Why people recommend it
Apt Pupil is a dark novella by Stephen King included in his collection Different Seasons, focusing on a chilling relationship between a boy and a former Nazi war criminal. On the podcast The Book Review, during the episode Looking Back at 50 Years of Stephen King on July 18, 2024, Grady Hendrix discussed the author's extensive bibliography. When offering advice to listeners curious about Stephen King who might want a gentle introduction to his writing, Hendrix strongly suggested picking up Different Seasons to read one of the collection's novellas, but explicitly advised skipping Apt Pupil. The recommendation steered readers toward more suitable entry points within the same volume while cautioning against starting with this specific, particularly dark narrative. Hendrix's commentary provided guidance for navigating King's massive catalog of work, helping readers find accessible stories while avoiding content that might not fit the profile of a gentle beginning, as outlined during the podcast conversation about the author's fifty-year literary milestone.
Who recommended it
- Grady Hendrix Recommended
Grady Hendrix — 1 mention
“so if you're curious about stevenh King and would like a gentle introduction I strongly suggest going to different seasons and reading one of his novelas I would skip app puple”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and Apt Pupil, which I don't want to talk about. That is also a nonh horror adaptation. It's an incredibly fraught movie.”