Eudora Welty is an accomplished and award-winning literary figure from the South. Her works are renowned for their vivid descriptions that bring to life scenes that, as a fellow Mississippian, I can immediately identify with. She has a remarkable talent for developing characters with authentic dialogue and qualities that are truly representative of the Deep South.

However, one aspect of her writing that stands out is the abrupt endings of most of her short stories. In many of them, there is a lack of a fully developed plot. Nevertheless, there are a few exceptions, such as "The Wide Net," a story that I truly relished. I had the pleasure of listening to the Audible version, and the narrators did an outstanding job of bringing the story to life. Their interpretations added an extra layer of depth and nuance to Welty's already engaging prose.

Overall, Eudora Welty's writing is a unique and captivating exploration of the Southern experience, with its vivid descriptions, authentic characters, and, yes, even its abrupt endings.

A wonderful and awe-inspiring story collection that spans Welty's career.

Reading it with friends, as I have done here, has not only enhanced my enjoyment of the stories themselves but also deepened my knowledge of Welty and my understanding of the influences behind her writing.

When it comes to my favorites, hmmm. Of course, there is "Why I Live at the P.O." Then there is the entire book "The Golden Apple". I can vividly recall scenes from "The Death of a Traveling Salesman". There are simply too many to mention. And I know that in the future, I will be delving into this book again at my leisure to sample these stories once more and will surely have more to say about my favorites then too.

Thank you to Teresa, Mikki, Karen (and Cynthia at the end) for creating such a great reading experience.

I was kind of shocked at how quickly I resorted to skimming through this collection.

I feel as if I've committed a slight against some grand dame, and I will forever receive acid-polite pearl-patting from her for the rest of my days.

Some of the stories had me laughing out loud flatly, and Eudora had such a remarkable gift for stringing together sentences.

However, the stories also tended to fall flat for me all too often.

Perhaps I need to make recompense for my hasty skimming.

I should go back and read those stories more carefully, giving them the attention they deserve.

Maybe then I'll be able to fully appreciate the beauty and depth of Eudora's writing.

It's important to take the time to truly understand and enjoy the works of great authors like her.

After all, their words have the power to transport us to different worlds and touch our hearts.

I don't want to miss out on that because of my impatience.

So, I'll make an effort to correct my mistake and give this collection the respect it demands.

One of the uncollected stories,

"Where Is the Voice Coming From?" was written in response to the murder of Medgar Evers. This story is not only a challenging but also an incredible work. It delves deep into the emotions and consequences of such a tragic event, making it a thought-provoking piece.

"Old Mr. Marblehall", on the other hand, would be an excellent choice to teach in an intro to fiction class. It likely has elements that can help students understand the basic concepts and techniques of fiction writing.

Both stories offer unique perspectives and can enrich the literary experience of readers or students. Whether it's the powerful message in "Where Is the Voice Coming From?" or the educational value of "Old Mr. Marblehall", they deserve to be explored and appreciated.

Perhaps by studying these stories, we can gain a better understanding of the human condition and the power of literature to convey complex emotions and ideas.

I managed to reach page 261, which is right in the middle of the June Recital, and then I simply gave up.

I truly did my utmost to develop an affection for this collection. However, despite my efforts, I just don't.

There were a few stories within it that were rather good. But when considering the collection as a whole, it plunged me into a massive reading slump.

Perhaps my southern card might be revoked for this. But then again, it wouldn't be the first time that such a thing has happened.

I guess sometimes, no matter how hard we try, certain books just don't click with us. And this collection is unfortunately one of those for me.

Maybe I'll give it another chance in the future, but for now, I'm content to move on to other reading materials.

Eudora Welty's writing is truly luxurious!

Her works are filled with beautiful imagery that paints vivid pictures in the reader's mind. The characters she creates are quirky, and at times, even strange, yet they are so full of life and authenticity. Her writing style has the remarkable ability to evoke all things Southern with such truthfulness that it can almost be painful.

The quality of the stories in her collection may vary, but when looking at the collection as a whole, it is nothing short of phenomenal. Each story offers a unique perspective and takes the reader on a journey through the rich and complex world that Welty has crafted. Whether it's the charming small towns, the idiosyncratic characters, or the deep emotions that are explored, there is something in this collection for every reader to appreciate and enjoy.

It took me almost three months to read this book (so many). Eudora Welty is a profound observer, capable of restoring an entire world with just a few sentences. This world is initially confined to the South of the United States, with its traditions, the stuffy atmospheres of the white people's houses, the consideration of the blacks (the continuous specification Negro man, Negro woman is embarrassing), the wild landscape, sometimes inhospitable, sometimes lush, the social dynamics in miniature of the small towns.

Later the panorama widens (and this coincides with the beginning of the author's travels, who travels several times to Europe); the themes pass from the mobile/immobile binomial of the first short story collections (the clash between characters in search of novelty and the exasperated immobility of society) to the idea of freedom, of emancipation, of realization that bring the journey, the discovery of other places.

Welty's writing is细腻 and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the South and the people who inhabit it. Her characters are complex and multi-faceted, and their stories are both touching and thought-provoking. The book is a wonderful exploration of the human condition and the power of literature to capture it.

Eudora Welty was an amazing author.

Her works are filled with rich and vivid descriptions that bring the characters and settings to life. Many of her stories are some of the finest examples of 20th-century American writing.

However, Welty's writing is frequently dense and difficult. It requires careful reading and analysis to fully understand the depth of her themes and the complexity of her characters. This makes her work not suitable for everyone.

Additionally, her stories often contain racist characters or are set in environments that are rife with racism. In our highly racism-sensitive world, these traits can make her work difficult to recommend.

Still, Welty should not be ignored or forgotten. Her contributions to American literature are significant, and her unique writing style and perspective offer valuable insights into the human condition. We should strive to understand and appreciate her work in the context of its time, while also being mindful of its potential impact on modern readers.

**The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty: A Personal Review**

The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Books 1980) (813.52) (3693) presents the entire body of published stories by the highly regarded Southern author Eudora Welty in a single volume.

I have a deep affection for short stories and an even greater love for Southern writers. Welty's work rarely fails to deliver, and I discovered that this volume is best savored by sampling various tales rather than reading them in a consecutive order from cover to cover.

My preferences regarding Welty's stories do not align with those of the mainstream audience. I found that the stories most lauded in the consensus reviews, such as “Why I Live at the P.O.” and “Petrified Man”, were rather unengaging. However, as I anticipated, I came across several stories that I thoroughly enjoyed and will remember for a long time, like “Keela the Outcast Indian Maiden” and “The Key”.

I fully intend to continue sampling the stories in this collection. My rating for this volume is 7/10, and I completed reading it on 11/1/22 (3693).

Her writing is truly beautiful.

The way she details the sensual minutia is startlingly intimate, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are right there in the moment.

However, the depiction and treatment of people of color, along with the antiquated words used to describe them, constantly jarred me out of the beauty.

Some might argue that it was accurate for that time period in the South, and I would concede that this is true.

But there were surely ways to convey that without making the white characters fully developed and the black characters mere shallow caricatures.

It's a shame because I firmly believe that if she had written about them with the same elegance and beauty as she did the ever-present crape myrtle trees, it would have been a truly wonderful piece of work.

One other aspect that I must mention is the writing of violence.

It was quiet, unpretty, naked, and sudden.

I feel that it was horribly accurate, looking you straight in the eye, slaying, and then walking away with barely a backward glance.

It was never romanticized, yet it was seamlessly woven with images that were very romantic.

It was far better than any "glorious battle" scene I have ever read because it was so silent, present, and real.

I truly believe that I had lived in the South during my previous life. There is something about the Southern stories that deeply resonate within me.

Perhaps it is the charm of the slow-paced lifestyle, the warm hospitality of the people, or the rich history and culture that is so vividly portrayed in those tales.

The gentle drawl of the Southern accent, the beautiful landscapes with their sprawling plantations and moss-draped trees, all seem to call out to me.

Whenever I read or hear a Southern story, I feel as if I am being transported to that place, experiencing the emotions and adventures of the characters firsthand.

It's as if my soul has a connection to the South that cannot be denied, and I long to explore that region further, to soak up its atmosphere and uncover its hidden treasures.

Maybe one day, I will have the opportunity to visit the South and see if it truly feels like home, just as I suspect it will.

What to give it 0 stars?

Well, if I do that, then people might think I just forgot to rate it.

To be honest, many of the stories in this book seem to have no clear direction.

Others, I found, had no real point at all.

I simply didn't care about any of the characters.

And then, the ending was so blah that I felt I had completely wasted my time.

In fact, I never even finished the book.

I only read about 50%, which I think was 49% too much.

I'm still counting it as a read, though, because it was a hefty 375 pages long.

I've lost over a week of my precious reading time, and I'll never be able to get that back.

It's really quite disappointing.

I had such high hopes for this book, but it just didn't deliver.

Maybe I'll have better luck with the next one I pick up.