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Journal Entry 2 by  Chania from Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa Finland on Saturday, January 16, 2010
 Eudora Welty, 1909 – 2001, was an award-winning American writer who wan lots of awards during her career. She wrote short stories and novels about the American South and later in her life also taught creative writing. This collection of short-stories was published 1941.
The introduction to this book is written by Katherine Anne Porter, who was the winner of Pulitzer Prize, a journalist, essayist and novelist. She tells about Welty, who, at the beginning, was modest, quiet woman who lived simple life with her mother, who visited her friends, loved books, art, flowers and music. In the introduction Porter also writes quite profoundly about the short-stories in this book – a part I skipped first as I didn't want that to affect on my reading. I read that part later.
Lily Daw and the Three Ladies is the first story in this book. It tells about a simple girl who has lived a hard life, and about couple of meddling ladies who try to organize her life in the name of charity and sense of duty. They applied and got her accepted to the ”Ellisville Istitute for the Feeble-minded of Mississippi” - but Lily wants to get married! Quite amusing, but also a bit sad story.
A Piece of News is quite short but it has a very intense atmosphere. After I had read it, my mind kept going back to this dependent couple and their strange relationship to each other. Short but powerful story! Then there was a story called Petrified Man – I didn't like it much, most of it was gossiping at the hairdressers about something/someone at freak show, and I just couldn't get into it.
The Key is a sad little story about dreams and plans, quite simple but touching .
One of the most famous stories in this book is Keela, the Outcast Indian Maiden - it was interesting story with very strong dialect (when two white men, Max and Steve, were talking) which made it little slow to read. I think the main point of the story was the guilt that Steve was feeling, even if he himself hadn't done that much harm to this crippled little black man. This wasn't one of my favourite stories.
Why I live at the P.O. is defenitively one of my favourites. It is about woman who is called Sister in the story – perhaps it is also her name. The other characters have also very ”southern-sounding” names or nicknames; Papa Daddy (who is grandfather), Uncle Rondo, Stella Rondo, Shirley T. Sister is a postmistress who moves to live at the backroom of the Post Office after a pretty eventful Independence Day of USA. . I loved the way Sister got short-tempered and maybe even a little paranoid after she thought that other family members were mean to her – and they were, especially her sister Stella Rondo who gets all the attention Sister feels she should have. At the end Sister gets all the family against herself and moves out. This was funny story but I also felt it bit tragic.
I also loved the sad little story called The Whistle. It was quiet, silent story with beautiful and descriptive language. I kept seeing it like a painting – still do! This story has kind of open ending – I really don't know what will happen next but probably it won't be anything good.
Clytie is a strange story of a woman who is defenitively loosing her mind (or what is left of it) and her family members – all with severe problems as well. I liked that in this story nothing was underlined nor over-explained but through the little events you got a very clear picture.
Death of a Travelling Salesman is a beautiful, sad story about a man who is tired after being ill, loneliness and probably tired of living too. He realizes how empty his life is and kind of gives up.
Other stories; The Hitch-Hikers, A Memory, Flowers for Marjorie, Old Mr.Marblehall, A Curtain of Green , Powerhouse , A Worn Path and A Visit of Chrity have all something – strangeness, humour, atmosphere or surprises that made them ok but not very special. I am still not the biggest fan of short stories but I did found some of these very interesting.
Here's an interesting fact from Wikipedia:
”During the 1930s, Welty worked as a publicity agent for the Works Progress Administration, a job that sent her around Mississippi. On her own time she took some memorable photographs during the Great Depression of people from all economic and social classes. Collections of her photographs were published as One Time, One Place (1971) and Photographs (1989). Her photography was the basis for several of her short stories, including "Why I Live at PO", which was inspired by a woman she photographed ironing in the back of a small post office. ” I'd really love to see those photography books too!
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A Curtain of Green: and Other Stories
