Different Seasons

Title: Different Seasons

Author: Stephen King

Published in: 1982

Date read: 3rd July 2021

Score: 5/5

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Psychological, Crime

Plot: (Warning, may contain spoilers):
"Different Seasons" is a collection of four novellas by Stephen King, published in 1982. It's unique among his works as it largely steps away from overt supernatural horror, instead focusing on psychological drama, crime, and the human condition. Each novella is introduced with a short commentary by King.

The collection includes:

Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (Hope Springs Eternal): This novella is a powerful tale of hope, friendship, and quiet rebellion set within the walls of Shawshank State Prison. Andy Dufresne, a mild-mannered banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, endures decades of brutal prison life. He slowly but meticulously plans his elaborate escape, finding solace and purpose through an unlikely friendship with fellow inmate Ellis "Red" Redding, and by bringing small touches of beauty and dignity to the harsh environment. It's a story about the resilience of the human spirit and the long game of patience.

Apt Pupil (Summer of Corruption): This is a chilling psychological horror story about Todd Bowden, a bright and seemingly ordinary high school student in 1974. Todd discovers that an old man living in his town, Kurt Dussander, is a notorious Nazi war criminal who has been living in hiding. Instead of reporting him, Todd blackmails Dussander, forcing the old man to recount his horrific experiences in the concentration camps. This morbid fascination slowly corrupts Todd, as he becomes increasingly sadistic and manipulative, and Dussander, in turn, finds a perverse resurgence of his own dark nature. The novella explores the insidious nature of evil and its ability to spread.

The Body (Fall from Innocence): A poignant coming-of-age story set in the summer of 1960. Four twelve-year-old friends—Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio—set out on an adventure to find the rumored dead body of a missing boy near their small town of Castle Rock, Maine. Their journey through the woods, facing challenges and sharing secrets, becomes a rite of passage. The novella is a reflective look at childhood friendships, the loss of innocence, and the enduring power of memory, particularly as narrated by the adult Gordie looking back on that pivotal summer.

The Breathing Method (A Winter's Tale): This is the only novella in the collection with a strong supernatural element. It's a frame story focusing on a mysterious gentlemen's club in New York City where members gather to tell extraordinary tales. The tale within the tale concerns a dedicated doctor who recounts the astonishing story of his patient, Sandra Stansfield, a pregnant woman determined to master a unique breathing method for childbirth. Despite a horrific and tragic accident during a blizzard, Sandra's sheer will and the power of the breathing method defy death in a grotesque and unforgettable manner, leaving a chilling impression on the listener. It's a tale about courage, determination, and the uncanny.

Comments:
So many amazing stories to pick from but the winner has to be Shawshank. I can't believe that it isn't a novel on its own. I also really loved the Apt Pupil, fantastic idea - brilliantly constructed and written.

Books that we've read by Stephen King (68):
Carrie (1974), 'Salem's Lot (1975), The Shining (The Shining, #1) (1977), The Stand (1978), Night Shift (1978), The Dead Zone (1979), Firestarter (1980), Cujo (1981), The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) (1982), Different Seasons (1982), Christine (1983), Cycle of the Werewolf (1983), Pet Sematary (1983), The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) (1984), Skeleton Crew (1985), It (1986), The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) (1987), The Eyes of the Dragon (1987), The Tommyknockers (1987), Misery (1987), The Dark Half (1989), Four Past Midnight (1990), The Waste Lands (The Dark Tower, #3) (1991), Needful Things (1991), Dolores Claiborne (1992), Gerald's Game (1992), Nightmares and Dreamscapes (1993), Insomnia (1994), Rose Madder (1995), The Green Mile (1996), Desperation (1996), Wizard and Glass (The Dark Tower, #4) (1997), Bag of Bones (1998), The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (1999), Hearts in Atlantis (1999), On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft (2000), Black House (The Talisman, #2) (2001), Dreamcatcher (2001), Everything's Eventual (2002), From a Buick 8 (2002), Wolves of the Calla (The Dark Tower, #5) (2003), Song of Susannah (The Dark Tower, #6) (2004), The Dark Tower (The Dark Tower, #7) (2004), The Colorado Kid (2005), Cell (2006), Lisey's Story (2006), Duma Key (2008), Just After Sunset (2008), Under the Dome (2009), 11/22/63 (2011), Full Dark, No Stars (2011), The Wind Through the Keyhole (The Dark Tower, #4.5) (2012), Dr. Sleep (The Shining, #2) (2013), Joyland (2013), Mr. Mercedes (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #1) (2014), Revival (2014), The Bazaar of Bad Dreams (2015), Finders Keepers (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #2) (2015), End of Watch (Bill Hodges Trilogy, #3) (2016), Elevation (2018), The Outsider (2018), The Institute (2019), If It Bleeds (2020), Billy Summers (2021), Later (2021), Fairy Tale (2022), Holly (2023), You Like It Darker (2024)