Flannery O'Connor and Cold War Culture Book

I was really excited when I first heard that Stephen King was compiling a book about his favorite short stories that have been turned into films. I hoped and prayed for something that was a cross between On Writing and the ever so classic and insightful Danse Macabre -- but alas, what King fans get is a reprinting of five previously published stories.

Once I got over my initial (crushing) disappointment, I realized that the old stories are at least introduced by King, and these short intros are new. So at least that's something. Furthermore, the five stories he has selected are oldies but goodies, as the saying goes. Readers unfamiliar with King's shorter works now have a chance to see that not everything the master writes is of door-stop length. When he has a mind to, King can embrace shorter but sweeter and do a fine job. Anyone who hasn't read Rita Hayworth & the Shawshank Redemption is in for a real treat. If you haven't seen Frank Darabont's adaptation starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins rent it tonight! You won't regret it. It's wonderful, and not horror, but dramatic and sad and beautiful and hopeful.