I grew up in Mississippi, a place that holds many memories for me. However, I moved away 42 years ago.

Although I studied Eudora Welty in school, I hadn't really read her works since then. Recently, I realized that I needed to change that. I decided to start with The Ponder Heart.

Oh, how I loved this story! As I read, I could just hear the voices of the characters, and it brought back memories of the people from my childhood. In fact, I even had an Aunt Edna Earl, just like in the book.

What impressed me the most was the seemingly simplistic way in which complex issues were dealt with. The author managed to present deep and thought-provoking ideas in a way that was easy to understand and enjoy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story. It has made me want to explore more of Eudora Welty's works and rediscover the beauty of her writing.

I chose to read this quirky novel as part of Booktopia Oxford and as a companion to What There Is to Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell.

The Ponder Heart is the first short novel that William Maxwell edited and had published in the New Yorker. It is truly a remarkable piece of work. Parts of it are so hilarious that you can't help but laugh out loud. As I was reading, I could vividly envision the typical southerner coming to life through the literature. The details and the way the characters are portrayed are just amazing.

The narrator, Edna Earl, adds a unique charm to the story. She tells the tale as if you walked into her hotel and she immediately starts updating you on all the events that have occurred since she last saw you. It gives the narrative a very personal and engaging feel. However, I must admit that I'm not entirely crazy about the ending. But then again, where else can you read a book that uses the phrase \\"fixing to...\\" in a sentence? It's truly a gem of southern literature.

Overall, this novel has been a great read and has provided me with a wonderful insight into the world of southern storytelling.

One of my Goodreads (GR) buddies reviewed this book.

She commented on the hilarious courtroom scene.

I seemed to remember reading some of her stories back in high school.

So, I decided to order a copy, and of course, it was a used one.

I really enjoyed the story.

It had a great sense of place and the characterization was good, although in some places it was a bit unbelievable.

The story was short and sweet.

Her name rang a bell.

So, I went to the bookshelves in my office and found a copy of "The Optimist's Daughter" for which she won a Pulitzer prize in 1973.

Now, this is another addition to the "To Be Read" pile.

That's how it goes in the serendipitous world of book selection!

It's always interesting to come across new books in such unexpected ways.

You never know what hidden gems you might discover.

Whether it's through a friend's review or a random memory, the world of books is full of surprises.

And it's these surprises that make reading such a wonderful and enriching experience.

About halfway through this book, I came to a halt and looked up. I then said something forceful, along the lines of "Holy God, this was the funniest book I'd read in ages." However, I hadn't laughed out loud even once. The reason, I soon realized, was that there weren't any traditional jokes in it. The narrator, Edna Earl, isn't the type to go around telling jokes. But when she describes something as being done "politely," she actually means the exact opposite. That's what my English teacher taught me was the definition of irony. This book is a little masterpiece of capturing the southern US voice and place. It's like a combination of Faulkner and Austen - it has all the wonderful locutions of language and syntax, but without the apocalyptic passions. Instead, we are introduced to Edna Earl and her Uncle Daniel, and their familial doings and complications. Most of these complications arise from Uncle Daniel's heedless largesse and the efforts to restrain his prodigal generosity. There is also the rich comic drama that emerges from his precipitative second marriage.