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A review by ojtheviking
Different Seasons by Stephen King
4.75
I'll sum up my review of this book right away, to give you the choice to either simply hear my overall opinion, or to also go on reading my individual reviews of the stories collected within this book:
While I absolutely love to read full-length Stephen King novels, it's always an interesting experience to take on the occasional collection of short stories and novellas every now and then, because they are such a fascinating mix of tones and settings. Here we have four tales too long to be short stories, too short to be novels, but all of them indisputably well-written. So much so that three out of the four have been adapted into movies, two of those movies being held in quite a high regard worldwide, quite deservedly so.
I went into this, excited to read the source material for said movies, and I was, for the most part, not disappointed. I'm giving the entire reading experience a 4.7 out of 5 (rounded up in the scoring system).
And if that's all you care to know, there's my conclusion. What follows, are my thoughts on each individual novella.
1. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
Usually, when I read a novel or a short story that's been adapted into a movie, I try not to compare things too much, because I frankly don't have the energy to be one of those people screaming "But that's not how it happened in the book!" Instead, I try to see the book and the movie as two versions of the same core story, and judge each on their own merits. That's damn near a necessity when it comes to King's stories, as so many of them have been adapted into movies or TV shows.
With that said, I obviously do notice the differences while watching/reading, and may have my unspoken opinions about "this part felt more fleshed out in the book" or "I wish they hadn't dropped that part", and so forth. On some occasions, I might even think that a movie adaptation flows more smoothly than the source material. This is the case when it comes to The Shawshank Redemption. Of course, I'm probably biased; the adaptation is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've watched it numerous times before I ever sat down to finally read the novella it was based on. (One perk of having seen the movie first in this case, is that I was able to read this entire story with Morgan Freeman's narrator voice in mind)
However, I will say that the novella is still damn well-written. This is a slice-of-life type of story, set within prison walls. Slice-of-life, but with a drive in the plot that leads to a wonderful turn of events. (Speaking of which, if you already know where this story is heading, it's interesting to see the subtle hints King drops along the way in the novella, more so than what Darabont did in the adaptation)
There is a bittersweetness to this story, emphasizing both the wholesome moments and heartbreaking moments of life. The part about Andy's struggles with "the sisters" is just as rough to read as it was to watch in the movie, especially with the narrator's direct, matter-of-factly description of the events, presenting it as the unchangeable truth that it is. But this adds to that brutal realism King puts in his stories to show how life is never quite fair. He's always been good at portraying the ugliest sides of humankind through his characters.
Other characters were less fleshed out in the original novella. I suppose that's one downside to such a short format; there's less time to fully develop side characters, compared to full-length novels (although that probably also depends on the approach). There were some characters in the movie, such as Brooks, whose personality and presence I missed while reading the novella. It was also interesting to see that the warden from the movie was pretty much an amalgamation of several generations of wardens in the novella.
But ultimately, it's a good story. I'm glad to see that some of the more memorable quotes from the movie are in fact from this novella. And as I said, one that I'd recommend if someone wanted to get a first-time impression of the non-horror side of King.
Individual score: 3.5 out of 5.
2. Apt Pupil
Unlike the story above, I haven't fully seen the movie adaptation of this story - I have seen images and scenes from the adaptation, so I did have a certain idea of some of the elements that would be featured in the story, but nothing that truly spoiled anything for me - which meant I didn't have the grounds for comparison this time. At least that gives me a fresh take on the written version.
I can often enjoy stories that have a touch of psychological thriller to them; some sort of battle of wits, where some cunning and sinister character manages to wrap another character completely around their finger. Mix that with a serial killer element, and you have the recipe for a truly grim and suspenseful story.
Did King manage to properly deliver that in this novella? Yes and no. The power struggle - the tennis match of wits, so to speak, going back and forth with regards to who has the upper hand - between the young boy and the old man is a great source of tension and suspense in and of itself, and it's interesting to see how their interactions gradually become more of a mentor/protégé relationship (albeit with the mentor being somewhat reluctant), but some parts of it feel rushed, especially when it eventually feels like this particular dynamic sort of dissolves a little bit towards the end.
I do think this was well-written for what it was, though. It's a story of when monsters cross paths. One is a monster by choice, the other is one from birth. They recognize something in each other, and it turns into a love/hate relationship. They had the potential to become a very destructive force together, but the story takes a slightly different turn along the way. I do appreciate the parallels of them individually getting closer and closer to being caught in their lies and the horrible acts they've committed.
I suppose I just think this story might have been even better as a full-length novel, so that these two characters could have a more, fittingly drawn-out story arc together.
Individual score: 3 out of 5
3. The Body
Stand by Me - the adaptation of The Body - is another one of my all-time favorite movies, like The Shawshank Redemption above. But unlike ...Shawshank..., Stand by Me is a far more loyal adaptation, translating almost all of it from text to cinema, with only a few exceptions and minor changes. As I read through this novella, I basically envisioned the movie the entire time. And it was as equally beautiful and heartbreaking to read as it was to watch.
But again, with that said, I otherwise aim to judge the novella on its own merits without comparing it too much to the adaptation. I could have summed it up by saying it's one of his most beautifully written stories, themed around that last period of one's life before transitioning from complete innocence into one's teens, and then young adulthood. It explores how magical childhood friendships can appear to be, and how they just as easily dissolve over the years. And in the middle of it all, there's a body, reminding us of our own mortality. I'd say it's one of the best stories to introduce to someone as proof that Stephen King is so much more than just a horror writer.
Stories like this - the occasional grim undertones aside - this is probably King at his most nostalgic, using his childhood/youth memories to establish the atmosphere and the world-building based on the 1960s era more believable. It's similar to how current authors like Grady Hendrix are nostalgic about the 1980s. I can also guess that this is in many ways one of his most autobiographical ones; not necessarily retelling exact events from his own life, but definitely borrowing a lot from his own history to make Gordon's personality come to life, both in terms of how it was to grow up around that time, as well as his own evolution as an author.
Also, it's always nice to catch those subtle easter eggs of sorts, when King casually makes references to his other stories, proving yet again how they are all connected in the multiverse he has spent decades creating. Not only has both Apt Pupil and The Body made references to ...Shawshank..., but The Body also mentions a certain incident with a certain dog, almost as an afterthought, but still enough of a wink to us, the fans, for us to notice.
So, after reading this, not only is Stand by Me one of my favorite movies, The Body is also quite possibly one of my favorite stories written by King. And that's saying something, as I began reading this collection of novellas thinking The Shawshank Redemption would be the one to earn that particular gold star.
Individual score: 4.5 out of 5
4. The Breathing Method
This is frankly the perfect way to end a collection of stories; Stephen King reminding us that despite his unquestionable talent for variety, he still often shines the brightest when he embraces the dark and ghoulish areas of writing.
My immediate thought, regarding the club of gentlemen gathering to tell tales, was how this scenario vaguely reminded me of Ghost Story by Peter Straub (RIP). This may very well have been intentional, with King possibly drawing some inspiration from his friend, as I've come to understand that King has dedicated this story to Peter and his wife.
At the same time, the narration itself feels more like an old-fashioned Victorian gothic tale, similar to classics by Edgar Allan Poe or Robert Louis Stevenson, just slightly modernized, making this the most horror-esque novella of the four in this collection. This too appears to have been intentional, as the afterword briefly describes how this collection came together, whereas King's agent asked if some sort of horror story could be included, despite how King's initial idea was to compile stories that would sort of go against him being typecast strictly as a horror writer.
The Breathing Method has a fascinating structure. The main plot is sort of the story within the story, as the aforementioned club of gentlemen simply establishes the scenario, and the true horror is presented through Dr. McCarron's tale of a most unusual baby delivery.
Of the four stories collected in Different Seasons, The Breathing Method is the shortest one, and due to its horror elements, it's then also the story that feels the most like being part of some horror anthology, as if it could have been one of the stories in the King/Romero movie Creepshow, or something from Tales from the Crypt. That is a type of storytelling I enjoy very much, so I felt right at home with this one, especially with the way the entire story ended with an ominous warning of what might lie behind the dimension that is our own perceived reality.
While Apt Pupil had its macabre moments, The Breathing Method aimed for the spooky, giving the reader that old, trusty King-quality scare right at the end of the entire collection.
Individual score: 4 out of 5
While I absolutely love to read full-length Stephen King novels, it's always an interesting experience to take on the occasional collection of short stories and novellas every now and then, because they are such a fascinating mix of tones and settings. Here we have four tales too long to be short stories, too short to be novels, but all of them indisputably well-written. So much so that three out of the four have been adapted into movies, two of those movies being held in quite a high regard worldwide, quite deservedly so.
I went into this, excited to read the source material for said movies, and I was, for the most part, not disappointed. I'm giving the entire reading experience a 4.7 out of 5 (rounded up in the scoring system).
And if that's all you care to know, there's my conclusion. What follows, are my thoughts on each individual novella.
1. Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption
Usually, when I read a novel or a short story that's been adapted into a movie, I try not to compare things too much, because I frankly don't have the energy to be one of those people screaming "But that's not how it happened in the book!" Instead, I try to see the book and the movie as two versions of the same core story, and judge each on their own merits. That's damn near a necessity when it comes to King's stories, as so many of them have been adapted into movies or TV shows.
With that said, I obviously do notice the differences while watching/reading, and may have my unspoken opinions about "this part felt more fleshed out in the book" or "I wish they hadn't dropped that part", and so forth. On some occasions, I might even think that a movie adaptation flows more smoothly than the source material. This is the case when it comes to The Shawshank Redemption. Of course, I'm probably biased; the adaptation is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've watched it numerous times before I ever sat down to finally read the novella it was based on. (One perk of having seen the movie first in this case, is that I was able to read this entire story with Morgan Freeman's narrator voice in mind)
However, I will say that the novella is still damn well-written. This is a slice-of-life type of story, set within prison walls. Slice-of-life, but with a drive in the plot that leads to a wonderful turn of events. (Speaking of which, if you already know where this story is heading, it's interesting to see the subtle hints King drops along the way in the novella, more so than what Darabont did in the adaptation)
There is a bittersweetness to this story, emphasizing both the wholesome moments and heartbreaking moments of life. The part about Andy's struggles with "the sisters" is just as rough to read as it was to watch in the movie, especially with the narrator's direct, matter-of-factly description of the events, presenting it as the unchangeable truth that it is. But this adds to that brutal realism King puts in his stories to show how life is never quite fair. He's always been good at portraying the ugliest sides of humankind through his characters.
Other characters were less fleshed out in the original novella. I suppose that's one downside to such a short format; there's less time to fully develop side characters, compared to full-length novels (although that probably also depends on the approach). There were some characters in the movie, such as Brooks, whose personality and presence I missed while reading the novella. It was also interesting to see that the warden from the movie was pretty much an amalgamation of several generations of wardens in the novella.
But ultimately, it's a good story. I'm glad to see that some of the more memorable quotes from the movie are in fact from this novella. And as I said, one that I'd recommend if someone wanted to get a first-time impression of the non-horror side of King.
Individual score: 3.5 out of 5.
2. Apt Pupil
Unlike the story above, I haven't fully seen the movie adaptation of this story - I have seen images and scenes from the adaptation, so I did have a certain idea of some of the elements that would be featured in the story, but nothing that truly spoiled anything for me - which meant I didn't have the grounds for comparison this time. At least that gives me a fresh take on the written version.
I can often enjoy stories that have a touch of psychological thriller to them; some sort of battle of wits, where some cunning and sinister character manages to wrap another character completely around their finger. Mix that with a serial killer element, and you have the recipe for a truly grim and suspenseful story.
Did King manage to properly deliver that in this novella? Yes and no. The power struggle - the tennis match of wits, so to speak, going back and forth with regards to who has the upper hand - between the young boy and the old man is a great source of tension and suspense in and of itself, and it's interesting to see how their interactions gradually become more of a mentor/protégé relationship (albeit with the mentor being somewhat reluctant), but some parts of it feel rushed, especially when it eventually feels like this particular dynamic sort of dissolves a little bit towards the end.
I do think this was well-written for what it was, though. It's a story of when monsters cross paths. One is a monster by choice, the other is one from birth. They recognize something in each other, and it turns into a love/hate relationship. They had the potential to become a very destructive force together, but the story takes a slightly different turn along the way. I do appreciate the parallels of them individually getting closer and closer to being caught in their lies and the horrible acts they've committed.
I suppose I just think this story might have been even better as a full-length novel, so that these two characters could have a more, fittingly drawn-out story arc together.
Individual score: 3 out of 5
3. The Body
Stand by Me - the adaptation of The Body - is another one of my all-time favorite movies, like The Shawshank Redemption above. But unlike ...Shawshank..., Stand by Me is a far more loyal adaptation, translating almost all of it from text to cinema, with only a few exceptions and minor changes. As I read through this novella, I basically envisioned the movie the entire time. And it was as equally beautiful and heartbreaking to read as it was to watch.
But again, with that said, I otherwise aim to judge the novella on its own merits without comparing it too much to the adaptation. I could have summed it up by saying it's one of his most beautifully written stories, themed around that last period of one's life before transitioning from complete innocence into one's teens, and then young adulthood. It explores how magical childhood friendships can appear to be, and how they just as easily dissolve over the years. And in the middle of it all, there's a body, reminding us of our own mortality. I'd say it's one of the best stories to introduce to someone as proof that Stephen King is so much more than just a horror writer.
Stories like this - the occasional grim undertones aside - this is probably King at his most nostalgic, using his childhood/youth memories to establish the atmosphere and the world-building based on the 1960s era more believable. It's similar to how current authors like Grady Hendrix are nostalgic about the 1980s. I can also guess that this is in many ways one of his most autobiographical ones; not necessarily retelling exact events from his own life, but definitely borrowing a lot from his own history to make Gordon's personality come to life, both in terms of how it was to grow up around that time, as well as his own evolution as an author.
Also, it's always nice to catch those subtle easter eggs of sorts, when King casually makes references to his other stories, proving yet again how they are all connected in the multiverse he has spent decades creating. Not only has both Apt Pupil and The Body made references to ...Shawshank..., but The Body also mentions a certain incident with a certain dog, almost as an afterthought, but still enough of a wink to us, the fans, for us to notice.
So, after reading this, not only is Stand by Me one of my favorite movies, The Body is also quite possibly one of my favorite stories written by King. And that's saying something, as I began reading this collection of novellas thinking The Shawshank Redemption would be the one to earn that particular gold star.
Individual score: 4.5 out of 5
4. The Breathing Method
This is frankly the perfect way to end a collection of stories; Stephen King reminding us that despite his unquestionable talent for variety, he still often shines the brightest when he embraces the dark and ghoulish areas of writing.
My immediate thought, regarding the club of gentlemen gathering to tell tales, was how this scenario vaguely reminded me of Ghost Story by Peter Straub (RIP). This may very well have been intentional, with King possibly drawing some inspiration from his friend, as I've come to understand that King has dedicated this story to Peter and his wife.
At the same time, the narration itself feels more like an old-fashioned Victorian gothic tale, similar to classics by Edgar Allan Poe or Robert Louis Stevenson, just slightly modernized, making this the most horror-esque novella of the four in this collection. This too appears to have been intentional, as the afterword briefly describes how this collection came together, whereas King's agent asked if some sort of horror story could be included, despite how King's initial idea was to compile stories that would sort of go against him being typecast strictly as a horror writer.
The Breathing Method has a fascinating structure. The main plot is sort of the story within the story, as the aforementioned club of gentlemen simply establishes the scenario, and the true horror is presented through Dr. McCarron's tale of a most unusual baby delivery.
Of the four stories collected in Different Seasons, The Breathing Method is the shortest one, and due to its horror elements, it's then also the story that feels the most like being part of some horror anthology, as if it could have been one of the stories in the King/Romero movie Creepshow, or something from Tales from the Crypt. That is a type of storytelling I enjoy very much, so I felt right at home with this one, especially with the way the entire story ended with an ominous warning of what might lie behind the dimension that is our own perceived reality.
While Apt Pupil had its macabre moments, The Breathing Method aimed for the spooky, giving the reader that old, trusty King-quality scare right at the end of the entire collection.
Individual score: 4 out of 5