I totally read this book because I'm a huge fan of the movie adaptation, and now I'm obsessed with it. It's so good, heartbreaking and heartwarming (!!) at the same time, I loved the characters, their friendship, Chris and Gordie's conversations... I cried and I laughed a few times. The coming of age aspect of the novel is amazing.

This book contains four short stories, one intended for each season. The first and my favorite one was Hope Springs Eternal, consisting Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption:- The story is narrated by a prisoner of 'The Shank' called Red, who tells his own story by describing the most important event in his life- Andy Dufresne. Andy walked into prison claiming that he was wrongly accused, but what differentiated him from all the others who said that too, was that he walked around in prison as if he was the freest man alive. Andy always fought for his rights in prison even though the chances of him winning were low, for he was a huge believer of hope. And thanks to hope, he had managed to escape Shawshank after more than twenty years of working on his escape plan. Red confesses that if it weren't for Andy, he would not have had any hope of living normally back in the outside world when he was on parole, and admits that whenever he feels like going back to the Shank a pang of guilt hits him, knowing what Andy has been through to achieve the freedom that he now has.

I only read the first story in the book. As I'm moving soon I want to return this book before it could potentially get forgotten in a box during the move... I haven't seen the film Shawshank Redemption so it was night to read the story without any preconceived notions (other than knowing that it takes place in a prison). The story took too long to get started but once it gets past the "sisters" it picks up steam. I'm glad it's not anything longer than a novella because I don't think King could have kept the story moving and interesting if he had done his usual back story / character analysis that he does in his longer works.

Stephen King, you broke my heart. This is my first Stephen King book and the big reason I read this was because of the movie Stand By Me. It is my favorite movie. SPOILER ALERT!!!! Amazing how the movie was the same as the original story aka this book. Well, it's more detailed and honest and vulgar but the atmosphere it created was just the same. Beforehand, I got spoiled that Teddy and Vern also died but it still hurt me so bad after reading that I cried. I love and will never stop loving these four characters. I ache for them, I laughed and cried. I love this book. I cried for the friendship. I cried for the adventures. I cried for the hardships. I cried for the lost friendship. I cried for the lost of innocence. This will never be my last Stephen King book and I'm happy that I got to read this one. So come on, "Skin it, man."

loved some stories more than others (especially apt pupil & shawshank : the storytelling, the tense atmosphere, the plot twists, everything was perfect ! apt pupil made me feel deeply scared of the human mind & the ending of shawshank restored my faith in humanity !!) but definitely a good reading experience! gotta say though that stephen king just LOVES rambling and going on tangents, it gets very tiring at some point. like please get to the point i don't need to read an essay on the color of the sky so -1 for that, but overall great book ^^

A great collection of novellas. My overall rating averages to four stars, but there's some five and three here, too. "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" -- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is my five star read. The casual racism of several characters to show that they're redneck-types is pretty gross. Other than that, it's beautifully crafted, well-characterized, and the rare Stephen King story that gives you genuine hope. "Apt Pupil" -- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Truly chilling in every way. "The Body" -- ⭐⭐⭐ Okay, so I was never a young boy and I certainly wasn't a young boy in 1960, but I found pretty much every character in this story completely repellant: racist, sexist, abusive bullies. I hear people talk about this story like it's some rosy nostalgic story about childhood. I disagree. I also disagree with the fundamental idea that you never have friends like the ones you had when you were twelve. I sincerely hope people don't quit having genuine open relationships as adults. What a sad life. Gordie and Chris are the only characters who are worth any attention. The only reason my rating isn't lower is that it is very well-written structurally with some gorgeous passages from Gordie's reflective moments. "The Breathing Method" -- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this one except for the rampant misogyny (the idea of determined Miss Stansfield as an exceptional woman, the pursed-lipped judgement of every other woman, the flat characterization of the wives and mothers, etc.). But ... the spooky stories, the frame story, and the fascinating club building at 249B East 35th: chef's kiss.

Reading this short story was a whole different experience from watching the movie and it really was an amazing coming of age tale with some pretty significant messages really make you think although the fowl language doesn't bother me in the least there were time were it felt excessive but I know that this is a whole different era so my overall rating is a 4.75 out of 5 I highly recommend this if you want a short story that packs a punch !

Absolute proof that King does not have to write only horror to churn out brilliant stories. As someone who loves his supernatural writing and who's been a bit burned by his Bachman books, I approached Different Seasons with care. But my anxiety proved unfounded, as I started the first few pages of Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption. I thoroughly enjoyed the story of a falsely accused man and his plan to escape from prison, which is more about human perseverance in the face of despair than a simple mystery thriller. Apt Pupil surprised me a good deal and is probably my favourite novella in this collection. We are introduced to an All-American teenager, who appears to be an exemplary student and child, but in all actuality is a sociopathic monster. He discovers one day that the old man living nearby is actually a former Nazi officer, responsible for many deaths during the Holocaust, and blackmails him into telling the gruesome stories of torture and death. The two form an unusual sadistic dependency on each other and eventually plunge even further into darkness. Apt Pupil does have a few scenes that are hard to read, but overall it's a great study of sociopathy and self-destruction. The Body gave basis to a very successful Stand By Me movie. The premise is simple: a group of boys hear of a dead body in the woods and decide to go have a look at it. The meat of the story has nothing to do with their morbid destination, but focuses on the journey of danger, self-discovery, and friendship. It is obvious that King put quite a bit of himself into one of the boys, and I really thought it neat to draw parallels between reality and fiction. This is the coming-of-age tale done right. The Breathing Method actually has horror elements and contains some of the most atmospheric writing I've ever read. The gothic house, the mysterious society, the almost otherworldly butler, and the stories told by the roaring fire in the winter storm.... I actually think this novella should be a classic Christmas read for those who don't mind to deviate from the cheery coziness of the season. This is the best horror passage I've laid my eyes on besides Shirley Jackson's stuff: “His voice was as mild as ever, but there was something terrible in his eyes suddenly . . . no; if I am to be truthful, it was not just in his eyes; the terror I felt had infused the atmosphere all around me. The steady tock-tock from down the lefthand hall was no longer the pendulum of a grandfather clock; it was the tapping foot of the executioner as he watches the condemned led to the scaffold. The smells of oil and leather turned bitter and menacing, and when the wind rose in another wild whoop, I felt momentarily sure that the front door would blow open, revealing not Thirty-fifth Street but an insane Clark Ashton Smith landscape where the bitter shapes of twisted trees stood silhouetted on a sterile horizon below which double suns were setting in a gruesome red glare.” Delicious! I didn't think I'd love this collection as much, but it's definitely now in my top favourite Kings ever.

No, I can't remember what "The Breathing Method" was about. Doesn't matter. This book has "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" in it. AND "The Body," AND "Apt Pupil." You can't FUCK with this book. It will beat your roody-poo candy ass. This is absolutely essential Stephen King.

if you loved the movie stand by me then you definitely love this book!🙌🏻

I absolutely loved the storytelling and the emotional depth/descriptios and its one of my favourite books now.

This book made me feel every emotion all at once, a bittersweet masterpiece.

This is one of those rare books that leaves you still obsessed with it after finishing, and that is such a special feeling

The film ‘Stand by Me’ has been a favourite of mine since I was a child so I was very keen to finally read the book.

I was surprised at just how close to the source material the film was. The book doesn’t really expand on the film in any substantial way, but it was still expertly written as is always the case with Mr King.

A short, yet thoroughly enjoyable read.

This was part of a short story collection and it was fair to say it's one of Kings more disturbing stories. It was interesting, informative and was a great example of human behaviour at it's worst, but it was a hard read. I didn't enjoy it and I normally read a chapter of something happier afterwards.

This was part of a short story collection. I already knew and loved the story of the Shawshank Redemption and enjoyed the book just as much. This was one of the cases where it pays to read the book first as when reading I didn't feel the sympathy or love for the characters that I did while watching the film.

Different Seasons by Stephen King This collection of short stories contained four, actually quite long stories including the original story of The Shawshank Redemption and The Body, which has since been adapted into Stand By Me. It's a great collection, particularly The Body and Apt Pupil, a story about a boy's obsession with his neighbour's dark secret. As always King's quality of writing is excellent.

* Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption - 5 stars * The Apt Pupil - 5 stars * The Body - 3 stars * The Breathing Method - 3 Stars

Very good story, love the movie as well. Some of the scenes in either the book or the movie are hard to stomach sometimes but all around, a good read.

Not bad overall. I enjoyed it, quick read and a good book for October.

I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, did you? Stephen King never disappoints. Even though this is a short story, I felt like I knew the characters just as well as I would have in one of King's novels, and better than some characters in other authors' novels. At the heart of this novella lies a story of youth. A story that can only occur when one is a child. A story that can never be relived. There is an adventurous sense of wonder within the pages of this book, and it is one that no adult can ever achieve naturally. Only four kids would get bored one day and ask, "You guys wanna see a dead body?" This is a tale of friendship, innocence, heartbreak, and reality. It is not one to be missed.

The start of the book was way too slow for the size of it. Out of 200 pages, there wasn't anything going on for 100 pages before I decided to stop. A no for me on this one.

Who doesn't like River Pheonix and Wil Wheaton? Communists, that's who.