The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

The Shawshank Redemption

Stephen King with Frank Muller (Narrator)

4 hours first pub 1982 (view editions)

fiction horror thriller dark tense medium-paced
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For readers drawn to dark, contemplative suspense about the resilience of the human spirit under brutal confinement—themes of hope, dignity, and quiet rebellion. Ideal if you like measured pacing, psychological tension, and understated emotional payoff more than gore or breakneck thrills, and you savor prison-yard atmosphere, whispered schemes, and the spark of redemption in despair.

Description

A wrongly convicted man finds himself in a prison run by a sadistic warden.

Community Reviews

4.36
based on 7,503 reviews

Moods

hopeful: 64%

emotional: 48%

reflective: 46%

dark: 44%

inspiring: 37%

adventurous: 29%

tense: 24%

sad: 22%

mysterious: 15%

challenging: 14%

funny: 13%

informative: 4%

lighthearted: 3%

relaxing: 2%


Pace

43% of readers chose fast
48% of readers chose medium
8% of readers chose slow
fast
medium
slow

Plot or character driven?

10% of readers chose Plot
39% of readers chose A mix
49% of readers chose Character
Plot
A mix
Character

Strong character development?

65% of readers chose Yes
18% of readers chose Complicated
13% of readers chose No
2% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Loveable characters?

72% of readers chose Yes
21% of readers chose Complicated
4% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Diverse cast of characters?

40% of readers chose Yes
11% of readers chose Complicated
43% of readers chose No
4% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus?

45% of readers chose Yes
23% of readers chose Complicated
29% of readers chose No
1% of readers chose N/A
Yes
Complicated
No
N/A

Content Warnings

Submitted by users as part of their reviews

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