I can envision this book as an incredibly charming community college play, or perhaps even a wacky Broadway show.

To adapt it into a play, some modernization might be necessary. For instance, the portrayal of servants could be updated to a more contemporary context, rather than simply being associated with blacks from a bygone era.

The book does depict an earlier time period with compassion, but some of the depictions of blacks might still be seen as too slapstick and offensive, potentially falling into the category of black stereotypes.

However, it's important to note that Welty also makes the uncle in the story just as lovable and ignorant, albeit for different reasons.

Narciss, for example, is far wiser than the uncle.

The book has the potential to make audiences laugh, and if done well, it can show how wise the narrator is simply by virtue of being born smart.

It offers a compassionate view of life and characters who lack the means and wits to achieve more in their lives.

It would be a great play for all, with a sobering yet comforting perspective on people.

Possibly, these characters could even be said to have ADD, as they all seem to have a desire to be more than their abilities allow, perhaps due to their excessive love of money.

The peacocks in the courtroom could symbolize this love of good times.

The story takes place in a town where a niece and her uncle inherit a significant amount of money from their family.

The niece actually gets the money from her uncle, but it's a secret.

The uncle is a bit dull-witted but completely lovable.

He continuously gives away all the money he receives.

After the uncle's father dies, the bank continues to provide him with a limited amount of money each day, as bequeathed by his father, who was well aware of his son's shortcomings.

It's really a hilarious look at the foibles of local townspeople and humanity in general, especially as this poor uncle marries and then loses two women.

When first reading the book, you might not immediately notice the candor and humor, but it will become apparent if you take the time to ponder.

Hahaha.

Enjoy!

This is a truly brilliant little book. It presents a Southern courtroom drama, yet in the form of a farce. As I read, I could almost hear the circular story unfolding, filled with numerous diversions and iterations in the narrative. It is so clearly constructed from the oral storytelling traditions of that particular part of the country.

And the characters! Oh my goodness! There's poor Uncle Daniel, who was just too friendly to be confined in the asylum and may or may not have murdered his second wife. Then there's Edna Earle, Bonnie Dee, and every other lady who simply couldn't live without two first names. There are also lawyers, judges, and doctors of all kinds, whose logical world just doesn't seem to have any room for these larger-than-life folk from a small town in Mississippi.

The combination of the unique storytelling style and the vivid characters makes this book a captivating read. It offers a humorous and engaging look at the idiosyncrasies of Southern life and the legal system. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good laugh and a well-told story.

Oh Eudora Welty, why can't I quit you?

It's because I purchased her complete novels several years ago, and now, I find myself obligated to read them all.

This particular one wasn't bad for a few reasons. It was rather comical and had a distinct voice. The character of Daniel Ponder is truly a vexing one. He is awful with money, obsessed with women, lacking a moral core, and seemingly determined to accidentally ruin his niece's life.

Edna Earle reveals early on how terrible he is at giving away his fortune. "Things I could think of without being asked that he's given away would be – a string of hams, a fine suit of clothes, a white-faced heifer calf, two trips to Memphis, a pair of fantail pigeons, a fine Shetland pony (loves children), a brooder and incubator, a good nanny goat, a bad billy, a cypress cistern, a field of white Dutch clover, two iron wheels and some laying pullets (they were together), a cow pasture during drought (he has everlasting springs), innumerable fresh eggs, a pick-up truck – even his own cemetery lot, but they wouldn't accept it. And I'm not counting this week. He's been a general favorite all these years."

The novel explores an age-old theme: how do we manage our responsibilities to our family, especially when they are so unworthy of care and attention? Edna Earle is clearly more deserving of her grandfather's fortune, both in terms of need and worth. However, because Daniel is the older, albeit lesser, one, he receives the fortune.

DNF

I thought I was going to make peace with Eudora Welty after hating "The Optimist's Daughter", since the humorous tone of "The Ponder Heart" seemed to be working better for me. But no, it still wasn't the case. The problem with this author is that her characters lack any depth. They are just caricatures, and once again, there is the numerous family of talkative people who have no charm or originality at all. Basically, it's more of the same.

Moreover, the storylines often feel flat and unengaging. There doesn't seem to be a real driving force or conflict that keeps the reader hooked. The writing style, while perhaps having some merits in terms of its simplicity, also lacks the richness and complexity that would make it truly captivating. It's as if Welty is skimming the surface of her characters and their lives, rather than delving deep into their emotions and experiences.

In conclusion, despite my initial hope that I would have a better experience with "The Ponder Heart", I find myself still disappointed with Eudora Welty's work. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for her, but I can't help but feel that there is something lacking in her writing that prevents me from fully enjoying it.

A relatively short and funny book, which is an easy read. I can't quite recall when I first delved into a Eudora Welty story, but her name is definitely etched in my memory; who could possibly forget it?

I didn't remember purchasing this book, and that's because I obtained it during one of those going-out-of-business book sales where people were grabbing items with great enthusiasm. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover this gem recently in a box while searching for something new to read.

There are several hilarious bits in the book that had me guffawing out loud and also giggling. It's such a thin volume that I savored it and thus read it very slowly to make it last longer. "The End."

The story is told from the perspective of an adorable first person narrator, which makes it very engaging and charming.

Throughout the narrative, there are many comic moments that will surely make you laugh out loud. These light-hearted scenes add a touch of humor and entertainment to the story.

However, amidst the laughter, there are also some awkward matters of race that need to be mulled over. These issues are presented in a thought-provoking way, making the reader stop and reflect on the complex nature of race in our society.

Overall, the combination of the endearing narrator, the comic moments, and the exploration of race makes this a unique and interesting read. It will keep you entertained while also making you think about important social issues.

Just about perfect...certainly excellent, and so very beautifully of its time and place.

This description truly encapsulates the essence of something remarkable. It implies a level of quality that is almost beyond reproach. The item in question is not just good, but truly excellent, with a charm and beauty that is specific to its particular era and location.

My full review is posted here. In that review, I go into more detail about what makes this thing so special. I explore its unique features, its historical significance, and the overall experience it provides. Whether you're a fan of the time period or simply appreciate something done with great skill and artistry, this is definitely worth checking out.

So, if you're looking for something that is both excellent and beautifully representative of its time and place, be sure to read my full review and discover what makes this so special.

I read this story because it was one of the July selections for the On the Southern Literary Trail group here on GoodReads. Ever since I moved to the south, I've had a strong desire to read more works by southern authors. This piece was originally published in the New Yorker, and my paperback copy even had illustrations. It has a very light and southern feel to it, and as I was reading, I felt as if I recognized a few of the characters on the pages.

Underneath the light exterior lies a deeper commentary on relationships. The quote, "I don't know if you can measure love at all. But Lord knows there's a lot of it, and seems to me from all the studying I've done over Uncle Daniel - and he loves more people than you and I put together ever will - that if the main one you've set your heart on isn't speaking for your love, or is out of your reach some way, married or dead, or plain nitwitted, you've still got that love banked up somewhere," really made me think about the nature of love.

Another interesting part was from Edna Earle's testimony in court: "It was a perfectly normal household. Threats flew all the time." This line added a touch of humor and a unique perspective on what might be considered a "normal" household in the south.

To top it off, I even baked a Never Fail Devils Food Cake that Welty mentions in the story. It was a fun way to engage with the text on a different level and really brought the story to life for me.

I read this particular piece approximately fifteen years ago. However, unfortunately, I don't recall the specific details. What I had noted down back then was that it was a well-written tale centered around a southern eccentric family. The story is narrated by Edna Earl, who tells about her Uncle Daniel, a man who had a great penchant for giving things away.

The presentation of the old southern speech in the story was very good, which added a unique charm to it. Additionally, the illustrations by Joe Krush were great, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the narrative. Although the story itself might not have been the greatest, the combined effect of the well-written text, the charming southern speech, and the wonderful illustrations was quite good. I had rated it 8 out of 10 at that time.

Looking back now, I really wish I could remember something more substantial about it. It's a pity that the passage of time has dimmed my memory of this interesting story. But perhaps, one day, I might come across it again and be able to relive the experience.

I feel highly confident in asserting that this book was indeed fully intended to be a comedy, and it surely contains a significant number of comedic episodes.

However, in my perspective, it lacks real and fully developed characters, consisting merely of stereotypes. The book was published in the mid-1950s and mirrored the thinking of many, if not most, white people in the United States during that era. (I know this firsthand as I am white and was born in the 1940s.)

Consequently, all the Black people in the book are depicted as lazy, irresponsible, and/or of limited intelligence. While some white characters in the story are presented in a similar manner, they are portrayed as inferior to the more respectable whites in the larger town.

Such race-based "humor", which might have been considered funny in the mid to late 20th century, does not seem the least bit amusing now, at least not to me. It serves as a reminder of the unfortunate and discriminatory attitudes that prevailed during that time and how far we have come in terms of racial equality and understanding.

We must look back at such works with a critical eye and use them as a teaching tool to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past and continue to strive for a more inclusive and just society.

I never knew about this novel before.

It turns out to be a comic masterpiece created by a comic master.

Every single line in it is pitch perfect, not a single one is out of place.

The humor and wit in this novel are so abundant that it can provide enough laughs to fill ten books.

It's truly a gem that I'm glad to have discovered.

The author's talent for creating comical situations and characters is simply remarkable.

Reading this novel is like going on a hilarious adventure that keeps you entertained from start to finish.

I can't wait to share this wonderful discovery with others and let them experience the joy and laughter that this novel brings.

Published in 1954, The Ponder Heart is a captivating tragicomedy set in the fictitious Clay County in Mississippi (1922). It is truly a rare gem to come across a book that has the power to make one laugh out loud and break one's heart simultaneously.

Edna Earle Ponder, the narrator, unfolds the story of her beloved Uncle Daniel, who finds himself charged with the murder of his second wife. Readers are likely to be greeted with shock and disbelief upon learning of this grievous charge. Uncle Daniel Ponder, an heir to an immense fortune, is kind and generous to a fault. When Grandpa Ponder passed away, Uncle Daniel bequeathed the family's Beulah Hotel to Edna. He offers money freely and indiscriminately to everyone. Once, he even offered an all-expenses-paid trip to a girl at the bank! While I suspect he may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, there is no denying that he has a heart of gold.

Edna's observation, “But money wouldn’t be safe with him a minute - it would be like giving matches to a child.”, highlights the precariousness of his financial decisions. As a result, Grandpa Ponder consigned him to an asylum. The account of how Uncle Daniel managed to escape being institutionalized and then got married not once but twice is both hilarious and heart-wrenching. His marriages, unsurprisingly, do not work out. However, his second wife, 17-year-old Bonnie Dee Peacock, is an opportunist and a complex character. The marriage ultimately ends with Uncle Daniel being charged in court with murder. The court scene had me on the edge of my seat, anxiously hoping that Uncle Daniel would not say something that would incriminate himself. After all, he loves being in the spotlight.

Although I had a bit of trouble understanding the Southern idiom, this story truly made me stop and think. The Ponder heart is both literal and figurative. The members of the Ponder family are known to have weak hearts, and Grandpa's heart gave up when Daniel brought Bonnie home as his new bride. However, the deeper significance lies in how Uncle Daniel's giving heart leaves him lonelier and more friendless than ever.

This is my first encounter with Eudora Welty's work, and I am thoroughly impressed. She has a keen eye and ear for the dialogue and day-to-day interactions of the people in a small Southern town, which makes reading this novella a genuine pleasure. I eagerly look forward to delving into more of her literary masterpieces.