I read these four short novels some months ago in their German translation.
The motto preceding this book: IT IS THE TALE, NOT HE WHO TELLS IT. Each of the four stories was written after the completion of a longer novel and each contains elements of horror, even if they do not entirely belong to this genre.
"The Breating Method" is the story of a woman who is determined to give birth to her child at all costs. "Apt Pupil" shows the fascination of evil. A nice and bright boy is confronted with Nazi atrocities and himself becomes a killer. "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" deals with an unusual jailbreak. The autobiographical tale "The Body" however is said to be the peak of King's work. Four boys go in search for a body - this experience will leave its mark on them. One of the boys becomes an author who is happily married and earns millions by writing horror stories - just like his spiritual father King.

I do not like King too much, let alone horror stories, but I must give him that: his stories are an exiting read. Personally, I prefer the spring story "Rita Hayworth ...", maybe because it is least horror-like and the message is basically idealistic. "The Breathing Method" has (in the beginning) some nicely subtle horror elements in its framework story. The story within, which provides the title, however, is rather flat and shows cheap showmanship.

Travels with Ink-heart's English Box.