general

King has outdone himself this time; instead of opting for the easy plots (mad dogs, killer cars, etc.), he comes up with stories that are truly horrifying because they are psychological thrillers. The majority of the characters play mind games with each other, and the general theme running through each "novelette" seems to be an endurance test.

"Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption", in spite of its unwieldy title, is a compelling tale of convicts and prison life. The narrator is Red, the "lifer" who has earned his keep and provides his fellow prisoners with the "extras" such as booze, cigarettes, and the poster of Rita Hayworth referred to in the title. He is the Greek chorus for the folk hero, a methodical, cool, impersonal accountant by the name of Andy DuFresne. Andy has been unjustly convicted of a crime he did not commit, and his scheming to improve his situation makes for riveting reading.

"Apt Pupil" is by far the most fascinating--and profoundly disturbing--of the stories. A bright, seemingly innocent boy has managed to shadow an escaped Nazi while playing amateur detective. Todd doesn't want to turn in the Nazi, however; he wants to learn every detail of the torture endured by the captured Jews. Todd, of course, appears to be the All-American Kid; handsome, blond, athletic, and wholesome in appearance. As Dussander the Nazi relates his war horror stories, both he and Todd become obsessed with an intense, warped desire to inflict similar pain on others.

"The Body" is more of a coming-of-age story than a true thriller. Gordy LaChance relates his adventures as he and his friends prepare to see a dead body that they happened to hear about from an older brother. The dead body represents a backdrop to the real tale, which involves card games, camping out, ghost stories and a series of conversations about social issues. This is not as dry as it sounds; each boy, in turn, worries about such things as leaving friends behind, going along with the crowd, being branded for life, and their feelings about their siblings and parents. It's easy to see how movies like "The Breakfast Club" were inspired by this story.

"Breathing Lessons" involved the impending birth of an illegitimate child. I felt that this was the weakest of the stories, since it seemed rather flat and emotionless. It didn't seem to belong in this book.

The one consistency throughout the book is the dialogue. All of King's characters have a "voice" that is uniquely their own, and the talk rarely, if ever, gets boring. In spite of the "Breathing Lessons" story, I still believe that this is one of King's best books, if not THE BEST. Definitely a choice pick for people who are "deserted on an island"

1). Rita Hayworth & Shawshank Redemption: I would have liked this one better if I would have read it before I saw the movie which is great. 2). Apt Pupil: In my opinion I thought that Apt Pupil was the best story in Different Seasons. I don't know why mostly everyone else didn't like it. I liked the characters of Todd Bowden and Dussander. Good ending. 3) The Body: Kind of a different story foe King (but then again this whole book was different from regular King). I liked Chris Chambers and Teddy. I didn't like what happened to them at the end. 4). The Breathing Method: Starts off slow but then it spectacular. Truly a gruesome ending that I didn't see coming. Overall I enjoyed Different Seasons. This novel proves that King can write stuff other than horror. I even liked how he wrote in an Afterword to tell us how he came to writing the novel. A good change for him. I liked all the stories.

Different Seasons is perhaps the best Stephen King book with which to initiate the neophyte who says, "He can't be a good writer - he writes HORROR." This is King's first, greatest take on the mainstream. Each of the four offerings could be textbook examples of the perfectly written novella. Not coincidentally, this book has inspired three of his best movie-adaptations.

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption: Yes, even if you have seen the movie, you should read this. It tells the story of how an innocent man is able to keep hope alive in prison.

Apt Pupil: This, it can be argued, is really a monster story; the monsters however are all too real. A teen-aged boy obsessed with the holocaust discovers his own pet Nazi in the neighborhood.

The Body: The inspiration for the wonderful film Stand by Me, it is a heartbreaking coming-of-age tale and the power of friendship.

The Breathing Method: The book's one true horror story. I won't try to attempt to explain what it is about.

In the Afterward, King commits his worst sin by famously referring to his own work as "the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and a large fries from MacDonald's." Not only does that cut himself short, it is an insult to us, his readers, who think his stuff is pretty darn good. Want proof? Read these stories.