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leighe's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gma2at's review against another edition
I gave this an attempt, reading four of the short stories, before deciding I just don't like it all that much. At the end of the stories I either had to make sure it was really the end, or found myself saying, "Huh?" Maybe that's more of a commentary on my ability to be intellectual than on Welty's ability to write a good story for me. Her style of writing is actually quite amazing, for the most part. It was the point of the stories or the endings that I felt were really not speaking to me.
crankyfacedknitter's review
3.0
This is dense, thought-provoking, emotional stuff. Hard to get through the whole thing very quickly (almost had to renew it from the library a second time).
justjoel's review
So, this is where I simultaneously break with tradition and reveal my shallow nature.
For the first time since the mid 1990s, I did not finish a book I started reading. I’ve been stubborn about not only finishing what I started, but about giving books and authors a chance. To see if maybe although I don’t completely enjoy the story, the author still has something important to say.
I decided going into this year that I was going to change my ways. No longer would I force myself to read something I wasn’t enjoying. After all, I’m not going to keep eating a meal that I find repulsive: I’m going to toss it and find something more suitable for my tastes.
I am not a big fan of short stories. There are exceptions. Poe and Henry (and to a lesser extent, Stephen King) immediately come to mind. But I went into this knowing Welty was an award-winning author and highly regarded, so my mind was completely open.
There are things I think some people will find problematic. As many of these stories are set in the south during a time when African-Americans were deemed less than whites (sadly, still true in some areas today), there was not-infrequent usage of the “n-word” and variations thereof.
Personally, I don’t like the word and don’t use it in my vocabulary, but I can accept it in literature if it is relevant, such as used in a time period where it would not have been uncommon, or demonstrating a trait of a racist character.
What I absolutely could not stand was the repeated use of “could of,” and its friends “should of” and “would of.”
See. Told you I was shallow.
But I absolutely wanted to throw my Kindle across the room when those started appearing. Okay, once might just be an editing mishap, but when it is prevalent, that is not an editing slip: it’s either an editor who is incompetent, or is afraid to correct a writer. Either way, I made it through less than half of this book before I had been worn down by the repeated lack of contractions. Out of the stories I made it through, there was only one I actually found engaging and interesting, but I can’t even remember its title and don’t feel like searching through this waste of storage space to find it.
Did not finish.
For the first time since the mid 1990s, I did not finish a book I started reading. I’ve been stubborn about not only finishing what I started, but about giving books and authors a chance. To see if maybe although I don’t completely enjoy the story, the author still has something important to say.
I decided going into this year that I was going to change my ways. No longer would I force myself to read something I wasn’t enjoying. After all, I’m not going to keep eating a meal that I find repulsive: I’m going to toss it and find something more suitable for my tastes.
I am not a big fan of short stories. There are exceptions. Poe and Henry (and to a lesser extent, Stephen King) immediately come to mind. But I went into this knowing Welty was an award-winning author and highly regarded, so my mind was completely open.
There are things I think some people will find problematic. As many of these stories are set in the south during a time when African-Americans were deemed less than whites (sadly, still true in some areas today), there was not-infrequent usage of the “n-word” and variations thereof.
Personally, I don’t like the word and don’t use it in my vocabulary, but I can accept it in literature if it is relevant, such as used in a time period where it would not have been uncommon, or demonstrating a trait of a racist character.
What I absolutely could not stand was the repeated use of “could of,” and its friends “should of” and “would of.”
See. Told you I was shallow.
But I absolutely wanted to throw my Kindle across the room when those started appearing. Okay, once might just be an editing mishap, but when it is prevalent, that is not an editing slip: it’s either an editor who is incompetent, or is afraid to correct a writer. Either way, I made it through less than half of this book before I had been worn down by the repeated lack of contractions. Out of the stories I made it through, there was only one I actually found engaging and interesting, but I can’t even remember its title and don’t feel like searching through this waste of storage space to find it.
Did not finish.
rissaleighs's review against another edition
5.0
I did not spend nearly as much time on these as they deserve. Here are a few thoughts, though.
- Had the feeling I was reading somewhat above my grade level! Any of these would be great to dive into and dissect. People talk about what a great short story writer Chekhov was, but Welty could give him a run for his money.
- I was surprised by how many stories were set in Natchez and/or the Natchez Trace. What a great evocation of place.
- I was also surprised by the feeling of magical realism many of these had. And maybe a Southern Gothic vibe. Her novels seem comparatively more mundane and did not prepare me for this. Some of this is down to just how she writes, I think, in a highly visual manner. As if the story is an eyeball and the reader has to transmit image into meaning by herself. Like instead of saying a fellow was shot, describing him falling and the bloom of dark color on his shirt. You kind of have to think a minute to realize what has happened.
- I definitely only skimmed some of the longer stories. If I'm reading a short story, I want it to be short, dadgumit!
- Had the feeling I was reading somewhat above my grade level! Any of these would be great to dive into and dissect. People talk about what a great short story writer Chekhov was, but Welty could give him a run for his money.
- I was surprised by how many stories were set in Natchez and/or the Natchez Trace. What a great evocation of place.
- I was also surprised by the feeling of magical realism many of these had. And maybe a Southern Gothic vibe. Her novels seem comparatively more mundane and did not prepare me for this. Some of this is down to just how she writes, I think, in a highly visual manner. As if the story is an eyeball and the reader has to transmit image into meaning by herself. Like instead of saying a fellow was shot, describing him falling and the bloom of dark color on his shirt. You kind of have to think a minute to realize what has happened.
- I definitely only skimmed some of the longer stories. If I'm reading a short story, I want it to be short, dadgumit!
debbiecuddy's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not much of a short story fan, but something about these short stories appealed to me this summer. My three star rating is an average, some of these stories were great, some good, and some just okay. I think I am beginning to discover some of the charms of a well written short story.
jkwriting24's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
radioactve_piano's review
1.0
I should have known better.
After taking a class on Welty, Woolf, and O'Connor in college, I knew Welty was my least favorite author of the three. I had bought this book for the class, though, and having only had to read a handful of the stories in it, determined that I would finish it someday.
I never understood the appeal, though. Her writing voice is annoying, her characters are all maimed (either physically or mentally), and her plots are mostly boring. Maybe I'm just too Yankee to appreciate her (or maybe I'm just not as easily amused by cripples or albinos).
After taking a class on Welty, Woolf, and O'Connor in college, I knew Welty was my least favorite author of the three. I had bought this book for the class, though, and having only had to read a handful of the stories in it, determined that I would finish it someday.
I never understood the appeal, though. Her writing voice is annoying, her characters are all maimed (either physically or mentally), and her plots are mostly boring. Maybe I'm just too Yankee to appreciate her (or maybe I'm just not as easily amused by cripples or albinos).