Robert M. (shotokanchef) reviewed on 7/14/2010 + 813 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

I first encountered Eudora Welty in a short story course in college. Having enjoyed several of her works, I decided to tackle this one next. Laura, a young Missisippian (of course) girl, travels by the Yellow Dog train to her cousin Dabneys wedding, at which she was to be a bridesmaid, except that she is prevented, as her mother is dead. (I dont comprehend this one and dont care to do the research.) I found this novel to be less gender neutral than other of her works; I also found the dialogue to be somewhat weird. It is as if I were reading a stream of consciousness, except that the dialog is of several people. Often it seems as if they must be talking over one another, as ones thoughts do not seem to mesh with those of anyone else. It makes me think of The View. Yes, and in the manner of Jules Verne, who likes to repeat details over and again lest we forget them, the recounting of George and Maureen nearly being run down by on the trestle by the Yellow Dog bombards us: to the very end of the book. I drone on, usually not really absorbing what I am reading. Little Laura is to be the flower girl. After two hundred grueling pages I get to the wedding rehearsal. It is a disappointment as it is glitched over; I am left to imagine the details. Home stretch. Swoosh! Thats over too and again all is left to my imagination. It has been Dabneys wedding, yet we have learned little about her and her spouse; it was about everyone else. There is little else but for Laura to return home by the Yellow Dog. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I am quite disappointed.

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