My thoughts of Shawshank

[Omoren]

As a senior in high school, I hardly get to excited about picking up a book and start reading it, but I really got to say that after reading The Shawshank Redemption i understood how powerful a good story can be. I was really intrigued on how the story line and plot was written. Reading the story was amazing, but watching the movie was even better (knowing that sometimes the book is better than the film). Being able to see characters come to life is a wonderful experience. I would love to see this story and film to be more reconized than what it is.

[Bogdan]

I would love to see this story and film to be more reconized than what it is.

Well, at least the film is number one in IMDB's top 250

[GreenEyes]

I agree...such a beautiful story. Always bring a tear to my eye and a smile to my face.

[rose key]

Welcome to the board!
I think it's one of his best works. It's strange that generally people don't realize that it was written by King. When people say he just writes horror stories, and you give them Shawshank as an example of other kinds of stories he writes, people are shocked to realize it was written by him.

Steve told a story at the UTD book event at Sarasota about meeting a lady in a supermarket in Florida years ago who says she hates those horror stories, and why doesn't he write something nice like "The Shawshank Redemption"? He said, "I DID write The Shawshank Redemption!" She said, "No you didn't''.
Needless to say he had whole audience in stitches over that one.

[Susanne]

I loved the ending!

[Discordiant]

When I think about it now I laugh because I really fought reading "Shawshank".

I wasn't interested in reading a story about two guys in prison. I wanted vampires, haunted houses, aliens, and superviruses that could wipe out (nearly) the entire population of the world.

But once I did give it a chance, it became of of my favorite King stories. There's so much in there to explore. Understanding friendship; learning about hope when there isn't any in sight; and understanding that we, as humans, have the ability to rise up and shine brightly regardless of our surroundings.

Those are places where literature is supposed to take you. ;-)

[GNTLGNT]

I'll chip in with my two cents worth(which in today's economy is probably just a ha'-penny). Shawshank is just flat out-a great story! These are some of the richest characters King has ever created, and that's saying something-given his skill with making his "printed people" live & breathe...

[king family fan]

I found it to be interesting as all of sk's books are.

[vivien26]

Shawshank ranks up there with the best of SK - film held up it's end with well-cast characters. Loved Red's final speech to the parole board. I work in psychiatry and regard this age as one of the most hypocritical since Victorian times