【King's critics obviously didn't read this...】 Sometimes collections like this can be hard to judge.+++ Most of the time the author will have ups and downs, with one story that may appeal to one audience and another which appeals to a different one. Different Seasons, however, manages to provide a good body of work that should appeal to just about everybody.!!!! To be clear on the content of the book, this is actually two novellas and two short stories... ...both Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption and The Breathing Method are both on par with such classics as "Bartleby the Scrivener." The format of the book is perhaps a little hokey.. ..The stories follow the seasonal theme.. ..But ultimately that artistic touch is irrelevant to the real appreciation of the book, at worst, and endearing, at best.★★★★★ I know many critics hound King for overstating and sometimes, seemingly out of spite, understating... But those that do seemingly skipped past "Different Seasons". Note to critics: READ THIS ONE.!!