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The Shawshank Redemption

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The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King is a novella that tells the story of Andy Dufresne, who is wrongfully convicted for the murder of his wife and her lover. The book explores themes of hope, redemption, and the horrors of being innocent in prison. Through the first-person narration of Red, the readers are taken on a journey inside the prison, witnessing the struggles and triumphs of the characters. Stephen King's writing style effectively conveys the psychological effects of institutionalization, the power of friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Characters:

Characters exhibit depth and complexity, particularly the friendship between Andy and Red, reflecting different responses to incarceration.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is emotionally engaging, seamlessly combining humor, pathos, and vivid character portrayals.

Plot/Storyline:

The novella focuses on Andy Dufresne's wrongful imprisonment and his enduring hope and friendship with Red, showcasing the harsh realities of prison life.

Setting:

Set within the confines of Shawshank prison, the environment underscores themes of confinement and the quest for freedom.

Pacing:

The story maintains a consistent pace, balancing character development with key plot events, though some found the ending slow.
There’s a guy like me in every state and federal prison in America, I guess—I’m the guy who can get it for you. Tailor-made cigarettes, a bag of reefer if you’re partial to that, a bottle of brandy to...

Notes:

The Shawshank Redemption is originally a novella by Stephen King titled 'Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption'.
Stephen King wrote this novella as part of a collection called 'Different Seasons' which contains four stories.
This novella is about 100-200 pages long, making it shorter than many of King’s usual novels.
The story focuses on themes of hope, friendship, and the horrors of prison life.
Andy Dufresne, the main character, is wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his wife and her lover.
The character 'Red', originally described as a white Irish man in the book, was played by Morgan Freeman in the movie adaptation.
The Shawshank Redemption film is considered one of the greatest movies of all time, often topping lists like IMDB's greatest films.
The film adaptation closely follows the story of the novella, which is rare for adaptations of King’s work.
Many readers find that the film surpassed the novella, highlighting its strong character development and emotional depth.
The novella was written in 1982 and the film was released in 1994, receiving multiple Academy Award nominations.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers/content warnings include references to violence, prison rape, and the psychological toll of long-term incarceration.

From The Publisher:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King's beloved novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption-the basis for the Best Picture Academy Award-nominee The Shawshank Redemption-about an unjustly imprisoned convict who seeks a strangely satisfying revenge, is now available for the first time as a standalone book.

A mesmerizing tale of unjust imprisonment and offbeat escape, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption is one of Stephen King's most beloved and iconic stories, and it helped make Castle Rock a place readers would return to over and over again. Suspenseful, mysterious, and heart-wrenching, this iconic King novella, populated by a cast of unforgettable characters, is about a fiercely compelling convict named Andy Dufresne who is seeking his ultimate revenge. Originally published in 1982 in the collection Different Seasons (alongside "The Body," "Apt Pupil," and "The Breathing Method"), it was made into the film The Shawshank Redemption in 1994. Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, this modern classic was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is among the most beloved films of all time.

Ratings (102)

Incredible (33)
Loved It (39)
Liked It (26)
It Was OK (4)

Reader Stats (160):

Read It (107)
Want To Read (31)
Did Not Finish (2)
Not Interested (20)

2 comment(s)

Not in the right head space for the SA.

 
Loved It
6 months

Great novella of patience and resilience.

 

About the Author:

Stephen King is the author of more than sixty books, all of them worldwide bestsellers. His recent work includes Billy Summers, If It Bleeds, The Institute, Elevation, The Outsider, Sleeping Beauties (cowritten with his son Owen King), and the Bill Hodges trilogy: End of Watch, Finders Keepers, and Mr. Mercedes (an Edgar Award winner for Best Novel and a television series streaming on Peacock). His novel 11/22/63 was named a top ten book of 2011 by The New York Times Book Review and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Mystery/Thriller. His epic works The Dark Tower, It, Pet Sematary, and Doctor Sleep are the basis for major motion pictures, with It now the highest-grossing horror film of all time. He is the recipient of the 2020 Audio Publishers Association Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2018 PEN America Literary Service Award, the 2014 National Medal of Arts, and the 2003 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He lives in Bangor, Maine, with his wife, novelist Tabitha King.

 
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