Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

5 reviews

gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Upon completion, I enjoyed Shawshank Redemption more than I thought I was during the moment.

I liked hearing how Andy was sort of this inspiring and living legend, but really was a normal guy just living in hope for justice.
I enjoyed Red's telling of the story, it felt more endearing than I think it would have been had Andy been telling it himself.

I loved the ending, that made me feel really happy and it had this hopeful air to it.

Of course, being King, we has his typical rascim, homophobia and sexisim sprinkled in there. Surprised it wasn't much more, if I'm honest, but I guess this is only a small book. I can't write this review without at least mentioning this.

Overall, this was a solid character study and an interesting look at life in prison from around the 1940's onwards. I'd pin this as more of a historical, slice-of-life short story, with mystery and thriller elements.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Vomit, Confinement, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Grief, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Murder, and Torture

gimmiiie's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Mental illness, Excrement, Racial slurs, Murder, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Sexual assault, Racism, Alcohol, Ableism, Drug use, Confinement, and Addiction

Minor: Suicide and Vomit

38threads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I’m glad I watched the movie first as the timeline was a little confusing with all the various dates thrown around but I really enjoyed following Andy and Red through their life sentences. TW for some hard hitting topics like suicide or prison rape or institutionalization.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Suicide

maddiefight's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Murder, Homophobia, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, Confinement, Child death, Child abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Car accident, Child death, Drug use, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

rachel_here's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Remember that hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

The Shawshank Redemption being one of my favorite movies of all times, I had to get around to reading the novella at some point.

Here, Stephen King delivers a fascinating tale about prison life and what it can do to men. Andy Dufresne, former banker, is condemned for the murder of his wife and her lover despite pleading his innocence. As the years go by and Andy is confronted with corruption, sexual assault, and prison violence, he still wishes to attain freedom - in whatever little ways he can.

Although he does many things in the years that follow his incarceration, the story really is about Red: the only guilty man of Shawshank, the man who can "get it for you", the man who says he's changed while really, he's nothing more than a low-key criminal only looking out for himself to survive prison. From his point of view as a guilty veteran of prison life, we observe his meeting with fresh fish Andy and the way their unlikely frienship grows.

The novella allows for a deep-dive into the life and state of mind of Red, an institutionalized man documenting his experiences as he slowly regains hope and a desire for freedom thanks to Andy. And in a way, I think everyone can relate to being a cog in a machine, feeling trapped but secure in a repetitive life, and fearing but longing for a way to break free. I think this is why this story is so powerful, and still endures today. Just like it does Red, it fills us with hope.

Now I'll say I still prefer the movie, but the novella is a must-read either way for those looking to explore Red's psyche a bit more, and for those who generally enjoy reading Stephen King's works.

As a side note, although the end of the movie is a tear-jerker and I absolutely love it, I appreciate that we end the novella with Red simply hoping to meet Andy again with no confirmation that he ever does. It confirms what Andy has been saying all along: that hope itself is enough to set a man free, even if the destination is uncertain; and I think it is a great way to conclude this particular version of the story.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Forced institutionalization

Moderate: Rape and Violence

Minor: Car accident