Reviews

The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty

adrianlwaller's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

ohheykatherine's review against another edition

4.0

4.5
Enjoyed this more than I expected.

julieta_tobon's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

“The memory can be hurt, time and again -- but in that may lie its final mercy. As long as it's vulnerable to the living moment, it lives for us, and while it lives, and while we are able, we can give it up its due”

I had a little trouble starting this book, as it feels like it starts in the middle of a scene without any context. But as I read on, I started to get interested in the plot. I can appreciate the realistic depiction of human relationships and complicated family dynamics, but I didn’t connect with any character and in general I didn’t feel any stronger emotion. 

kaiyear's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

sarahgraceinspace's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

emilyada11's review against another edition

emotional

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

cbrandenburg's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

paroof's review against another edition

4.0

This sublime book about grief and mourning won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1973. The author, Eudora Welty also graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1929. I didn't know either thing before I started the novel, but was pleased to find out both facts.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure I would recommend it to everyone - mostly those who love beautiful writing about deeply felt emotions. It's not a long book, really more of a novella, but if you're looking for good plot or some action... I wouldn't choose this.

stephie_geeee's review against another edition

3.0

I wanted to love this more than I actually did

tomleetang's review against another edition

2.0

Pontifications on death and memory. Amusing little gossipy exchanges between the 'bridesmaids', but overall I was only vaguely engaged.