It‘s getting chilly again. I had to wear a jacket for the first part of my walk. It‘s been a long time since I read The Body, and I‘m not sure how much I remember is from the movie. I cannot picture these kids as anyone other than the actors who played them. It was jarring, though, to hear Gordie say, “F**k the World Trade Center” given 9/11, which hadn‘t happened when this story was written. #audiowalk
Today I started The Body — the second novella in this collection to be made into an excellent movie, Stand By Me. (The Apt Pupil movie was just okay.) There‘s one of adult Gordie‘s short stories inserted into the story so far, and I didn‘t remember that at all. Not sure of the necessity of it. #audiowalk
pickThere are some things I noticed this time around that I didn‘t on the first read. I always hate gross sex or rape scenes as a shortcut to denote evil, and there‘s some of that. The ending is also rushed. I still found Apt Pupil to be one of King‘s most chilling stories as the evil is entirely human. #audiowalk
Almost finished with Apt Pupil. Every time I read the title of this story, I hear Cordelia (from Buffy and Angel) calling Jeremy Renner‘s character, “Apt Pupil boy.” #audiowalk
Whoa! I completely forgot that, in Apt Pupil, we learn about Todd‘s nature almost immediately instead of having a slow buildup. #audiowalk
pickI finished this story from Different Seasons on my walk. I still like it, but it‘s really too long. I also wasn‘t really rooting for Andy as much as I do when I watch the movie. Up next in this collection is Apt Pupil. #audiowalk
I‘ve never read Ann Cleeves before; this one looked interesting, so I‘m starting with it. So far, so good. Also listened to Different Seasons on the shorter walk. This is one I‘ve never reread even though I loved every story in it — except for possibly The Breathing Method as it‘s the only one I have no memory of. I still vividly remember my reaction to Apt Pupil. #audiowalk
pickWhile this is not my favorite of Webber‘s books, I still enjoyed the characters and the story. I think it‘s not my favorite because the two male love interests, Jake and Callum, aren‘t really fully drawn. Reny, who‘s a side character, is much more interesting. #audiowalk
It was so beautiful today that instead of doing our planned all day meal prep for the coming week, we went across the bay, walked, and had lunch out. I think what I like about Heather Webber‘s books is that they calm me and give me a sense that there are good people in the world. #audiowalk
It was a pretty warm walk today; the temperature was in the 70s. So far, nothing in this book has been surprising, but I don‘t really look for that in Webber‘s books. I look for warmth, and it‘s got that. #audiowalk
