Daniel Ponder was rich as he had inherited a significant fortune. However, he was also a bit developmentally delayed. Despite this, he was incredibly generous to a fault. This kindness, along with the fact that he was perpetually happy, endeared him to everyone in the small Mississippi town.

The character development of Daniel Ponder was quite good. The author managed to create a complex and likable character. However, I had to rate the book down because of the appalling racism it contained. For example, the text stated, "If you know what you want done, you can just ask in the morning for how many Negroes you want that day, and Uncle Daniel hollers then in for you out of the fields...They don't know anything, but you can try telling them and see what happens." This kind of language is offensive and unacceptable.

Admittedly, the author was from Mississippi and was writing this in the early '1950's, a time when racism was unfortunately more prevalent. But still, such blatant racism in a book is hard to overlook. I read this book because another author had written that it was one of the six books that really influenced them. I hope it was for the character development and not for the racist content.

Eudora Welty's works are renowned for their typical humorous and satirical portrayal of Southern living.

Her ability to create eccentric and endearing characters is truly remarkable. These characters embark on the most zany adventures, which often had me laughing out loud.

This particular piece is a short and easy read, yet it is filled with charm and delight. It showcases Welty's artistic genius in a way that is both accessible and engaging.

Her writing style is unique, with a keen eye for detail and a gift for capturing the essence of Southern life. Through her words, we are transported into a world of colorful characters and unforgettable experiences.

Eudora Welty's works are a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature and a good laugh.

Oh my god, who really cares?

The story itself appears to lack any clear direction or intention. The characters seem static, and the so-called “charm” fails to be truly charming. This might potentially be attributed to the presence of subtle racism, and then perhaps even not so subtle racism. Or maybe it's because the 42-year-old uncle, whom we were supposedly meant to have an affection for, was married to a 17-year-old.

A modern lens is being used, blah blah blah, but from my modern perspective, this was just bad.

Yeesh. It's really quite disappointing how the story falls short in so many aspects. There's no real development or depth to engage the reader. The combination of these issues makes it a rather unappealing read.

One can't help but wonder what could have been done differently to make this story more engaging and less problematic. Maybe a rewrite with a stronger focus on character development and a more thoughtful exploration of themes would have made all the difference.

As it stands, it's a prime example of how a story can go wrong when not properly crafted and executed.

I did not read The Ponder Heart as a distinct book. However, for the sake of this review, I am treating it as if I did. In reality, I read the story as a part of Complete Novels. This was the July 2013 read for the group On the Southern Literary Trail. As a transplanted southerner, this GR group has introduced me to numerous southern writers.

The Ponder Heart was initially published by the New Yorker magazine in 1953 http://www.newyorker.com/archive/1953... and then in book form by Harcourt in 1954, when Ms. Welty was forty-five. It was her first illustrated book. Shortly after its publication, Ms. Welty signed an option for it to be made into a Broadway play, which had a four-month run. An operatic version was also produced. In 2001, a public broadcasting Masterpiece Theatre TV movie was added to the list of adaptations. Regrettably, I have not seen any of these presentations.

The southern genre is renowned for its eccentric characters. In this book, there are several contenders for quirkiness, but Daniel Ponder stands out far above the rest. He has a penchant for giving away his many possessions and ultimately manages to give everything away. His trial marriage to a seventeen-year-old is just one instance of his generosity. He leaves his house while his young wife remains and spends his money on fancy clothes and home improvements. The first-person narrator, Edna Earle Ponder, also has her own idiosyncrasies and individuality beneath a veneer of normalcy, at least compared to Uncle Daniel.

Ponder is an example of novels by southern authors set in small southern towns. One of the most famous of these is To Kill a Mockingbird. This is an enjoyable short book that can be described as comic. In 2012, it was named “one of the ten best comic works in literature” in the Christian Science Monitor. It is a dramatic monologue with an impressive first-person narrative. I enjoyed reading it more than some of Welty's other offerings. I give it three stars rather than four simply because I didn't enjoy it to that extent!

What can I say? I am now on the second book in my journey through Welty's works.

And I have to admit that she hasn't continued to impress me as much as I had hoped. I have taken the time to read some of the other reviews on this site.

It seems that I am one of the few, if not the only one, who has a Southern background and can truly appreciate the perspective from which Welty was writing.

However, the character of Uncle Daniel in this book is a little too ridiculous for my taste.

On the other hand, Eva Sisrunk has now become one of my favorite characters of all time.

Her complexity and depth make her a truly engaging and memorable character.

Despite my reservations about some aspects of the book, I am still interested in seeing where Welty will take me in the remaining volumes of her works.

I hope that she can once again capture my attention and make me fall in love with her writing as she did in the first book.

Only time will tell if she is able to do so.

The warmest and funniest story that you will probably ever come across regarding a murder trial awaits you. Uncle Daniel Ponder is truly a remarkable creation. He is innocent, naive, and incredibly generous. Moreover, he has a child-like craving for attention that nearly brings about his downfall. Welty's writing style is light and folksy, beautifully描绘family, longing, and the essence of Southern life. It is a truly well-crafted piece that engages the reader from start to finish. The story is filled with charming characters and humorous situations that will make you laugh out loud. At the same time, it also delves into deeper themes of family, loyalty, and the human condition. Overall, it is a wonderful read that will leave you with a warm feeling in your heart and a smile on your face.

Eudora Welty’s The Ponder Heart is a captivating novella. It combines a light comedic touch with a hint of dark humor and a rich Southern flavor, making it an enjoyable and quick read.

Narrated by Edna Earle, a citizen of Clay County, it focuses on the character of Daniel Ponder, Edna’s “simple” yet good-natured uncle. Daniel is the kind of person who would selflessly give away everything he has. If he doesn’t possess something, he’ll go to great lengths to find it just to offer it to others. Given his overly generous personality, it falls upon Edna to keep an eye on him and prevent him from getting into too much trouble or parting with all his possessions. As one can imagine, this proves to be a rather challenging task for our narrator.

Edna recounts several of the peculiar episodes in Daniel’s life. These include his thwarting of a plan to have him institutionalized and his two unsuccessful marriages. Her narrative zooms in on his second marriage to seventeen-year-old Bonnie Dee. Bonnie Dee is a small, doll-like figure with a somewhat materialistic nature. When she dies under mysterious circumstances, Uncle Daniel suddenly finds himself accused of murder. A humorously strange court trial then unfolds, pitting many members of the Ponder clan against Bonnie Dee’s family, with Uncle Daniel and the late Bonnie Dee at the center of attention. Testimony and crazy antics abound as the family lawyer endeavors to prove Uncle Daniel’s innocence.

The most delightful aspect of this novel is undoubtedly Edna Earle’s narrative voice and the light-hearted tone she imparts to the book. She understands and sympathizes with Daniel throughout. Revealed in her narration are some perceptive insights into Daniel’s nature as a truly good-hearted individual.

At times, the book may seem a bit too light, but it remains an entertaining read nonetheless. I believe Welty’s short stories carry more weight and power in exploring the themes she delves into.

I absolutely loved it! It was so quirky and extremely, extremely funny. I just proved that it can be read in one "pool float". My interest in this story stems from the book of letters between Eudora and her New Yorker editor, William Maxwell. The book is titled "What There Is to Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell" by Suzanne Marrs.

I was really intrigued by the relationship and the exchanges between them as depicted in those letters. It gave me a unique perspective into their lives and the literary world they were a part of.

After reading this, I definitely need to get my own copy so that I can re-read it in the future. I know that each time I pick it up, I will discover something new and be entertained all over again. It's one of those books that leaves a lasting impression and makes you want to share it with others.

I can't wait to explore more of Eudora Welty's works and learn more about her and her relationship with William Maxwell through their correspondence. It's truly a fascinating read.

“There’s something I think’s better to have than love, and if you want me to, I’ll tell you what it is--that’s company.”

Eudora Welty indeed continues. In this story, her character Edna Earle shares with a visitor the idiosyncrasies of her eccentric Uncle Daniel Ponder. He has a penchant for giving things away. He gave Edna Earle the hotel she manages, where she has seemingly cornered her guest to recount the entire story of Uncle Daniel.

Like my favorite Welty story Why I Live at the P.O, this is a peculiar monologue that I envision readers will either adore or loathe. Apart from some concerning racism that was perhaps accurate for the time and place, I adored it. Why I Live at the P.O. is, however, much better in my opinion--even more eccentric.

Here are some snippets that made me chuckle, just to give a sense of Edna Earle’s voice:

“I was up there in my room, reading some directions. That’s something I find I like to do when I have a few minutes to myself--I don’t know about you. How to apply furniture polish, transfer patterns with a hot iron, remove corns, I don’t care what it is. I don’t have to do it. Sometimes I’d rather sit still for a minute and read a good, quiet set of directions through than any story you’d try to impose on me.”

“'I’ll break your neck,’ ‘I’ll skin you alive,’ ‘I’ll beat your brains out’--Mercy! How that does bring Grandma back.”

After my in-depth exploration of Carson McCullers, a friend informed me that I simply had to read her contemporary, Eudora Welty and presented me with this slender novel.

It is a complete departure in style from Carson. This is a comedy, narrated from the perspective of Edna Earle, a hotel manager in a small town. She lives with her Uncle Daniel, who is truly one-of-a-kind. He gets married, divorced, and then remarries, and chaos unfolds as a result.

This served as a perfect respite from more serious literary works. Despite being 70 years old, it was thoroughly entertaining. The story is filled with humorous situations and endearing characters that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

Eudora Welty's writing is sharp and witty, and she has a talent for creating a vivid and believable world. I found myself laughing out loud at times and completely immersed in the lives of the characters.

This novel is a testament to the enduring power of good storytelling and the ability of literature to bring joy and entertainment to its readers.

A truly delightful little story awaits the reader, filled to the brim with humor and thought-provoking moments.

At the heart of the story are Edna Earle and her Uncle Daniel, along with a host of other memorable characters in a charming small southern town. Edna Earle, though younger than her uncle, has assumed the role of the matriarch of a once-prominent and wealthy southern family that is now in decline.

Uncle Daniel, on the other hand, is a Forrest Gump-like personality, absurdly generous and beloved by all, yet with a touch of eccentricity in his mind. The story also features Uncle Daniel's two wives and their respective families - one consisting of the town's folk and the other of what some might call "white trash". There's also Grandpa, the Judge, two attorneys, the town busybody, the hired help (both white and black), and the traveling salesman.

The story unfolds across various settings, including the hotel that Uncle Daniel has given to Edna Earle, the plantation-like homestead three miles outside of town, the psychiatric hospital, and the courtroom. Edna Earle serves as the narrator, and the story begins with her sharing with a hotel visitor the events that have transpired, drawing the reader into a captivating dramedy where comedic moments seamlessly intertwine with the drama.

One of the most entertaining scenes occurs when Uncle Daniel manages to escape the psychiatric hospital by quickly swapping places with Grandpa. Meanwhile, one of the more intense and dramatic moments is when Uncle Daniel defies everyone's expectations and takes the witness stand in his own defense when accused of murdering his second wife.

This short story, despite being only 168 pages long, manages to encompass all of life's joys and sorrows, including birth, death, marriage, divorce, remarriage, heartache, unrequited love, friendship, money, poverty, justice, and loss. It's a captivating read that will leave you both laughing and reflecting.

So much fun!

To read Eudora Welty is truly an extraordinary experience. It's as if one is transported to a South that seems to be either a distant memory, long gone and only existing in the annals of history, or perhaps it's just around the corner, hidden in the nooks and crannies of our modern world. It's hard to decide which.

You know that special aunt (or uncle, grandma, or even that vaguely related neighbor) whom you could listen to for hours on end, no matter what the topic might be? Well, that's precisely what reading Welty feels like to me.

Let me give you a small example. "Miss Teacake Magee is of course a Sistrunk (the Sistrunks are all Baptists--big Baptists) and Professor Magee's widow. He wasn't professor of anything, just real smart--smarter than the Sistrunks anyway. He'd never worked either--he was like Uncle Daniel in that respect. With Miss Teacake, everything dates from "Since I lost Professor Magee." A passenger train hit him. That shows you how long ago his time was." [That last remark being a reference to an earlier tidbit that the passenger train had years earlier stopped running through their town].

And just like when you listen closely to your aunt, you can hear all the rich history, the conflicts, and the pain that that breezy, kooky voice has managed to wrap itself around. Welty's style might be a bit of a relic, but it's a relic that is still very much worth checking out from time to time. It offers a unique perspective and a glimpse into a world that is both familiar and yet so different.