Each of the four stories, markedly different in tone and subject, present a journey: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (Hope Springs Eternal) is a tale of an innocent man who devises an exciting escape from prison; The Apt Pupil (Summer of Corruption) is the story of a golden schoolboy and an old man with a hideous past who join in a dreadful union; in The Body (Fall from Innocence), four young boys venture into the woods and find life, death and the end of innocence and The Breathing Method (A Winter's Tale) is a macabre story told in a strange club of a woman determined to give birth...no matter what.
Different Seasons
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Different Seasons is a collection of four novellas, markedly different in tone and subject, each on the theme of a journey. The first is a rich, satisfying, non-horrific tale about an innocent man who carefully nurtures hope and devises a wily scheme to escape from prison. The second concerns a boy who discards his innocence by enticing an old man to travel with him into a reawakening of long-buried evil. In the third story, a writer looks back on the trek he took with three friends on the brink of adolescence to find another boy's corpse. The trip becomes a character-rich rite of passage from youth to maturity.
These first three novellas have been made into well-received movies: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption into Frank Darabont's 1994 The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil into Bryan Singer's 1998 film Apt Pupil, and The Body into Rob Reiner's Stand by Me (1986).
The final novella, Breathing Lessons is a horror yarn told by a doctor, about a patient whose indomitable spirit keeps her baby alive under extraordinary circumstances. It's the tightest, most polished tale in the collection. --Fiona Webster --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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'One of the great storytellers of our time' (Guardian )
'A writer of excellence' (The Sunday Times )
'A writer of excellence' (The Sunday Times )
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
More of the same from King, but with a little prize at the end for the dogged reader
11 April 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another four short stories from the master story teller. These are fairly long (perhaps better descried as "novellas") and for the most part are fairly well known. Even if you haven't read King before, you will almost certainly have seen one of the films made from the first three (The Shawshank Redemption, Apt Pupil and Stand by Me). For my money, the Shawshank >film< is actualy better than the story (and it's not often you can say that) being more rounded.
All that needs to be said about this anthology has pretty much been said already in the other reviews. However, I just wanted to mention the last of the four stories - "The Breathing Method" which, has so far (and inexplicably in my opinion), missed being turned into a film. Ths is the best of the bunch here. Briefly, it tells of a secretive and highly exclusive gentleman's club which exists largely as a place for the members to tell one another stories. Needless to say, all is not what it seems and there's a decent dash of the Lovecraftian macabre to spice things up a little. To say much more would spoil the story but "The Breathing Method" seems to me to owe as much to Borges' Library of Babel (in more ways than one) as it does to anything by Lovecraft and I think it's wonderful. So much is left untold and >that< is it's attraction - the reader is left to consider the endless possibilities posed by the Tardis-like club in his/her own imagination. It would not be too churlish to suggest that another attraction is it's length - being the shortest of the four, it's an easier read while still being meaty enough to satisfy the most insatiable word-hunger. I loved it and it's easily worth the price of the anthology alone.
All that needs to be said about this anthology has pretty much been said already in the other reviews. However, I just wanted to mention the last of the four stories - "The Breathing Method" which, has so far (and inexplicably in my opinion), missed being turned into a film. Ths is the best of the bunch here. Briefly, it tells of a secretive and highly exclusive gentleman's club which exists largely as a place for the members to tell one another stories. Needless to say, all is not what it seems and there's a decent dash of the Lovecraftian macabre to spice things up a little. To say much more would spoil the story but "The Breathing Method" seems to me to owe as much to Borges' Library of Babel (in more ways than one) as it does to anything by Lovecraft and I think it's wonderful. So much is left untold and >that< is it's attraction - the reader is left to consider the endless possibilities posed by the Tardis-like club in his/her own imagination. It would not be too churlish to suggest that another attraction is it's length - being the shortest of the four, it's an easier read while still being meaty enough to satisfy the most insatiable word-hunger. I loved it and it's easily worth the price of the anthology alone.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Dom Wint
Format:Paperback
I'm pretty new to Steven King and I was sold on this book by the inclusion of two of my favourite movies, The Shawsahnk Redemption and Stand By Me (Here, The Body). What I got was a book containing four stunning stories, equally compelling but radically different. I understand that this is not King's usual style and I am looking forward to reading some of his more typical work, but I would heartily reccommend anybody getting stuck into this book. Although The Shawshank Redemption was a good film, there's something much more personal and detailed about the book. And The Body was so much more enjoyable than Stand By Me, even though that is one of my favourite films. Apt Pupil was pretty chilling, with an equally scary ending despite the lack of blood and gore. The Breathing method was a good old fashioned ghost tale at heart, but the introduction and build up to the main story was so brilliantly written. I would seriously reccommend this book to anybody. It's a fantastic read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Lee
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having been well impressed by Misery (which I borrowed from somebody and was able to give back the following afternoon, read - it's un-put-downable) I was disappointed with the second story in this collection of four novellas. It was a rush-job and it shows - the story is inplausible and the writing full of adverbs and clichés; and the characters are cardboard and thin cardboard at that. That's the negative criticism out of the way; the first and last stories are decent enough reads - but maybe still Big Mac and Fries fare (SK's own words). However, 'The Body' is a masterpiece. King clearly remembers being young, and the way kids talk and act. The pages breathe authenticity and careful crafting. Buy the book on the strength of this story alone. I even went down the video shop and rented Stand by Me, which had somehow passed me by all those years ago.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
I find the book very rough but well writting and captivating
Each season was very different from the others and aroused curiosity
Each season was very different from the others and aroused curiosity
Published 10 days ago by Françoise B
5.0 out of 5 stars
As usual, King is a fine author
I am a true fan of Stephen King. And this time, this book did not disappoint me. At the beginning, it was difficult to follow as I was on holidays and family and other commitments... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Diablita
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than just a horror writer!
After reading numerous books by Stephen King - Carrie, Salem's Lot, Night Shift, The Shining and The Stand, I was a bit hesitant when it came to Different Seasons, as it is not a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by jimmy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
Great, book needed for uni studies, good for those who are interested in novels as I needed this for my creative writing part of my English Degree.
Published 1 month ago by Sharfa Sorwar
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nightmares and Dreamscapes
This book absolutely deserves a 5 star rating it is enthralling/captivating. I cannot put it down. Each short story is gripping!!!
Published 2 months ago by Anna
4.0 out of 5 stars
I loved the films The Shawshank Redemption & Stand by me.
I wanted to read the original stories of The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by me. There are differences in them from the films, but I loved the film & book of both titles.
Published 2 months ago by gillinana
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book of Brilliance
It was a great experience reading the book behind the great film Shawshank Redemption. The other books inside are brilliant too.
Published 2 months ago by Nikki Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars
See where the films came from
Shawshank Redemption, Stand by Me, Apt pupil. All three of these films came from this book (although Apt Pupil is quite different). Read more
Published 3 months ago by MA
5.0 out of 5 stars
An interesting book, full of great stories some that have done really...
A fantastic book. Brilliant stories that have made it to the big screen albeit under different titles. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kevin Stuart Barnbrook
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Collection of Four
Four stories, including the classic `Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption' and the sinister and frightening `The Breathing Method', make this a varied and enthralling... Read more
Published 3 months ago by puddleglum
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