Relationships

One thing I did see that the novellas had in common was a tight focus on specific relationships: old man/boy, teacher/pupil, inmate/inmate, childhood friends, child-self/adult-self, doctor/patient. Which relationship did you find most compelling and/or most well-drawn?

Apt Pupil

I liked this story because it was so moody and creepy and tense. I also found it curious in that I was at no point rooting for anyone in it! I didn't even like Todd's parents; they seemed so ignorant about their son, in that self-absorbed way some parents have. So, as you were reading, what were you hoping would happen? Were you satisfied with the ending?

Seasons

Do you think the seasonal organization of the four novellas into a single volume made sense? I can't think of why this was done, exactly, except for marketing purposes maybe? I didn't see the stories as related in any way, except "The Body" and "Shawshank" had a tiny overlap with the Maine setting and with the minor aside in "The Body" to the Shawshank crime.

Four novellas

OK, the obvious question first: Which was your favorite, if you had a favorite, and why?