The Ponder Heart is indeed an inspired name for this particular book. At the very core of the story lies a ponderous simpleton who, despite his simplicity, possesses a heart of gold. He is none other than a member of the Ponder family, which happens to be the wealthiest in town. The book predominantly focuses on the rather unusual marriage between the old, rich, and lovable loser - Daniel Ponder, and a clueless, quiet, and irritatingly stupid poor woman from a cantankerous poor family - Bonnie Dee Peacock. One might argue that they could potentially be the most pathetic married couple in history. When Bonnie Dee suddenly drops dead after leaving her husband, Daniel Ponder finds himself accused of murdering her by her own family. This leads to a farcical trial that follows.

Everything in the book is presented from the perspective of the strong female character - Edna Earle. Edna Earle is constantly looking out for her uncle, Daniel Ponder, who has a penchant for squandering the family wealth and freely giving money away to everyone in the small town of Clay, Mississippi. She is one of the prominent figures in town and runs the family hotel. The book provides an account of a group of pathetic, eccentric, and clueless characters, all told from the point of view of Edna Earle, who has a clear understanding of what is happening and what needs to be done in a crisis situation.

This is my first experience with Welty's writing. The book has its moments of humor, especially in the dialogues. The characterization and the story are quite nice. However, for some reason, I didn't really develop a strong liking for it. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly was wrong with it. Perhaps the characters were a bit too pathetic, and being told from the perspective of a strong person who was clearly contemptuous of their antics might have been a factor. Maybe a third-person narrative would have been a better choice to present this story.

Loved it! Welty is truly such a remarkable storyteller.

One couldn't simply claim that this was just a plot-driven piece. Although the plot was indeed interesting, with its narrative being revealed in a captivating way. The characters were utterly fascinating. And the colloquial speech felt both incredibly authentic and completely original.

Daniel Ponder, a wealthy man who adores talking, has a huge heart and loves to give away everything that comes into his hands. His niece and heir, Edna Earle Ponder, loves him but wishes he wouldn't do that. Daniel marries a seventeen-year-old girl "no bigger than a minute." When she dies, her family suspects that Daniel murdered her and wants him to be tried. Edna relates the tale.

I had the distinct feeling that Edna Earle was speaking directly to me. She transported me right into that small town in Mississippi. And, as judgmental as she was while recounting the events, the reader can't help but form judgments about her as well. Now, I will admit that I winced at the casual instances of inherent racism in the story. But still, on the whole, this was an outstanding reading (or listening) experience.

4.5 stars.

“‘Well,’ says Miss Missionary Sistrunk—the oldest one, who had returned from the wildest Africa just twenty-four hours before—‘the Ponders as I’ve always been told did not burn their cotton when Sherman came, and maybe this is their judgment.’”

Edna Earle resides in the small town of Clay. She is tasked with running the family hotel and keeping an eye on Uncle Daniel. Uncle Daniel has good intentions, but he repeatedly falls into the same patterns. He gets sent away, comes back, does something absurd, and then gets sent away again. It's a cycle of rinse and repeat. One day, that "something ridiculous" escalates to marrying a young woman on the spot. Everything seems fine until she suddenly turns up dead, and Uncle Daniel is put on trial as the prime suspect.

I firmly believe in reading the books one has (even though I can't seem to stop acquiring more), and this first edition of Eudora Welty's work is no different. I had limited exposure to her writing previously (did we all have to read "The Robber Bridegroom" at some point?). However, everything I had heard about her held true here. She has a dry sense of humor but is adept at inserting zingers within that dryness, to the extent that you might not initially realize she's done it. In several respects, think of this as a comedy on the level of "My Cousin Vinny," especially when the trial commences - but set in the 50s instead of the 80s/90s. That being said, this book is just under 150 pages and took me the better part of three weeks to read. It was challenging, it was of another era (drastically different from ours), and it never truly engaged me. Fortunately, I'm stubborn and share a name with the author.

Excellent - she is a very lyrical writer. There is a reason why she is famous.

This book is quite funny, and the ending comes as a big surprise. However, I didn't like some parts of it.

The attitudes towards African-Americans in the South have hopefully changed significantly since this book was written. I don't believe the writer was racist herself. Instead, she was accurately documenting the views of the characters. And it is clear that some of their attitudes were indeed so.

Perhaps this book serves as a reminder of the past and how far society has come in terms of racial equality. It also makes us think about how much more progress is still needed.

Overall, despite my reservations about certain aspects, I still appreciate the writer's talent and the unique perspective she offers in this book.

Welty deftly employs elements of satire and farce to fashion this humorous narrative set in a small town in the 1920s South. Edna Earl, who is nearly the same age as her Uncle Daniel, who was once described as "a little slow," guides him through numerous situations. These include two marriages and a murder trial, and she holds very definite views on almost everything.

Welty unfolds her story through a monologue by Edna Earl, a tribute to the Southern oral storytelling tradition. It's as if one is sitting around the kitchen table, listening to a juicy gossip, with a mug of coffee or tea in hand. If you find this style irritating, you might want to skip this novella. Although Edna Earl has an irritating personality, the story from her perspective, especially the trial, keeps me hooked.

The use of Southern dialect and colloquialisms enhances the authenticity of the characters and the town. While overall it is a light work of fiction, Welty manages to slip in a few clever jabs at money, social position, and the importance of keeping up appearances.

Publication 1954

It was a little tough to get through this article. It reminded me of some of Twain's works. I got lost in some parts, but as I kept going, I managed to pick up the general gist of things. You really have to wonder where she came up with such a story.

As I was reading, I found myself constantly being pulled in different directions. The writing style was unique and had a certain charm to it, but it also made it a bit challenging to follow at times. However, I refused to give up and continued to push through.

Despite the initial confusion, I eventually started to understand the main ideas and themes that the author was trying to convey. It was like a puzzle that slowly started to come together. And as I did, I couldn't help but be impressed by the creativity and imagination that went into creating this story.

In the end, I'm glad that I persevered and didn't give up on this article. It may have been a bit of a struggle, but it was well worth it in the end.

If he ever did a thing to be sorry for, it’s more than he ever intended.

This simple statement holds a profound truth. It implies that even if there were actions on his part that might have led to regret or remorse, those actions were not the result of malicious intent.

Perhaps he made a mistake in the heat of the moment, or was influenced by circumstances beyond his control.

It could be that he misjudged a situation or failed to anticipate the consequences of his actions.

In any case, the fact that it was more than he ever intended suggests that he is not a bad person at heart.

He may be someone who is capable of learning from his mistakes and making amends.

We should not be too quick to judge him based on one incident, but rather look at the whole picture and give him the benefit of the doubt.

After all, none of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes from time to time.

Come on in and make yourself comfortable.

I have the tea and cakes all ready and in the sitting room.

I am so glad you could take my invitation, as you were asking about my Uncle Daniel.

If you sit right down I’ll tell you a story you won’t believe, but as sure as my name is Edna Earle Ponder, I swear every word will be true.

It is in this spirit that author Welty tells us the story of Edna Earle’s legendary Uncle Daniel.

Just a tale of her uncle told as if the reader were sitting right next to Eudora and not missing a single word.

It is an interesting, occasionally uncomfortable, tour of Mississippi in 1953.

Complete with what I assume would be believable descriptions of southern life at that time – just before the beginning of the civil rights movement.

But that is tangential to the story of Daniel Ponder, a dear heart, naïve as a newborn and very, very rich by contemporary standards.

Foolishly rich and goodhearted, to be frank.

Welty weaves her tale through a few months of the man’s life in this small-town, impoverished setting.

The book is not much on anyone’s radar just now, and the plot is not sophisticated.

But there is wry humor and good character development to make this very short book worth reading.

Earlier I read Welty’s Pulitzer Prize winner, “The Optimist’s Daughter,” but that is written in an entirely different voice.

It is Summer! Time to read some classic Southern literature!! And so I did.

This book about Uncle Daniel offers a unique perspective on a bygone era in the South.

The characters are vividly drawn, and the story, though simple, has its charm.

It makes you think about the people and the times that shaped the South as we know it today.

Despite its lack of a complex plot, it manages to engage the reader and leave a lasting impression.

A little hilarious, underrated gem.

Welty truly has the gift of writing. Her work is a form of satire that stems from pure affection.

All the characters she creates have great big hearts filled with dark humor. They are endearingly zany, and there is a shared ground with Faulkner at his funniest.

It's as if she takes the quirks and idiosyncrasies of human nature and turns them into a delightful and entertaining story.

The way she weaves together the plot and the characters is masterful, making the reader laugh out loud while also feeling a sense of warmth and connection.

This underrated gem is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good writing and a unique sense of humor.

Amusing Southern charm

In a small Southern town, there is a talkative hotel owner. One day, she introduces a stranger, a traveling salesman, to her eccentric uncle. Interestingly, we never actually get to meet the stranger. He doesn't even have a chance to get a word in edgewise. Instead, we find ourselves eavesdropping on the entire animated monologue of the hotel owner. It's like we are a thoroughly entertained fly on the wall, observing every detail of this comical encounter. The hotel owner's Southern drawl and vivid descriptions add to the charm and hilarity of the situation. We can picture the expressions on the faces of the uncle and the frustrated salesman, who is probably longing for a chance to speak. This simple yet amusing scene showcases the unique charm and character of the South, where stories are told with passion and enthusiasm.

Set in a fictional county in Mississippi in the last century,

the story of the Ponders, the richest family in Clay, is told from the point of view of Edna Earle Ponder.

Chiefly, it concerns the activities of her eccentric - to say the least - Uncle Daniel.

Welty's tone is sly, funny and sardonic, which makes the story quite engaging.

It must be kept in mind that Welty was a writer of her time and place, and much of the narrative is extremely non-PC.

However, despite this, it was still highly entertaining.

I was really captivated by this short story and it has made me look forward even more to reading her Pulitzer-winning novel, "The Optimist's Daughter".

I'm sure that novel will offer an even deeper and more fulfilling exploration of the characters and the setting that Welty has created in this fictional Mississippi county.

I can't wait to immerse myself in that world and discover what else Welty has in store for her readers.

I may have read this in high school. It is truly a hilarious book that delves into the eccentric nature of small town southerners. The author vividly描绘s the unique characters and their comical antics, making it impossible to put down. Each page is filled with laughter and surprises as we are introduced to the idiosyncrasies of the southern way of life. The small town setting adds an extra layer of charm, with its quaint streets and friendly neighbors. We get a peek into the daily lives of these characters, their relationships, and the absurd situations they find themselves in. It's a lighthearted and entertaining read that will have you chuckling from start to finish. Whether you're from the South or not, this book is sure to bring a smile to your face and make you appreciate the beauty and humor in the simplest of things.