistic mediums. In his view, saying "the book is better than the movie" is about the same as saying, for instance, "Blake's illustration of 'the Tyger' is way better than his poem", which is silly, in that there is no objective scale which covers both art forms in any comparable way. I find this proposition hogwash. Both mediums are telling the same story: to say that one
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Jul 01, 2008
Heidi
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I picked this collection of stories up because I was curious to see how various stories have been adapted to the big screen. It just so happens that the basis of two of the best movies ever made, The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me were based on the stories, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption", and "The Body," both found in this collection. Another story, "Apt Pupil," was also made into a film, but I have yet to see it. After reading the latter story,
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Oct 11, 2007
Joleen
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The four novellas in this book are very diverse. Two of them, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" and "The Body" were superb. "The Shawshank Redemption" is one of my favorite movies, and the novella is probably one of my favorite stories. I was also excited that in the novella, you actually find out what crime Red is imprisoned for. "The Body" is a great story of friendship and adventure.
"Apt Pupil" is the main reason thi More...
"Apt Pupil" is the main reason thi More...
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 07, 2011
I thought this book was Ok. I am not a big fan of books that stay in one setting for the duration of the story. However, the point of the story was very well created. It deals with an inmate named Andy Dufresne and how he spends his time in prison. He makes aquaintences with different inmates, including a man named Red, who is known for smuggling contraband. What I thought the book was about was trying to regain innocence, and redeem oneself from the evil that they have committed and the process
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Jun 26, 2009
Greg of A2
rated it:
A strong collection of four novellas. This is one of King's best overall works. He was in his creative prime while writing these stories. "The Body" is a genuine, gripping coming-of-age story and Rob Reiner did a masterful job of translating it to the big screen as "Stand By Me" one of my favorite movies (and songs too).
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Feb 05, 2012
Keely
rated it:
I didn't realize that I had actually read something by Stephen King. I am quite familiar with a number of his stories from discussion; others from film adaptations. I know him chiefly as an amazing font of poorly-executed ideas and The Man Who Cannot End A Story.
This book does not suffer as greatly as his others, though much of the psychology is quite silly and overwrought. As one Jew who finds WWII and the Holocaust to be blown out of proportion (especially in comparison to other, More...
This book does not suffer as greatly as his others, though much of the psychology is quite silly and overwrought. As one Jew who finds WWII and the Holocaust to be blown out of proportion (especially in comparison to other, More...
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Mar 17, 2009
I bought this to read Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. Don't know if I will read the other novellas, since horror is not my thing.
Rita Hayworth was very good, but it's overshadowed by the excellent movie. I couldn't not hear Morgan Freeman as the narrator's voice.
Rita Hayworth was very good, but it's overshadowed by the excellent movie. I couldn't not hear Morgan Freeman as the narrator's voice.
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Jan 01, 2009
Robin
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I would have given this book 5 stars if Breathing Method was not part of it. I read this years and years ago and was discussing Shawshank and The body with a few others here on GoodReads and it got me itching for a re-read.
This is some of the best King there is - and the movie adaptations of the first 2 (Shawshank and The Body - Called Stand by Me in the movie) is just great writing. Of course these works were "different" for King at the time as they were not horror but i More...
This is some of the best King there is - and the movie adaptations of the first 2 (Shawshank and The Body - Called Stand by Me in the movie) is just great writing. Of course these works were "different" for King at the time as they were not horror but i More...
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Feb 01, 2012
Stefan
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This collection of novellas should easily be counted among King's best works. Of the four tales contained here, three have been made into successful motion pictures, two of which I would rank among my top fifty favorite films. Contained in this collection are: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body (better known from the film version titled "Stand By Me"), and The Breathing Method. The stories are all very well different and for the most part stray away from the ho
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Jan 23, 2012
Checkman
rated it:
I wouldn't call myself a King addict. Over the years I've started many of his novels only to give up on them. However when he is at his best he's cooking with gasoline and I've always believed that he's at his best with short stories and novellas. Different Seasons is one of his best. It's not a coincidence that three of the four stories in this volume have been made into movies and that two of them (Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me) are considered to be among the best of the King movie adap
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Sep 25, 2011
Христо
rated it:
Четири "Особени сезони" по Стивън Кинг: http://www.knigolandia.info/2010/01/blog...
За пореден път Кинг ме очарова по начин, присъщ само нему. Още повече, че този път не получих еднократна дълга порция, а цели четири, или по-точно три и половина по-къси, което си има очарованието.
Сборникът "Особени сезони" съдържа четири новели, които по собствените му думи в един кратък послепис в края са твърде дълги за разкази и твърде къси за романи. Макар More...
За пореден път Кинг ме очарова по начин, присъщ само нему. Още повече, че този път не получих еднократна дълга порция, а цели четири, или по-точно три и половина по-къси, което си има очарованието.
Сборникът "Особени сезони" съдържа четири новели, които по собствените му думи в един кратък послепис в края са твърде дълги за разкази и твърде къси за романи. Макар More...
Sep 12, 2011
Shawshank Redemption is an amazing story about a prison break planned by the protagonist Andy, and the journey it took to achieve this plan. It is an amazing book overall, and i wanted to read the book because I loved the movie so much.
One of the greatest things about this story is that all the details really do count. You do not realize this until the end of the story, but a lot of the small and insignificant (at the time) dialogue adds up and really unfolds the story. The story is incred More...
One of the greatest things about this story is that all the details really do count. You do not realize this until the end of the story, but a lot of the small and insignificant (at the time) dialogue adds up and really unfolds the story. The story is incred More...
Sep 09, 2011
Elen
rated it:
The first story, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption was my favorite. Yes! That's right! Not The Body! Shocking, I know, but not really if you knew me. I love heist stories. And what's a jailbreak if not stealing your freedom? The Shawshank Redemption was by turns touching and hilarious. Again, S.K. humanizes those that we call "monsters"(and who's to say if they are or aren't? I might be sickened by the crimes they commit, but then, I haven't been to prison either, so....)and t
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Jul 08, 2011
James
rated it:
In the early 1980s, Stephen King wanted to create a collection of novelettes that were not horror stories - although the last story was clearly a supernatural one. Three of these four novelettes were made into movies! I've heard of most of them but have yet to review all the films.
These stories are broken down into seasons, in the order of spring, summer, fall and winter.
The first tale is Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption, also a film named simply "Shawshank More...
These stories are broken down into seasons, in the order of spring, summer, fall and winter.
The first tale is Rita Hayworth & The Shawshank Redemption, also a film named simply "Shawshank More...
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Jul 05, 2011
Angela
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Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption: Loved this novella. Thought it was excellently written and the characters were very believable and real. It's just a great, touching story. I watched the movie after reading the story and was pleased that for the most part it kept to the story line in the book.
Apt Pupil: This was my favorite novella out of the four. I thought it was a little disturbing, but it was also very mesmerizing. It kept my attention from the first page and I fi More...
Apt Pupil: This was my favorite novella out of the four. I thought it was a little disturbing, but it was also very mesmerizing. It kept my attention from the first page and I fi More...
Jan 26, 2011
Melissa
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Different Seasons is made up of four different short stories by King. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil, The Body, and The Breathing Method. I have to confess, I mainly picked up this book for the Shawshank Redemption and am a little biased because it was filmed at the Reformatory in my hometown. I loved the movie and couldn't wait to read the book, although I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a full novel. The rest of the stories I had heard little about and wasn't su
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Sep 24, 2010
Maria
rated it:
*I'm not done reading this book. I hadn't read King in many years. I bought this because of the novella "The Body" on which the coming-of-age movie "Stand By Me" was based. (What can I say, I grew fond of that particular reel.) I'm yet to read that tale, however. I was pleased to discover "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption was included in this collection (And yes, I saw the motion picture as well...) That narrative (Red's... aptly...) I was able to finish... and I r
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Jun 21, 2010
Robert
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Apr 27, 2010
The Different Seasons is an Anthology of four different stories. The following is a review of the story titled, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," by Nikita R.
People thought Andy Dufrene would break his first day in prison, they underestimated him. Andy was the long lost looking fellow in the beginning but worked his way up to become Shaw shank’s center of attention. Based on where he’s from and how educated he is he uses his knowledge with numbers and take More...
