Shawshank Redemption
by Stephen King
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Ashley by:
my grandma recommends it for: mature teens and adults
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 Corruption- The second st...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 Corruption- The second st...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
Horror fans, Stephen King fans, book-to-film buffs
One of the best set of novella length stories ever put together. Period. For anyone out there who accuses King of not beinjg able to write well, this set should end that argument.
Shawshank: "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is a masterpiece. A streamlined cast of characters and clever telling of the story using the narrator as a main character, only to shift into first person to finish the story with expectant yet unresolved hope.
Apt Pupil: Scary. Really spooky...more
Shawshank: "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is a masterpiece. A streamlined cast of characters and clever telling of the story using the narrator as a main character, only to shift into first person to finish the story with expectant yet unresolved hope.
Apt Pupil: Scary. Really spooky...more
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I just now checked a small nagging memory. This delightful book started life as Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, when it was a great short story by Stephen King. The story takes place over decades, as a prison inmate retains his spirit and soul, while breathing life into a dark institution, and whose patient nature finally leads him to freedom. The story is told in first person from the point of view of old Red, the guy who can get you things, about Andy Dufresne, a young bank...more
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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...more
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Four different stories, only one of which is Shawshank Redemption. My favorite story was Apt Pupil which is a terrifyingly creepy story about a young boy who discovers an ex-Nazi is living in his neighborhood. He blackmails the man by threatening to reveal his past unless he answers all of the boy's questions on the Holocaust. They made a movie out of this, too, but it was very low-budget and I haven't actually seen it, just glanced at a cover in a movie store once. Two other stories I can't...more
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If you look at by list of books, I clearly enjoy reading Stephen King. Even though he did not write me back when I requested an interview with him for my 7th grade speech class. That's water under the bridge between us now.
I'll grant you that he's been phoning it in for 15 years now, so you won't see me recommending the newer books. This novella (and others included)was written well before. It's fantastic. I won't give away the surprises here.
Whoa, did she really just give Walt Whitman 1...more
I'll grant you that he's been phoning it in for 15 years now, so you won't see me recommending the newer books. This novella (and others included)was written well before. It's fantastic. I won't give away the surprises here.
Whoa, did she really just give Walt Whitman 1...more
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recommends it for:
Anyone who liked the movie
This is one of those books that actually had a movie do it some justice. The book is very much like the movie and they are both very good. It follows one mans time in a corrupt jail and this mans wants and dreams of the future.
This is actually a short story released in a book of short stories by Stephen King. I can't remember which one but the rest of the stories were quite good as well. Morgan Freeman narrates the movie and after seeing it all you can hear is his voice when you read t...more
This is actually a short story released in a book of short stories by Stephen King. I can't remember which one but the rest of the stories were quite good as well. Morgan Freeman narrates the movie and after seeing it all you can hear is his voice when you read t...more
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Read in January, 2005
This novella was a great story and another exellent testament to King's skillful command of our language. Who ever said pop culture can not also be art? This probably would have received a 5 star rating from me if it were not for the fact that the movie is so much better than the book, a rare feat. I think that the written word was simply the wrong medium for this message. Kudos to King, though, for coming up with a brilliant prison-escape heist/caper--my favorite sort of story.
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Read in January, 1996
recommended to Lauren by:
Scott Faulk
I read this story when I still lived in Tyler, TX. The book it was in was given to me by a family friend and my SUnday school teacher.
I remember thinking, "how can this be a stephen king" story. That was my first look in to the mind of a great writer in my opinion.
I had only up until this point known him to be a horror writer. But after reading Different Seasons I started reading all of his books and haven't been disappointed to date.
I remember thinking, "how can this be a stephen king" story. That was my first look in to the mind of a great writer in my opinion.
I had only up until this point known him to be a horror writer. But after reading Different Seasons I started reading all of his books and haven't been disappointed to date.
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who likes the movie.
Story of a wrongly-imprisoned man who brings hope in with him. I really liked the novella, but then again I really like the movie. It is interesting how King can make you empathize with characters who in real life would be considered "monsters": people who committed multiple murders. King doesn't gloss over their crimes, but he also doesn't let you forget that they are still human. If you like the movie, you will like the novella.
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This movie is one of my favorite films of all time. It was interesting to me that I found this novella a few years after I had seen the movie. I was excited to read the story. One would normally think that any book is better by far than any movie. However, with this story, it was not the case. The story is very good and very well written but falls dreadfully short in comparison to the movie. If you liked the movie, skip the book.
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Read in February, 1990
recommends it for:
everyone
It's from the best Stephen King book I've ever read. In my humble opinion, Stephen King is a better short story/novella writer than a novelist/serial novelist. This short story is about a dehumanizing situation where the protagonist's characteristics transcend this condition. I recommend you read the whole collection of four novellas which is the book "Different Seasons". I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
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Read in May, 2007
Stephen King should write more books with truth like this than hiding away in science fiction and horror. This was so well written, when they made the movie they used the dialogue right from the book. It is darker than the movie. Maybe more honest to how it would be in jail. King writes dangerously and it works for him. The characters are unforgettable. This is one hell of a good book.
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What does Stephen Kind do when he's not adapting his 900 page ridiculous novels to bad films??? He writes a few great short stories.
The story of Andy and Red in Shawshank prison also stands as one of the best movies in the last 30 years. A story of life, love, and hope from behind the walls of one of the darkest hell holes in history.
The story of Andy and Red in Shawshank prison also stands as one of the best movies in the last 30 years. A story of life, love, and hope from behind the walls of one of the darkest hell holes in history.
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Read in December, 2003
recommends it for:
anyone who loves the movie
This is my favorite movie of all time. I was relatively surprised to see how well the book was written. You really get a great look at Morgan Freeman's character and feel the same way you feel at the end of the movie. It's a short story too and can finish it in one sitting. One of my favorite non-horror books by King.
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I think the mark of a great book is that months, years or even decades after you read it you still remember the characters and how it changed your outlook on life. Andy and Red did this for me when I read the book and the 2,000 times I watched the movie did not hurt to cement the life lessons into my brain.
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Read in September, 2005
recommends it for:
anyone
This book (A novella, really) inspired one of the best movies in history. So it's fitting that the book is as good. You'll read the story of a young banker who goes to prison for a crime he didn't commit --and the close friendship he strikes with one of the inmates-- will absolutely warm your heart.
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Though the movie is a little different from the book, I quite enjoyed reading the book. However, I prefer the movie's end, wherein Andy not only gets the better of Warden Norton by escaping from Shawshank but also by sending his files to the IRS and walking away with Norton's money.
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Read in January, 2001
recommends it for:
Anyone
One of my favorite movies of all time and the book is great too. One of those rare instances were the movie might even be better than the book. I read this as an Audio book and loved ever minute of it. This book was read by Frank Muller, who is my all time favorite reader.
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.40 (3290 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.40 (3056 ratings) number of reviews: 92popular shelves
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""It always comes down to just two choices. Get busy living, or get busy dying.""
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