My favourite tale in this
collection is
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
Shawshank Redemption
is compelling because its principal character, Andrew Dufresne's story is compelling. Although unjustly imprisoned, Andy not only does not give up hope but lives his life on his own terms in Shawshank. Justice might have been better served if the real murderer was brought to pay for his crime, but Andy's story would not have been as unforgettable. How Andy escapes from Shawshank is a testimony to both his determination and courage.
The longest tale in this
collection belongs to
Apt Pupil. It is perhaps the most "thought provoking" story in the collection but the one which I liked the least. The questions which I cannot answer when reading this tale is this; was Todd Bowden corrupted by Dussander or was he the corruptor ? Was it not he who blackmailed Dussander in telling him all the gory details of the Nazi's sick experiments and methods of torture ? Was that fascination truly born out of innocence or was he not evil in the first place ? It is a contrast to
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption and too grim for my tastes.
I neither liked nor disliked
The Body or
The Breathing Method. The first a tale of growing up and the last, a traditional horror story. Neither story however provoked much reaction from me. I felt neither interest in the boys journey to find
The Body or horror at the idea of a dead woman continuing to use
The Breathing Method in her determination to give birth to her child. I'd say the one story that truly fills me with horror would be
Apt Pupil. Someone who appears not only to be normal on the surface but seemingly likable, and yet would consider killing his own parents just because they irritate him.
All in all, my personal vote still goes for
Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Better to hope than to despair.