I can't say enough good about this little novel. Welty is one of those author's who can come up with perfect imagery to illustrate her point to the reader. I'm sure it's a lot of hard work, but she makes it seem effortless and unobtrusive.
I hate to compare this book with "A Summons to Memphis", but I will. Everything in Memphis takes place in interior monologue, overdone "telling, not showing". The first two-thirds of "The Optimist's Daughter" is perfect "showing, not telling". Everything takes place through dialogue and action. At times it is difficult to understand just what is going on, what the purpose is, where the book is headed. You really have to pay attention, and in that sense it reminds me of "The Great Gatsby". It is masterfully done.
Only after things start to reach for a climax does Welty resort to letting the main character tell us what she is thinking, just when it is appropriate, and even then there is still plenty of action and imagery to move things along. I can't say anything bad about this little novel.
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