Thursday, July 23, 2015

The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty - Book Beginnings on Friday and The Friday 56

The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty
Every once in a while I'll open this collection of short stories and read a treasure from Eudora Welty. I hope you enjoy today's excerpts.

 Book Beginning (from "Lily Daw and The Three Ladies"):
     Mrs. Watts and Mrs. Carson were both in the post office in Victory when the letter came from the Ellisville Institute for the Feeble-Minded of Mississippi. Aimee Slocum, with her hand still full of mail, ran out in front and handed it straight to Mrs. Watts, and they all three read it together. Mrs. Watts held it taut between her pink hands, and Mrs. Carson underscored each line slowly with her thimbled finger. Everybody else in the post office wondered what was up now.

 Friday 56 (from "Why I Live at The P.O."):
     So then Uncle Rondo says, "I'll thank you from now on to stop reading all the orders I get on postcards and telling everybody in China Grove what you think is the matter with them," but I says, "I draw my own conclusions and will continue in the future to draw them." I says, "If people want to write their inmost secrets on penny postcards, there's nothing in the wide world you can do about it, Uncle Rondo."

Genre: Literature / Short Stories
Length: 622 Pages
Amazon Link: Eudora Welty Short Stories
Note: This collection was published in hardback by Barnes & Noble in 2001 

About the Author (from Wikipedia):
Eudora Alice Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) was an American author of short stories and novels about the American South. Her novel The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Welty was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among numerous awards including the Order of the South. She was the first living author to have her works published by the Library of America. Her house in Jackson, Mississippi, has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as a house museum.

                 

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21 comments:

  1. Katherine PJuly 24, 2015 at 7:35 AM

    I haven't read any of Welty's stories in forever though I have visited her home. Enjoy your reading! I'll have to dig up one of her books.

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  2. Catherine @ Book Club LibrarianJuly 24, 2015 at 7:48 AM

    I don't recall reading anything by Welty. I'll have to take a look at her works.

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  3. UnknownJuly 24, 2015 at 9:01 AM

    Never read this author but I'm enjoying your excerpt. Might look this up in the library:)

    Here's my 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/07/24/the-friday-56-70-fudging-the-books-by-daryl-wood-gerber/

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerJuly 24, 2015 at 3:30 PM

      I imagine your library will have at least one of her books. I hope you enjoy her "voice" as much as I do.

      Delete
  4. UnknownJuly 24, 2015 at 10:02 AM

    I love the cover and the sound of this. It has a very nice start making everyone wonder what was in the letter. :)
    @dino0726 from 
    FictionZeal - Impartial, Straighforward Fiction Book Reviews

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerJuly 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM

      I love "Institute for the Feeble-Minded." Can you imagine a place being named that in today's world?

      Delete
  5. Kate UngerJuly 24, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    I love the second quote. I've always thought postcards were weird since you can't write anything private.

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  6. Alicia @ A Kernel of NonsenseJuly 24, 2015 at 12:25 PM

    I like the way this is written. I might have to check this book out. Have a lovely weekend and happy reading!

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  7. Yvonne @ Fiction Books ReviewsJuly 24, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    Hi Sandra,

    This one was added to my GR 'Want To Read' list even before I read the full synopsis, such was the power and intrigue in your shared excerpts.

    I have never come across this author before and I am not a huge fan of the short story genre, however I am really looking forward to reading this short story collection.

    Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend :)

    Yvonne.

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    1. Sandra NachlingerJuly 24, 2015 at 3:30 PM

      I'm glad the beginning and 56 excerpt appealed to you and hope you enjoy her writing.

      Delete
  8. SamJuly 24, 2015 at 1:22 PM

    I haven't heard of this one before, but I think I'll go check it out.
    My 56: http://tsundokubooks.blogspot.com/2015/07/friday-56-blood-of-olympus.html

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  9. StormiJuly 24, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    Never heard of this but at 622 pages that is one collection of short stories...lol. :)

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  10. Nadene @Ttly Addicted 2 ReadingJuly 24, 2015 at 3:14 PM

    This one is new to me. Sounds interesting, hope you are enjoying it. Thanks for visiting my blog. Nadene@totally addicted to reading,

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  11. judyJuly 24, 2015 at 4:52 PM

    I have a recording of Welty reading her "Why I Live at the P.O." I've never heard anyone read so fast, and without tripping over her own tongue!

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    Replies
    1. Sandra NachlingerJuly 24, 2015 at 4:57 PM

      I can hear her voice in this book, but it would be great to actually hear her Georgia accent in a recording. I'll bet that really brought her words to life.
      Thanks for stopping by, Judy.

      Delete
    2. Sandra NachlingerJuly 24, 2015 at 4:59 PM

      Oops! She was from Mississippi.

      Delete
  12. BeaJuly 24, 2015 at 5:28 PM

    Interesting how both snippets involve the PO. And yes, postcards are no place for private thoughts.

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  13. fredamansJuly 24, 2015 at 5:49 PM

    I love short stories! Happy weekend!

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  14. AnonymousJuly 25, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    Thanks for the reminder! I'd forgotten how much I love her work!

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  15. guiltlessreaderJuly 25, 2015 at 7:42 AM

    These snippets intrigue me! I love short stories and have never heard of Welty. I'm going to go check out this book. Thanks for introducing me to her!

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  16. PageJuly 25, 2015 at 9:05 AM

    I'm not familiar with this author, and don't normally read short stories. Seems interesting though.

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