This book is truly rich with magical surrealism.

It takes the reader on a journey through a world that is both strange and captivating. The vivid descriptions and unique concepts make it a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

However, it is also the hardest book I've ever read. The complex plot and deep themes require a great deal of concentration and effort to fully understand.

Despite the challenges, I found myself completely immersed in the story. And for some reason, I cried for the whole last chapter. Maybe it was the emotional impact of the story, or perhaps it was the realization that it was coming to an end.

Either way, this book has left a lasting impression on me, and I will surely recommend it to others who are looking for a challenging and unforgettable read.

This collection of short stories is truly a unique literary experience. It is infused with the intense southern heat that seems to seep into every page.

As a result, the language employed is heavy, often obscure, and has a feverish quality to it. At times, I found myself struggling to follow the complex narrative and the richly textured descriptions.

However, hidden within this collection is a true gem. The story "Wanderers" at the end touched me deeply. It is a wonderful exploration of the theme of leaving one's home and the realization that, despite the physical distance, one is never truly alone.

The characters in the story embark on a journey of self-discovery and connection, and their experiences resonate with anyone who has ever felt the pull of the unknown.

Overall, while this collection may present some challenges to the reader, it is well worth the effort for those who are willing to engage with its rich and evocative language.

The good thing about this book is that it is filled to the brim with rich symbolism, captivating fables, and vivid portrayals of the Southern life before the Civil War.

It offers readers a unique opportunity to delve into a bygone era and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural, social, and historical context.

However, the bad side cannot be ignored. This is truly one of the most perplexing narratives I have ever come across.

It leaps from one scene to another in the blink of an eye, making it extremely difficult to follow and understand.

As a result, I would not recommend this book to beginners or those who are new to the genre.

It requires a certain level of literary sophistication and patience to fully appreciate and make sense of its complex structure and storyline.

Nevertheless, for those who are willing to invest the time and effort, this book may offer a rewarding and thought-provoking reading experience.

Morgana, Ms is just like hundreds of small southern towns.

Everybody knows everybody else, and not only that, but they also know each other's business. It seems that everyone feels completely free to offer their own opinion at any time.

On the surface, nothing much seems to happen in this town. However, in reality, a lot is going on. The children are the same as they have always been and always will be. Time passes slowly, and as it does, the children grow up, the people age, and eventually, they die.

The beauty of this book lies in Eudora Welty's prose. Her ability to notice the tiniest details is remarkable, and her subtle, sly humor adds an extra layer of charm.

Take, for example, Little Jenny McLain's lizard earrings. The dialogue about them is both charming and humorous. "How do you get them to stay on your ears?" "You mash down on their heads."

This collection of seven stories offers a wonderful glimpse into the life and people of Morgana. It is truly a pleasure to read and will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

It's not that nothing important happens throughout the work. Instead, gossip, pettiness, and anecdotes are the religion of the people being portrayed. Eudora Welty describes a microcosm where she accentuates the world view through the eyes of the neighbor: neighbors who judge, neighbors who spy, neighbors who deceive, neighbors who are ashamed... By representing a numerous set of people and families through the portrayal of their different voices, she paints a local fresco through multiple changes of perspective. Heat, flies, blooming magnolias and cinnamon; background trains passing over the bridge on the Big Black; pianos and ukuleles as the soundtrack: Morgana, a fictional small town in Mississippi.

By the way, Eudora was also a great photographer.

Tomato Packer’s Recess, 1936

Happy to add Welty's 1949 short story collection to the "read" stack.

I have a deep affection for the fact that these stories are interconnected. The overlapping story lines of the people in Morgana bring an additional layer to the collection, enticing the reader to read between the lines and connect the implicit dots.

My favorite story is the last one, "The Wanderers." It serves as the "sequel" to "June Recital," which is my close second favorite.

The way Welty weaves these stories together is truly remarkable. It allows the reader to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the characters and the town of Morgana.

Each story adds a new piece to the puzzle, and as the collection progresses, the picture becomes clearer and more vivid.

I highly recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys well-written, interconnected short stories that offer a deeper exploration of human nature and relationships.

I wanted to read this book because it is described as quintessential southern fiction, and I have a great love for southern fiction. Additionally, I desired to read something by an author who is renowned as one of the most important of the 20th century. However, I had a tough time keeping track of what was happening or discerning the point of the various stories.

It appears that there is a connection to Greek mythology in her writing, but since I have no knowledge of Greek mythology, all of that goes over my head. There were moments when I could perceive that her writing was excellent and would truly be engaged in a story, only to discover a few lines in that I had no clue what had just occurred.

Perhaps if I had read this in an English class, I would have a better appreciation for it. I might have had the guidance and analysis to help me understand the complex themes and the references to Greek mythology. It could have enhanced my understanding and allowed me to fully appreciate the author's talent and the depth of the stories.

Nevertheless, even without that in-depth knowledge, I could still recognize the beauty and skill in the writing. The descriptions were vivid, and the characters were well-developed. I just felt that I was missing something essential that would have made the reading experience even more fulfilling.

Overall, while I had some difficulties with this book, I still believe it has value and potential for a greater understanding with further study and exploration.

Thank goodness it's over.

This is undoubtedly the worst book I've read this year.

I'm aware that she's regarded as some sort of national treasure, but has anyone truly delved into her work lately?

She presents a stereotype of a stereotype in the most abysmal way.

I might have been able to follow a story had I been able to wade through her poorly constructed, overly described, and excessively long sentences.

And then there's the truly horrible racism.

I understand she's a woman of her era, but even for that time, she goes way over the top.

The use of the N word every five pages or so and even introducing the characters by race at the front of the book is highly offensive.

This so-called magical town is nothing but a farce, and I felt absolutely nothing for any of the distracted and unfeeling characters.

Yes, without a doubt, I did not like this book.

Virgie made her way down the hill, crossed the road, and passed through the old MacLain place and the pasture until she reached the river. Standing on the willow bank, she was greeted by the bright mid-afternoon light on the open water, which was quiet and peaceful. She undressed and slipped into the river.

As she entered the water, she watched her waist disappear into the reflectionless surface, as if she were walking into the sky. All seemed to be of one weight and matter until she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and felt the light slip under her lids. She then realized that the river, herself, and the sky were all translucent vessels filled by the sun. She began to swim gently, feeling the water curve around her breasts, which were as sensitive as the tips of a bird's wings or the antennae of an insect. She felt the sand, grains like little cogged wheels, and the minute shells of old seas, as well as the many dark ribbons of grass and mud touch and leave her, like suggestions and withdrawals of a bondage that might have been dear but was now dismembering and losing itself.

She moved like a cloud in the sky, aware only of the nebulous edges of her feeling and the vanishing opacity of her will, careless of the water she had already passed through and what lay ahead. The bank was all one, with the little ripening plums emerging from the faded September world. Memory dappled her like a paler light that came through the leaves, not darkening her for more than an instant. The iron taste of the old river was sweet to her. If she opened her eyes, she saw blue bottles and skating waterbugs. If she trembled, it was at the smoothness of a fish or a snake that crossed her knees.

In the middle of the river, where the current did not reveal its downstream or upstream direction, she lay on her stretched arm, not breathing, floating. Virgie had reached a point where in the next moment, she might turn into something without feeling shocked. She hung suspended in the Big Black River as if she knew how to hang suspended in felicity. Far to the west, a cloud running fingerlike over the sun made her splash the water. She stood, walked along the soft mud of the bottom, and pulled herself out of the water by a willow branch, which brushed her back with its leaves like a warm rain.

As she looked up at the high sky, the moon took its own light between one moment and the next. A wood thrush, which had begun to sing, hushed its long moment and began again. Virgie put her clothes back on. She would have given much for a cigarette, always wishing for a little more of what had just been.

The stories in "The Golden Apples" by Eudora Welty are unexpected, subtle, complex, and intense, with lushly descriptive and poetic language. They deal with extreme interior suffering as well as moments of relief, release, and even bliss. The first story, "Shower of Gold," introduces the nearly mythical King MacLain and his wife Snowdie. In "June Recital," an innocent boy witnesses a woman trying to burn down a house, and the story switches to the point of view of his traumatized sister. Virgie, the town's "wild girl," becomes the central character in the final story, "The Wanderers," where she deals with her mother's death and decides to leave the town. "The Whole World Knows" tells the story of Ran MacClain, who believes his wife is unfaithful, and "Moon Lake" explores what it means to be an orphan. These stories are ones to dwell on and luxuriate in, as they offer a glimpse into the complex lives and emotions of the characters in Eudora Welty's fictional small town.

Eudora Welty was truly remarkable for her extraordinary ability to flawlessly capture the essence of Southern life.

She had an uncanny knack for zeroing in on those particular aspects that are so deeply ingrained and unique to the South.

These aspects have a powerful hold, following individuals no matter how far they may venture in the world.

They have the ability to tug at one's heartstrings and pull them back to a place that will forever linger in the hearts and minds of Southerners.

It is as if Welty had a special connection to the soul of the South, allowing her to bring its rich tapestry of culture, traditions, and the very spirit of the region to life on the pages of her works.

Her writing not only provides a vivid portrayal of Southern life but also offers a profound exploration of the human condition within that specific context.

Through her words, readers are able to experience the beauty, the complexity, and the haunting allure of the South, even if they have never set foot in that part of the country.

Eudora Welty's talent for capturing the essence of Southern life is a gift that continues to resonate with readers and leave a lasting impression.

Wonderful word pictures.

Welty has an amazing talent for putting words into the most pleasing combinations.

Her use of language is truly remarkable, creating vivid images and scenes in the reader's mind.

However, I must admit that this book was perhaps a bit too smart for me.

I found myself struggling to fully understand all the nuances and meanings within the text.

As a result, I think I'm going to have to read a summary to gain a better understanding of what everything meant.

Despite my initial confusion, I still appreciate the beauty and artistry of Welty's writing.

It's clear that she is a master of her craft, and I look forward to exploring more of her work in the future.

Maybe with more practice and experience, I'll be able to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of her writing.

For now, though, I'll have to rely on summaries to help me make sense of this wonderful book.

Just completed this collection of intertwined stories after persevering to the very end!

I had perused The Optimist Daughter during my college days (oh, so many years ago), and I didn't recall Welty's writing style being as archaic, antiquated, and to my mind, somewhat warped.

Yes, she vividly depicts Southern life, which I presumed was in the early to mid-19th century. However, there are numerous authors who achieve this in more magnificent and accessible formats.

At times, I felt as if I were reading something penned by someone under the influence of drugs. I had to reread numerous sections in an attempt to unearth a meaning.

Yes, it can be somewhat poetic, but I often found myself pondering what on earth she was talking about. Her sentences are frequently disjointed, nonsensical, and unconnected to what appears to be transpiring.

Perhaps she is renowned for this style, and that is what distinguishes her work from that of other authors? I don't remember The Optimist Daughter being this disjointed; perhaps I should reread that.

Regarding the portrayal of life in the South, I concur that she does this admirably, having grown up in the South myself. I read many reviews that objected to her use of the "N word," and although I winced whenever I read it, it was very real, and the treatment of Blacks was much as depicted in these stories.

I would have anticipated that from a writer presenting realism rather than fantasy. I am awarding three stars because the writing is so distinctive, and somehow I managed to connect the stories and what was happening, but I don't think I would recommend it to many readers.