Hmm...

[Sue Bridehead (A Pseudonym)]

I'm about 40% of the way through this collection at the moment, and I feel like the stories suffer from the very same afflictions King complains about in the preface. These don't feel like joyful acts of writing to me; they feel like stories designed to impress other short story writers.

I'm a little underwhelmed.

[Susan]

Kristen
Have you read the Alice Munro story "Dimension" yet?

[Sue Bridehead (A Pseudonym)]

Yes - actually, I'd read that before, in The New Yorker. Alice is always reliable. Love her.

[Stewart]

I don't think I could trust King to pick a good collection of short stories. Also out, however, is The New Granta Book of the American Short Story, edited by Richard Ford. Its reviews seem far more favourable.

[Sue Bridehead (A Pseudonym)]

Thanks for the tip!

[Luci]

I was also hesitant to pick this one up because King was the editor - I don't usually read his genre. It seems my concerns were founded so far. "St. Lucy's School for Girls Raised by Wolves" was definitely out there - it did hold my interest. I fail to see any point in the first story "Pa's Darling." "Toga Party" follows and isn't much better - as I'm reading that one I'm thinking would anyone be interested in a bunch of retirees going to a Toga Party? I'm working on "Horseman" now, I'm hoping it's better since I've heard many good things about Richard Russo but have yet to read his novels.

[David]

It gets better. Hang in until the end. I put it down just before the Richard Russo story. I found that one to be a little sluggish, but the last two were interesting.

[Luci]

thanks Dave....it's funny I put this down for a little while and than I read 3 in a row that were all very good - Wait, Allegiance & Findings & Impressions. I think Allegiance has been my favorite so far - I liked the way the story unfolded through the daughter's perspective.

[Taylor]

This is usually a really good series, but I was not impressed by this year's edition. I mean, Stephen King? Really? Sorry, but I want to be able to trust the Best American anthologies to cater to my snotty academic standards.