Book Review: Different Seasons by Stephen King

“The most important things are the hardest to say. They are the things you get ashamed of, because words diminish them -- words shrink things that seemed limitless when they were in your head to no more than living size when they're brought out. But it's more than that, isn't it? The most important things lie too close to wherever your secret heart is buried, like landmarks to a treasure your enemies would love to steal away. And you may make revelations that cost you dearly only to have people look at you in a funny way, not understanding what you've said at all, or why you thought it was so important that you almost cried while you were saying it. That's the worst, I think. When the secret stays locked within not for want of a tellar but for want of an understanding ear.”

- Stephen King, Different Seasons

Stephen King is one of the most successful authors of our time. Up to date, he published 54 novels, 5 non-fiction books, and over 200 short stories. People often associate this prolific author with “horror novels”. However, in my opinion, some of the best Stephen King books are not necessarily his works in the horror genre.

Indeed, Stephen King is a versatile author. If you haven't already, make sure you check out books such as The Stand, 11/22/63, or The Dark Tower series. These book are widely recognized as some of the best “non-horror” books Stephen King ever wrote. But today, I will like to review a book called Different Seasons. In this book, Stephen King departed from the genre of horror and sci-fi. Different Seasons is a collection of 4 novellas, 3 of these novellas have been adapted into movies. After I read this book, I am listing Different Seasons as my second favorite Stephen King book, just after 11/22/63.

So without further delay, let me start this review. Firstly, I will provide a synopsis for this book.

Synopsis:

Different Seasons collects 4 novella written by Stephen King. 3 of them have been adapted into movies. These 4 novella are:

1. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (adopted into the movie, Shawshank Redemption)

Shawshank imprisoned an assortment of dangerous criminals. Its latest addition, is Andy Durfense, a banker from Maine, who was arrested for the double murder of his wife and her lover. Andy is sentenced to life imprisonment, but he claims to be innocent. Will Andy find redemption?

2. Apt Pupil (adopted into the movie, Apt Pupil)

Arthur Dender, age 74, is hiding a secretive, dark past. You see, Arthur's real name is Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal in disguise as an elderly German migrant living in the US. In 1974, Todd Bowden, a local teenage boy, discovered Arthur's secret identity. But some rocks are better left unturned..

3. The Body (adopted into the movie, Stand by Me)

Some say, there are no friends like the friends from our childhood. This story began, when 4 boys, driven by curiosity, set out from their home town to see a dead body. A dead body of a boy who was reportedly to have gone missing. This journey will transform their lives forever, marking the turning point for their fall from innocence.

4. The Breathing Method

A new mother cries, her placenta falls, a new baby is born into the world. The process of labor is considered one of the most painful, but also joyful human experiences. David, is a middle aged lawyer living in Manhattan. One day, his senior partner invited him to join a peculiar, gentleman's club. One of the club's major attractions, is the event of storytelling, where club members tell each other a collection of bizarre stories. On a wintry night, David heard a most stunning story, narrated by Dr. McCarron. It is a story about one woman's determination to bring her baby into the world.

What I think about this book:

Fans and readers of Stephen King often accredit Different Season as one of his best books. After I read this book, I think the contents of this book justifies its wholesome reputation. Each of the 4 novella is dripping with its own unique flavor and style. Meanwhile, Stephen King captured our deepest desires and fears, presenting them to readers in four novellas, portraying the reality of the human conditions vividly.

In Different Seasons, Stephen King proved he is more than just a “horror novelist”. Although Different Seasons is not horror, sci-fi, or a thriller, but Stephen King's writings are just as electrifying and energetic as his other books. The pace of the book is fast. Each of the 4 novella is an addictive read. My bet is you will feel compelled to finish one novella per sitting, because it is hard to put this book down once you start reading it.

My favorite novella in this book is Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. I was deeply touched by this story. This is a moving tale full of unexpected surprises. The underlying theme of the story is about having a second chance at life, and the hope that accompanies it. Meanwhile, Apt Pupil is easily the darkest story in this book, the story revolves around a theme, the inseparable link between our past and the present.

The Body is the third novella in this book, and it is my second favorite story in this book. This is a story about coming of age, embedding the message that sometimes, in order to find our places in the world, we need to resist letting other people “box us in” with their expectations of what we should be.

The fourth story in this book, The Breathing Method, emits a vibe akin to horror stories. Yet, it is a not a horror story. In fact, I thought The Breathing Method is a very interesting, unusual story. This is a story about the power of a mother's undying love for her child, and the strength of the human will to survive, despite all impossible odds.

Personally, I found a recurring theme permeating throughout the book. I think this theme is freedom, to live a life free of other people's expectations of what we “ought to be”. To be men and women without pre-defined conclusions. No pigeon holes and no getting “boxed in”. And I like this theme a lot. I can resonate with it, because I yearn for this type of freedom. But I can imagine the tremendous courage and strength needed to achieve such freedom, snapping free from the shackles of life long habits, expectations, and circumstances.

Different Seasons is a great book. This is one of Stephen King's best, and it is not hard to see why the stories in this book made 3 successful movies. These stories are exhilarating reads, but they are also meaningful. I think this is a good book that I can recommend to all readers. Furthermore, if you have never read Stephen King's books, then Different Seasons may be a good starting point. In the meantime, I wish you a great time reading this book, and discovering this book for yourself. Perhaps you will find something really important from this book, things that you are unable to put to words but best understood from a story (that's how I felt after reading this book). Because as Stephen King said in this book, the most important things are often the hardest to say.

Happy reading!