The Shawshank Redemption (Penguin Audiobooks)

Different Seasons, to give the book it's proper title, is a collection of 4 novellas set in a different season of the year. The opener, Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption (Hope Springs Eternal) tells the well cinemised tale of Andy Dufrense, imprisoned for the murder of his wife 'and the guy she was banging'. The book sheds new light to the film, and makes it a more enjoyable watch.

The second novella, Apt Pupil (Summer of Corruption) tells us the story of Todd Bowden a young boy drawn in when he discovers a Nazi war criminal in his neighbourhood. Although the story sounds farfetched, this was my favourite novella in Different Seasons, a psychological thriller that will terrify you.

The third novella, The Body (Fall From Innoncence) I felt dragged. It is about four boys who discover find out about life and death in their own epic journey. It is a good story, but not close to the previous two.

Finally we have The Breathing Method (A Winter's Tale), a gruesome story about a club and the tales told there. This I felt was the most graphic novel in the collection, but once you see through the obvious you find a strange sense of the supernatural surrounding the club.

Stephen King said he didn't want these to be horror genred, except The Breathing Method, which he was requested to include. However, his sense of finding horror in anything chills your soul. A must have for everyone.


Decent attempt   January 14, 2003
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

Although I am not a huge fan of King's style, I found this collection of stories to be an interesting read. My favourite is 'Apt Pupil' which I found to be disturbing in places, but an excellent read. Yet, I was let down by the story of 'The Shawshank Redemption'. The film is one of my all time favourites, and I expected the book to live up to that in some way, and it just did not do that. Perhaps if I had read the book before I saw the greatness of the film, I would not have been so dissappointed with the shortness and lack of depth the story had.

Worthy of only 3 stars at the most, but a decent read.


Redemption day at last!   November 4, 2001
 9 out of 15 found this review helpful

King, held in most peoples eyes as a writer who keeps the reader enthralled throughout, again did not fail. Having spent an age trying to devote time to this particular novella, time away from the family finally made it possible.

From the first moment you are snared into the plot, all the way through the story you feel as if you have already written the next page but surprise upon surprise the theme changes just to keep you in suspense.

Having spent the time reading this book on the shores of a far away Greek Island, and not having seen the film until my return, the ending of the story did not seem to make much sense. Having now witnessed the ending, albeit not from the pen of King, it made the story all that more special.

I hope the next story from King I read is as good.
I hope that the film of that book again does it justice.
I hope.