Different Seasons

I'm not a big fan of short stories and novellas. Often, they lack depth and a well-developed plot. I often find that a good story is better served when it's flashed out in a full-size novel. This is one of the reasons why, in general, I avoid story or novella collections. With this, I'm trying to justify why I hadn't read this book yet, even though I've consumed a significant portion of King's body of work by now. A novella is a snack; four novellas make a thick book.

How wrong can someone be when it comes to this bundling of four separate stories by Stephen King? Although each of these stories could have had the potential for a full-fledged novel, especially in the skillful hands of King, I never felt that depth was lacking anywhere.

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption:
It's a well-known story, of course, due to the world-famous adaptation. The story is masterful, but what struck me in particular is how good the adaptation actually is.

Apt Pupil:
Perhaps I found this to be the best, most gripping story. There is a film adaptation, but I haven't seen it. King brilliantly portrays how fascination can transform into an obsession that then has gruesome consequences. The characters of an elderly man and a schoolboy entangle themselves and hold each other in a stranglehold.

The Body:
King at his best when it comes to a group of outcast friends, coming of age, and us against the world. IT vibes all over.

The Breathing Method:
Maybe this is the only story that I found too short. It's the shortest of the four. And within it, the actual story is framed within a storytelling context. The mystery surrounding it calls for elaboration. Stories are told in a mysterious club. Hints are given about the secrets, but ultimately, it's about a story being told in the club. I would love to see a novel built around this club.

Normally, I don't quickly give novellas 5 stars. Novellas are not entirely my thing, but within this genre, this book is the absolute top. So, full marks after all, I can't deny it.