Eudora Welty was an incredibly talented writer.

She had a unique way of presenting the South that was like no other.

Even though I've never been to the Mississippi Delta, her descriptions were so accurate that it was clear she was a southerner.

Other writers, even some from the South, often only give a partial or caricatured view of the region, but Welty did it justice.

However, this book was a struggle for me to finish.

The first story in this anthology was very good, with nice straightforward storytelling.

But as I read on, each succeeding story became less and less coherent.

It was as if Welty had taken some sort of drug and the effects got stronger with each story, causing the stories to become more and more like the ramblings of someone who had lost touch with reality.

By the time I gave up on page 194 in "Music From Spain," I was extremely tired of stories that didn't clearly tell me what was happening.

I had to guess who was speaking, who was seeing, who was doing, and what was going on.

I don't expect Welty to write with the clarity and precision of Ernest Hemingway, as he was a one-of-a-kind writer.

But Welty is capable of writing better than this.

She can give us not only beautiful language but also language that describes and actually tells a story.

Beautiful language for its own sake is like a square of purple paint on the wall - it's just a color sample, not a piece of art.

And that's what I feel Welty is doing here - showing off her ability to put words together beautifully but leaving out the essential part of writing and confusing the reader, which is a major flaw.

At first, it is rather difficult to get into her works

because she writes in a circular manner and the language she uses is quite unfamiliar.

However, if one can just hang in there and persevere,

the rewards are truly remarkable!

Her writing is so incredibly beautiful.

It is like uncovering a hidden treasure chest.

The more you delve into it, the more you discover the depth and intricacy of her thoughts and emotions.

Despite the initial challenges, the journey through her writing is well worth it.

It can open up new perspectives and touch your heart in ways you never thought possible.

So, don't give up easily when faced with the initial difficulties.

Embrace the process and let the beauty of her writing unfold before your eyes.

Beautifully written short stories about a fictional Mississippi town and its inhabitants offer a captivating glimpse into a world filled with charm, mystery, and the human experience. The town, with its quaint streets and southern hospitality, serves as the perfect backdrop for a diverse cast of characters. Each story unfolds like a delicate flower, revealing the hopes, dreams, and struggles of the people who call this place home. From the elderly widow who finds new love in the most unexpected way to the young boy who discovers a hidden talent that changes his life, these tales are a celebration of the power of community and the resilience of the human spirit. Whether it's a heartwarming romance, a thrilling mystery, or a poignant coming-of-age story, these beautifully written short stories will transport you to a fictional Mississippi town and leave you with a lasting impression.

One of the most amazing, beautiful, and striking series of short stories I've ever read.

The characters within these stories are incredibly layered. They are not simply one-dimensional; instead, they are messy and complicated, just like real people.

As you progress through the stories, by the time you reach the end, these characters have truly come to life. You find yourself deeply invested in their fates, grieving for some who have met unfortunate ends and feeling relieved and happy for others who have found a measure of peace or success.

The last of the stories is particularly beautiful. It has a quality that makes it truly unforgettable. The emotions it evokes and the images it creates linger in your mind long after you've finished reading.

Overall, this series of short stories is a literary gem that I would highly recommend to anyone who appreciates well-crafted characters and engaging narratives.

She pushed her way through a thick hawthorn thicket and then among the cherry trees. With the boughs seesawing high above like a tree-high dance, a squirrel chase raced ahead of her through the woods - Morgan's Woods, as it had once been known. Fat birds swayed on their perches. A little quail scurried across the forest floor. Down an arch, along some old cedar lane up here, Mattie Will could gaze out into the vast West. She could see the expanse of it all, the land stretching below the small hills, and the Big Black River, clear almost to MacLain's Courthouse. The Stark place was plain to see, along with the fields and their farm. Everybody's house peeked above the trees, the MacLains' - like a white floating peak - and even Blackstone's granny's cabin, where a murder had occurred once. And Morgana was all bathed in rays, like a giant sunflower in the dust of Saturday.

The character of these stories is incredibly rich and generous. The prose is filled with mythic music, as time blends into place and people are shaped and reshaped as folklore and events expand to a Homeric scale. And yet, somehow, this is all deeply human and tinged with sadness.

Describing a book like this presents no small challenge, as its unique nature lies somewhere between the novel and the short story collection. That is, between the broad expanse of a lake and the narrow flow of a small river. Some of these are short stories, while one or two seem happily the length of novellas. And others are hardly tales at all. These last resemble collecting pools that only take on a substantial form when the waters rise. The pools gain substance from the rivers, and the rivers take on a new shape when they flood the pools. Dive into it. Drink it in deeply.

I don't classify it because I didn't finish reading it. For no apparent reason and after the first brilliant short story, I lost all interest in it. When it is like this, I prefer to put it back on the shelf and wait for the right time for me and it.

Sometimes, we start reading a book with great anticipation, but for some unknown reason, our interest wanes along the way. It could be that the writing style doesn't resonate with us, or the story takes an unexpected turn that doesn't appeal to our tastes. In such cases, it's okay to admit that the book and we are not in sync at the moment.

Rather than forcing ourselves to continue reading something that no longer holds our attention, it's better to step back and give it some time. Maybe in the future, when our mindset has changed or we are in a different mood, we will be able to appreciate the book in a whole new light. So, don't be too hard on yourself if you don't finish a book. Just trust that there will be a better time for you to discover its true value.

There is a great deal that I truly adored about this particular work. There are certain passages and moments that manage to so powerfully capture the specificities of the South - its people, the landscape, and the very air. It's as if these elements are brought to life in the most vivid and palpable way.

Moreover, there is a rather surprising interlude that takes place in San Francisco, which adds an interesting and unexpected dimension to the narrative.

However, this work also raises the uncomfortable question of how to deal with outdated racist language in fiction. It feels as if, on a societal level, we haven't yet come to a consensus on what to do about such language in texts like this one. Do we censor it? Do we keep it as a historical record? These are complex issues that require careful consideration and discussion.

Overall, this work is a thought-provoking and engaging piece that both delights and challenges the reader.

These linked stories are not quite on par with her first collection. However, they are still excellent.

They demand a great deal of patience from the reader. They are dense, detailed, and atmospheric.

Welty constructs a unique world within each story. Although she sometimes makes the reader exert too much effort (and there is also the unfortunate racism of the era), she is nowhere near as incoherent as, for example, Faulkner.

The stories have their own charm and allure, drawing the reader in with their rich descriptions and complex characters.

Despite not being as perfect as her previous work, they still offer a valuable and engaging reading experience.

One can appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that Welty has put into these stories, even if they have their flaws.

Overall, they are a worthy addition to her body of work and a testament to her talent as a writer.

I read this for a graduate course at Penn State.

I have a rather hazy memory of Welty. I can recall only a little about her, and not much more than that.

It seems that as time has passed, the details of what I knew about her have faded.

However, I do remember that she was an important figure in the literary world.

Perhaps I need to go back and study more about her works and life to refresh my memory.

This might help me better understand the context and significance of what I read for the graduate course.

I should make an effort to explore Welty's contributions more deeply and gain a more comprehensive understanding of her place in literature.

Only then can I truly appreciate the value of what I read and apply it to my own studies and research.

Oct 2007 - I am making an attempt, but I am truly facing a difficult time with her writing - and she's a classic! What on earth am I missing??

Later - I more or less gave up - I did try. And yet she is highly regarded as such a great writer...???

March 2009 - While being deeply engrossed in southern literature, I am giving this one another try! I tried again, and then I also tried "Losing Battles" - but I couldn't get into either of them. I will set them aside for another attempt.

June 2011 - Catching up on my list - I tried AGAIN and still just couldn't. Now, that is Eudora Welty and Faulkner - neither of whom I can seem to get caught up in....whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?

Bello,

but it has left me with the desire to attempt reading in the original.

Eudora Welty, my discovery of the year.

Her works are like hidden treasures waiting to be unearthed.

The way she weaves words together creates a magical tapestry of emotions and stories.

Each sentence seems to hold a world of its own, inviting the reader to step in and explore.

Although reading in the original might be a challenge, it is a challenge worth taking.

It allows us to get closer to the author's true intentions and to experience the full beauty of her writing.

With Eudora Welty, I have found a new source of inspiration and a new way to view the world through the lens of literature.

I look forward to delving deeper into her works and uncovering all the secrets and wonders that lie within.

A Faithful Rendition of Rural Southern Life

This book offers a faithful portrayal of life in the rural south. It is like a "still life" in literature, following a paint-what-you-see approach. Welty depicts life in a way that feels astonishingly real and provides her profound rumination.

Her writing is highly ambient. She devotes a significant amount of time to decorating scenes, making this book seem very observational. In fact, some chapters, such as the first one, are written from the perspective of specific characters, while most are written from a disembodied third person who is perceptive but not all-knowing. Welty clearly felt no compulsion to adhere to literary norms when writing this. This can be an advantage, and I think this book is remarkable as a literary experiment. However, it often feels vague and lacking in clarity.

The language is beautiful and poetic, filled with numerous small and large ironies. For example, "some of the fog bank had detached itself in narrow clouds thin and delicate as bone…"

Welty writes with an inner kind of violence. There are violent scenes described serenely, dramatic scenes met with apathy, and sudden eruptions of emotion from out of nowhere.

Perhaps I could extract more meaning from a second reading, although I probably won't pick it up again. The reader is left with questions, and even the answers provided in the book don't offer the closure we desire.