Sometimes you find a book that you know has been around for quite a while (in this case over 25 years) and finally get around to reading it. I don't know why I put it off for so long really. It is quite remarkable.
Different Seasons by Stephen King. For those of you who haven't read it, go pick it up. I found my copy at a second-hand book store for $2.00 in paperback and the binding wasn't even broken yet. It contains the ideas behind such movies as 'The Shawshank Redemption' 'Stand By Me,' and 'Apt Pupil.' While I haven't seen the last movie I understand that my brother really enjoyed it.
What the book entails is a series of 4 novellas. King explained in the back of the book that he wrote each of these as his winding down from each of his first four major books and stuffed them into a drawer because no one would ever want to publish a novella. That wisdom still holds true today. I can say that I am glad that he, along with his agent (and due to a little bit of prodding on Mr. King's part) bypassed conventional publishing wisdom and released them. Even though they aren't horror stories so much as dark tales (His agent was leery that no one would want to read anything other than creature fiction from his client at the time). They are clunky at times and good reads all around. They show a writer who was unafraid of language and less afraid of writing something outside of his publishing comfort zone.
Well worth my hard earned money and even more worth the time to read.
As I write this a huge machine is tiling the field behind my house, laying a thick black drainage line into the wet soil. I would post pictures but I don't care to go outside and get wet. It looks like a military machine thought up in WWII and the tile line looks like a thick snake that ropes around the field. *Quick, in a thousand words or less come up with a story about this :) *
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15 comments:
And you're keeping it all to yourself. :(
Sorry Cate, I hit return before I could type the rest of it. It is all up now. :)
You're forgiven.
And, I loved that book. I was amused to find that Red didn't look at all like Morgan Freeman. Have you read 'Four Past Midnight' - another collection of 4 novellas from King. 'The Langoliers' is my all-time favourite King story.
I loved the book as well. But for the life of me I can't remember what was the last story, the only one that wasn't turned into a movie.
Cate- I actually picked up 4 past Midnight at the same time. I am looking forward to reading it as well.
Horror Girl- The Breathing Method was the 4th story. it would make for an interesting independent movie, not so much a blockbuster.
I've only seen one of those movies, so the book would still work for me : )
oh yeah the old fashioned ghost story type one. i remember. not my fav of the four, but it wasn't bad.
i think my fav was either the shawshank redemption or the one apt pupil was based on.
I have always had better (clearer? more favorable? Both, I think) memories of King's short stories than his novels, although I haven't read anything from him that I can honestly say I didn't like.
Jeremy- I think the only one of his books that I didn't much care for was "The Tommyknockers." There are many of his books I have read to read.
"The Body" is an absolutely stellar novella. I think I've read it at least 8 times.
Also, Cate is right...just wait until you crack open The Langoliers. SUCH an awesome story!
The Langoliers is made of awesome! Although Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption is a close, CLOSE second.
I love this book. I love Four Past Midnight too. They're keepers that I've re-read over the years. And I agree, the Langoliers is fantastic.
Okay...you just picked out my next read.
Seems I'm with Aaron - I have a couple of new King books to seek out - and I've just got word that I have six new books coming to review...
I need a new book shelf. One just for my to read books. I'll be closing in on 50 books still to read very soon.
Well, at least I know what my next King read will be, right after I get through the pile of books that, like BT's, is growing exponentially at this point.
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