Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Some beautiful writing, but this book has not aged well. At all. It's got the feel of a Southern fairytale (in the original Grimm brothers sense of the word fairytale, where people make odd choices and things are unexplained and animals talk and motivations are left unclear and no one is surprised by any of it), but for contemporary readers it's lost its magical feel and instead is just rapey and racist. :(
Once I gave up trying to dig out what this was trying to *say* (an unfortunate habit us former English majors always seem to hang on to) and instead decided to simply enjoy it, it became much better. An odd, magical, strange little story with lush-yet-restrained prose.
A southern folktale style retelling of a Grimm’s fairytale, it takes place on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi and comes complete with a deep dark forest and a wicked stepmother.
In typical fairytale style the reader can see thru the ridiculous antics of the characters but the characters themselves cannot.
Welty is well known for her short stories which I prefer to this fairytale although it was entertaining enough.
In typical fairytale style the reader can see thru the ridiculous antics of the characters but the characters themselves cannot.
Welty is well known for her short stories which I prefer to this fairytale although it was entertaining enough.
So, I am not rating this book right now. I read it for school and since I had deadlines, I couldn't exactly read it or enjoy it as much as I think I would, because of that.
God, I hate to read for school...
Anyway, I will have to reread this, as I am going to do a paper on it. When I do, I'll review and rate.
God, I hate to read for school...
Anyway, I will have to reread this, as I am going to do a paper on it. When I do, I'll review and rate.
I wasn't all that compelled by the plot, but the writing was utterly beautiful. I must read more Welty.
Grimm's Robber Bridegroom set in the Deep South. A fairytale retold well.
There is nothing quite like a Southern Gothic fairytale, and there is also nothing quite like Eudora Welty's writing. After reading the fabulous correspondence between Welty and William Maxwell, I sought out a couple of her volumes from my personal collection, and spent a morning with The Robber Bridegroom. From the beginning, there are elements of the Brothers Grimm - as one might expect, I suppose, given its title. In fact, the novel (novella?) begins almost like a bedtime story, in that it is set in a place far, far away some centuries past, and the narrative voice is lilting and lovely. Welty's writing is sometimes simple but always intelligent, and her story builds marvellously. Her character descriptions also ensure that vivid beings spring to life from the page.
The Robber Bridegroom is one of the most inventive and original novels which I believe I have ever read. Welty has such a hold over her characters and settings, and everything is beautifully evoked.
The Robber Bridegroom is one of the most inventive and original novels which I believe I have ever read. Welty has such a hold over her characters and settings, and everything is beautifully evoked.
Not the greatest book, but a fun, quick read. The characters are fairytale standard characters transported to a southern setting, which makes for quite interesting reading.