Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
I read this over 20 years ago, but I really liked it. There is a LOT of language in it, but it includes the short stories for the movies "Stand by Me" and "The Shawshank Redeption." Probably my favorite King stories.
I'll be rating and commenting on each novella individually
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption - 3.5/5 stars
I've seen the movie years ago back in high school and I loved it (this was before I knew it was a novella by Stephen King). King's writing was great here. So far I've read three of his horror works and have come to really like his non-horror stories. This is not just a story about life in prison, it's a story about friendship, unrelenting hope and a strength of a man with several odds stacked against him.
Content notes: physical violence, sexual assault/rape, language
Apt Pupil - 3/5 stars
I appreciate King's story telling and character work in this particular novella. It is a very disturbing and uncomfortable read. It was difficult to enjoy the story overall because of how gruesome and sick-minded both the main characters were. Both Dusender and Todd slowly descend into psychopathic violence in such terrible ways as the story progresses. I guess that shows how skilled King is in portraying utter evil and darkness. I did feel that the story dragged on at times and could've done without certain scenes. The ending was done really well and left me feeling angry and disturbed (I would've loved a sequel just to see how Todd's community would react to what had happened and to all the other awful crimes that would be uncovered).
Content notes: language, physical violence, animal abuse, murder, anti-Semitic sentiments, descriptions of torture methods during the Holocaust
The Body - 3.5/5 stars
So I've also seen the movie Stand by Me (which is based on this novella) and I can't remember what impression it had on me because it's been a while since I've seen it. However, now that I've read the body I realize that the actors portrayed each boy's personality pretty well. Anyway, I thought this was a good coming of age story. Some of adult Gordie's reflections on his friendships really pulled at my heartstrings especially the ones about Chris. Chris is someone who realizes at a very young age that he's at a huge disadvantage due to his upbringing and is determined to escape the shadow of his dysfunctional family. I felt bad for all four boys but Chris's character resonated with me the most. I did feel that the inclusion of Gordie's stories weren't really necessary and simply served as filler content.
Content notes: physical violence/abuse, descriptions of a dead body, language
The Breathing Method - 2/5 stars
This is definitely the weakest of the four and my least favourite. I had a hard time keeping my attention up while listening to this story. The only time I was mildly interested was when the old doctor was describing how he saved the poor dead woman's baby after the car accident.
Content notes: descriptions of a car accident, descriptions of a dying person, some language
Final thoughts: Interesting collection overall. I think King's writing skills still shines even outside of horror as I mentioned before. I also have to commend Frank Muller's narration. He did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption - 3.5/5 stars
I've seen the movie years ago back in high school and I loved it (this was before I knew it was a novella by Stephen King). King's writing was great here. So far I've read three of his horror works and have come to really like his non-horror stories. This is not just a story about life in prison, it's a story about friendship, unrelenting hope and a strength of a man with several odds stacked against him.
Content notes: physical violence, sexual assault/rape, language
Apt Pupil - 3/5 stars
I appreciate King's story telling and character work in this particular novella. It is a very disturbing and uncomfortable read. It was difficult to enjoy the story overall because of how gruesome and sick-minded both the main characters were. Both Dusender and Todd slowly descend into psychopathic violence in such terrible ways as the story progresses. I guess that shows how skilled King is in portraying utter evil and darkness. I did feel that the story dragged on at times and could've done without certain scenes. The ending was done really well and left me feeling angry and disturbed (I would've loved a sequel just to see how Todd's community would react to what had happened and to all the other awful crimes that would be uncovered).
Content notes: language, physical violence, animal abuse, murder, anti-Semitic sentiments, descriptions of torture methods during the Holocaust
The Body - 3.5/5 stars
So I've also seen the movie Stand by Me (which is based on this novella) and I can't remember what impression it had on me because it's been a while since I've seen it. However, now that I've read the body I realize that the actors portrayed each boy's personality pretty well. Anyway, I thought this was a good coming of age story. Some of adult Gordie's reflections on his friendships really pulled at my heartstrings especially the ones about Chris. Chris is someone who realizes at a very young age that he's at a huge disadvantage due to his upbringing and is determined to escape the shadow of his dysfunctional family. I felt bad for all four boys but Chris's character resonated with me the most. I did feel that the inclusion of Gordie's stories weren't really necessary and simply served as filler content.
Content notes: physical violence/abuse, descriptions of a dead body, language
The Breathing Method - 2/5 stars
This is definitely the weakest of the four and my least favourite. I had a hard time keeping my attention up while listening to this story. The only time I was mildly interested was when the old doctor was describing how he saved the poor dead woman's baby after the car accident.
Content notes: descriptions of a car accident, descriptions of a dying person, some language
Final thoughts: Interesting collection overall. I think King's writing skills still shines even outside of horror as I mentioned before. I also have to commend Frank Muller's narration. He did a fantastic job bringing these characters to life.
(Finished date = date I officially gave up)
I... couldn't finish this book. I tried to, I really did! Stephen King is one of my favourite writers, but I just could not for the life of me make myself read these stories. Apt Pupil repulsed me (too real) and Shawshank bored me. I didn't even get to the other ones. I don't know if it's because of how old they are (I do seem to gravitate toward the stuff he wrote after the new millennium, save for It and Christine) or if it was just the content that turned me off.
I... couldn't finish this book. I tried to, I really did! Stephen King is one of my favourite writers, but I just could not for the life of me make myself read these stories. Apt Pupil repulsed me (too real) and Shawshank bored me. I didn't even get to the other ones. I don't know if it's because of how old they are (I do seem to gravitate toward the stuff he wrote after the new millennium, save for It and Christine) or if it was just the content that turned me off.
Great example of Stephen King's range as a writer. I'm always trying to get people to read King that have written him off as just a horror author because he really has done so much more! He has written some of my favorite books, such as The Green Mile and 11/22/63. Neither of which I would classify as horror or scary. So, reading this collection of novellas I enjoyed it the way I thought I would, I absolutely loved The Shawshank Redemption and The Body (Stand by me). Which was no surprise, because I loved both movies based of those stories. Didn't care at all for Apt Pupil which I also hated the movie. No surprises there.
challenging
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Have to say I greatly enjoyed Kings tomb of four novellas.
Shawshank, perhaps the most famous, was enjoyable but not my favorite. 3/5 stars. Good writing style and clever characterizing, a creepingly slower pace. I don't care much for prison stories so my enjoyment was dampered slightly from this. Think it could have excelled if a bit shorter/condensed. Really dug Kings almost slangish writing style for this one.
Apt Pupil, 4/5 stars. Good stuff, better than the film. Disturbing and unique, it was well paced, a good length, took time to reveal the characters, but the cat scene was extreme, yech.
The Body, 4/5, maybe the one I enjoyed the most. Character orientated rather than plot driven, which isn't common with King. Recaptures youth and fun summer nights spent with friends. The journey wasn't important in terms of what they found, but rather the time they spent together. I do think King went a little overboard for shock value at the very end on what happened to some of the main characters, but still a book very well worth reading.
The Breathing Method, 1.5/5 stars, easily the weakest and little point in it. The overriding mystery of the main story dulled me, the ending with it was rather pointless explanation that holds little sense. Woven throughout were smaller stories told from others, and nothing special about those either. Feel like I must have missed the point of this one, as I didn't really find anything enjoyable about it.
Shawshank, perhaps the most famous, was enjoyable but not my favorite. 3/5 stars. Good writing style and clever characterizing, a creepingly slower pace. I don't care much for prison stories so my enjoyment was dampered slightly from this. Think it could have excelled if a bit shorter/condensed. Really dug Kings almost slangish writing style for this one.
Apt Pupil, 4/5 stars. Good stuff, better than the film. Disturbing and unique, it was well paced, a good length, took time to reveal the characters, but the cat scene was extreme, yech.
The Body, 4/5, maybe the one I enjoyed the most. Character orientated rather than plot driven, which isn't common with King. Recaptures youth and fun summer nights spent with friends. The journey wasn't important in terms of what they found, but rather the time they spent together. I do think King went a little overboard for shock value at the very end on what happened to some of the main characters, but still a book very well worth reading.
The Breathing Method, 1.5/5 stars, easily the weakest and little point in it. The overriding mystery of the main story dulled me, the ending with it was rather pointless explanation that holds little sense. Woven throughout were smaller stories told from others, and nothing special about those either. Feel like I must have missed the point of this one, as I didn't really find anything enjoyable about it.
The Breathing Method was by far my favorite story in this collection
I don't know why I waited so long to read this book because it includes two of my favorite movie adaptations of Stephen King's short stories. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and The Body were excellent.
Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?
Apt Pupil was super dark and I really enjoyed it. Todd was a fucked up little kid/teenager. I think what is really telling of King's writing is that at different points through the story I would start to feel sympathetic towards both Todd and Mr. Dussander. I'll be interested to go watch the movie adaptation of this story.
Some birds are not meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are too bright, their songs too sweet and wild. So you let them go, or when you open the cage to feed them they somehow fly out past you. And the part of you that knows it was wrong to imprison them in the first place rejoices, but still, the place where you live is that much more drab and empty for their departure.
I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you?
Apt Pupil was super dark and I really enjoyed it. Todd was a fucked up little kid/teenager. I think what is really telling of King's writing is that at different points through the story I would start to feel sympathetic towards both Todd and Mr. Dussander. I'll be interested to go watch the movie adaptation of this story.
medium-paced
1. The Body
2. Apt. Pupil
3. The Breathing Medthod
4. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption
2. Apt. Pupil
3. The Breathing Medthod
4. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption