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51st out of 285 books
—
559 voters
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption: A Story from Different Seasons
by
Stephen King
A wrongly convicted man finds himself in a prison run by a sadistic warden.
Hardcover, Large print, 181 pages
Published
1982
by Thorndike Press
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(showing
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of
2,482)
Jul 29, 2007
Mark
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Horror fans, Stephen King fans, book-to-film buffs
Shelves:
kingstephen
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 stuff. Not so much for...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 stuff. Not so much for...more
I am willing to bet the majority of people reading this review have already seen the film version of The Shawshank Redemption. If you have not seen the movie, stop reading my review and go watch the film. It is amazing. I have recently discovered the 'free' audio-books on the library. (Thank you tax dollars). The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King is a relatively short book. It is also a short audio book, only 3 cassettes (my POS car has a tape-deck). Frank Muller narrates Stephen King's tale...more
One of the few books in history that was actually as good as its on screen counterpart, although how they managed to squeeze so much screen time out of such a short story still amazes me. I originally read this book when I was 16, missing my school prom to finish it and I loved it then as I love it now. The true mark of a good story is one that can be told time and time again without you ever realising that you have read it before. This is certainly one of those great stories, from an equally gr...more
Despite being a bookworm, I couldn't remember when did I last read Stephen King's. Now I just finished reading the short story and I could feel the tightness in my chest. The swelling due to emotional burst caused by reading the novella. Both the film & the novella are both excellent.
"Remember that hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things,and no good thing ever dies."
"Some birds are not meant to be caged. Their feathers are too bright,their songs too sweet and wild. So you let t...more
"Remember that hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things,and no good thing ever dies."
"Some birds are not meant to be caged. Their feathers are too bright,their songs too sweet and wild. So you let t...more
I honestly cannot fault Stephen King’s writing. It’s flawless and brilliant and I loved it.
This novella has solidified my belief that King is the best writer out there. For real. I cannot think of anybody better. If I could eat this book, I would. If I could marry it, I would. If I could have children with it without breaking the law, I would.
I would.
Take that, Meyer.
A more comprehensive review to come.
This novella has solidified my belief that King is the best writer out there. For real. I cannot think of anybody better. If I could eat this book, I would. If I could marry it, I would. If I could have children with it without breaking the law, I would.
I would.
Take that, Meyer.
A more comprehensive review to come.
Fascinating Novella; The Screenplay of the Movie Actually Bettered It
I must have watched "The Shawshank Redemption" more than a dozen times. It is a testament as much to the movie as it is to the screenplay and the novel it is based on. The Stephen King novella, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is less than a hundred pages long, and is unlike other Stephen King works from the horror genre. It is the travails of a convict, Andy Dufresne, wrongly sentenced for the twin murders of his w...more
I must have watched "The Shawshank Redemption" more than a dozen times. It is a testament as much to the movie as it is to the screenplay and the novel it is based on. The Stephen King novella, "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" is less than a hundred pages long, and is unlike other Stephen King works from the horror genre. It is the travails of a convict, Andy Dufresne, wrongly sentenced for the twin murders of his w...more
Fantastic and the movie interpretation was supberb. One of those rare examples of of a book and movie are equal in excellence. Stephen king is one fantastic writer.
Shawshank Redemption has been my most favorite movie and this will always be (perhaps this is the best film they ever made in Hollywood. No doubt it still holds no.1 position on IMDb’s list).
I wonder why I liked this book so much. After all, it’s just about a man who is brought to the prison for the double murders (view spoiler) He spends 27 years in there (view spoiler) That’s it. Whole book happens wit...more
I wonder why I liked this book so much. After all, it’s just about a man who is brought to the prison for the double murders (view spoiler) He spends 27 years in there (view spoiler) That’s it. Whole book happens wit...more
Different Season is King's best work (that I've read).
Nothing fantastical here. Just plain good storytelling.
With the exception of "The Breathing Method" - of course.
I've always felt that with such abundance of ideas (loads of crapola too - but that goes without saying), King if anyone should stick to writing novellas.
Writing short stories (well.. the term short is obviously a very relative concept to Mr. King) honestly seems to be the only way to stop the man from tediously describing every sce...more
Nothing fantastical here. Just plain good storytelling.
With the exception of "The Breathing Method" - of course.
I've always felt that with such abundance of ideas (loads of crapola too - but that goes without saying), King if anyone should stick to writing novellas.
Writing short stories (well.. the term short is obviously a very relative concept to Mr. King) honestly seems to be the only way to stop the man from tediously describing every sce...more
I've never read anything else by Stephen King (though that may change, as a respected source has recommended The Green Mile to me). Until feeling compelled to read Rita Hayworth and..., I'd never wanted to read anything of his, either: Some of the places King's mind goes in the name of amusement strike me as deeply unnecessary.
Hopefully, this makes my no-holds-barred recommendation of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption more compelling.
The novella is a tribute to the best humanity is capa...more
Hopefully, this makes my no-holds-barred recommendation of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption more compelling.
The novella is a tribute to the best humanity is capa...more
Nov 03, 2012
Ryan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like books involving crime and mysteries
Recommended to Ryan by:
No-one
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I can't believe it took me so long to read this. I've always loved the movie ever since my dad made me sit down and watch it as a kid. He's always been the one to introduce me to older movies of this type, The Green Mile, Shawshank Redemption, Cool Hand Luke. I digress. When I found out this was another SK gem I nearly died and knew I'd have to read it one day. So now I have. Comparatively I thought the movie did I great job capturing the story. That being said, I think if you've seen the movie...more
It's difficult not to compare this to the movie based on it, because they're pretty similar. The Shawshank Redemption just goes to show that oftentimes a short story/novella adaptation makes for a better film than that of a novel. There isn't the issue of condensing material, and usually short stories are thematic in a way that translates well to screen. There are little differences, but the film is true to the story, including the personable, reflective feel that Red's narrative voice gives. An...more
I couldn't find Different Seasons as its own book, so I'll have to review each of the four short stories separately.
Generally I don't like to read Stephen King if I've already seen the movie, but I figured for Shawshank I should probably make an exception. I'm glad I did. For all of the long-winded 1000 page novels that Stephen King turns out, he sure knows how to craft an amazing short story. This story was told perfectly, and I can see that the movie really followed the essence of King's story...more
Generally I don't like to read Stephen King if I've already seen the movie, but I figured for Shawshank I should probably make an exception. I'm glad I did. For all of the long-winded 1000 page novels that Stephen King turns out, he sure knows how to craft an amazing short story. This story was told perfectly, and I can see that the movie really followed the essence of King's story...more
This book is unique since it's relatively unknown, but it spawned one of the greatest movies ever made. This review is written with the assumption that you have seen the movie.
The movie followed the book incredibly well. All of the major plot points are there, although the movie did add a few minor wrinkles here or there. The story is told from Red's point of view, and it reads like he is just sitting down and having a chat with you.
It's hard to rate the book because the movie is so good. I will...more
The movie followed the book incredibly well. All of the major plot points are there, although the movie did add a few minor wrinkles here or there. The story is told from Red's point of view, and it reads like he is just sitting down and having a chat with you.
It's hard to rate the book because the movie is so good. I will...more
The movie is one of my favorites of all time. Not perfect itself but pretty close. I've just read the novella for the first time and the few and far between plot issues I had with the screenplay turn out to be adaptations - presumably for convenience and/or added on-screen drama.
Also this is not a case of falling into the trap of liking a book better than the movie because subconsciously we are appreciating the additional richness the full text offers. Accounting for the fact that seemingly a q...more
This is the first time I have read something by Stephen King and finished it. I wanted to finish it. I didn't hate my life after finishing it. Unlike his usual drivel, Shawshank is a sweet story with characters that are actually allowed to have some depth, and rather than writing in his horridly crass banal King-style (do you know what I mean? Where the book is narrated first-person by some roughneck male, always smacking of Holden Caulfield but far less original) he actually let the story be ge...more
Jan 18, 2012
Tom James
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone
Recommended to Tom by:
Friends
Shelves:
favorites
I haven't seen the adaptation of this book properly, but I already knew the story. I decided to read it because the book is always better, and it was only a short story. I was not disappointed in the slightest. I got straight into the story and read this in less than 3 hours, I just couldn't put it down. I think that when reading the book, you do become attached to the narrator (Red), but instead of seeing things from your perspective, you actually see them as though you were stood in his shoes....more
Jan 18, 2012
Chris Meigh
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Stephen King fans, film buffs,
Shelves:
reviewed
I was told to watch the film adaptation of this for so long. And to be honest I was disappointed. Though I enjoyed it I didn't feel an emotional connection to the characters. The book is very different though. I feel like I know Red, I feel like I am him and because of that this story of hope and friendship is brilliant. Though it was slow at start it picked up and by the end I couldn't put it down. Stephen King has proven he isn't just a horror writer with this. The Shawshank Redemption manages...more
The first novella in the collection "Different Seasons". Stephen King once again weaves a fantastic tale and gives us some fantastic characters. However, this is one time that I can actually say I enjoyed the film better than the book. King's story is a little confusing at times with Red's narration when he goes back and forth in the timeline, and I felt the movie did a better job of keeping things focused and on track. However, since it is supposed to be Red's memoir, and he is supposed to be a...more
An exceptionally well-written novella with life-like characters.
The end brought tears to my eyes.
Inspiring, simply magnificent story. A triumph of the human spirit.
The end brought tears to my eyes.
Inspiring, simply magnificent story. A triumph of the human spirit.
It's superb. I had already watched the movie so I knew the story. Therefore I wasn't expecting to enjoy it that much. But it still turned out to be a brilliant book. Compared to movie, it's more realistic at some places, while movie had some slightly unrealistic but more satisfying scenes. I liked the movie more but this book is still amazing.
P.S.: It becomes even better if you try to read it in Morgan Freeman's voice in your head.
P.S.: It becomes even better if you try to read it in Morgan Freeman's voice in your head.
Good Book...Redemption Is A Very Good Thing In This Book!!!
One of my favorite books! The movie is not so bad either..
I have never watched the movie all the way through, so I decided to read the book. It's not my usual choice of genre, and Stephen King's usual horror stories aren't my choice either, but the man is a good storyteller. The characters are well-characterized and interesting, the story comes together in a fascinating way. Good study of prison life and its effect on prisoners. I guess I should give it 5 stars, I probably would have if the "prison book" genre was my preference. Maybe I'll have to fina...more
One of the best by King. I had already seen the movie (which happens to be one of my favorites as well) before reading. So I started reading it a bit apprehensively, afraid that I won't be able to enjoy it as well as a person who hadn't seen the movie. But on the contrary, I was able to enjoy it all the more as I could visualize better.
So well written, triggers all the right emotions and has an amazing message. King proves yet again to be a master storyteller. He is the Clint Eastwood of America...more
So well written, triggers all the right emotions and has an amazing message. King proves yet again to be a master storyteller. He is the Clint Eastwood of America...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Jul 08, 2012
Jessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
read-in-2012,
audible
I listened to this as an Audible audio book. The story was wonderful--engaging, thought provoking and engrossing. Stephen King is a master storyteller and it shows even more so here although, as some have mentioned, I actually preferred the movie. I know that is almost sacrilege to say but it's true. I feel that Andy's becomes more likable and engaging in the movie as does Red and the Warden even more despicable. That said, I highly recommend this book to all.
I first read this story when it first came out in 1982 and recently saw the movie and wanted to re-read the story. Some of Stephen King's stories turned into movies are HORRIBLE, like his rendition of The Shining, Cujo, Bag of Bones, Needful Things. Some are as good as the books, as in Misery or The Stand, maybe even It. This is one of those stories, like The Body (Stand By Me), The Green Mile, and Apt Pupil where the movie is far better than the book/story.
Loved the film and now finally have read the book that it is based upon. Some mnior differences in plot and timelines, but the screenplay is pretty much a direct lift from the book, with a lot of the dialogue exactly as Stephen King wrote it. I really enjoyed this read which was my last of 2012 and highly recommend it to anyone who loves the film.....and at the very least you get to find out why the Morgan Freeman character is called Red.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family...more
More about Stephen King...
Stephen Edwin King was born in Portland, Maine in 1947, the second son of Donald and Nellie Ruth Pillsbury King. After his parents separated when Stephen was a toddler, he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother. Parts of his childhood were spent in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father's family...more
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“They found him guilty, and brother, if Maine had the death penalty, he would have done the airdance before that spring's crocuses poked their heads out of the dirt.”
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Oct 13, 2010 09:04am