William Faulkner

[Adagio]

Having just finished Faulkner's As I Lay Dying all I can say is: wow! what an incredible writer. I was a little apprehensive before trying his work out because I had heard he was tough going but once started I couldn't stop reading. I'm surprised there isn't a sub-forum on here. Anyway, I was wondering if any of you are fond of his work, and if so, what other novels of his would you recommend?

[Barbarous]

As I Lay Dying is definitely one of my favorite books. I once read a user on here compare it to Tristram Shandy, which is fairly accurate. The Sound and the Fury is also very clever and well-written. I didn't care that much for Light in August, thought it to be a bit mediocre. I hear very good things about his short story 'The Bear' and the other famed novel Absalom! Absalom! which I intend on reading soon.

[Dr. Hill]

Faulkner is one of my very favorite authors. He creates a feeling of understanding without a linear storyline. It's very cool.

[March Hare]

Two I like that don't get much press anymore are Sanctuary and The Reivers. It's hard to go wrong with WF.

[bluosean]

The Sound and the Fury. Some time or other.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I liked Light In August.

[mollie]

I found Absalom Absalom really good, but The Sound and the Fury was my favourite of his. I would recommend both of those to you. I'm reading Light in August at the moment, and though I like his writing style, I'm finding it slightly hard going. Go Down Moses is next on the list. Is Sanctuary any good anyone?

[Morden]

Adagio, Your are right: wow! what an incredible writer

Absalom, Absalom! has been my first and only of his, so far, but I don't think I'll ever stop.

[tbarnes]

Reading Sound and the Fury at the moment. Pretty brilliant so far...

Also, stumbled upon an old copy of As I Lay Dying for a dollar at a used record store the other day. Gonna have to start that one next.

[March Hare]

Is Sanctuary any good anyone?

Yes it is. It's more straightforward narrative than, say, The Sound and the Fury. Unmistakeably William F., though. Requiem for a Nun is a sort of sequel to it. Unless I disremember (one of my favorite WF words,) Requiem is part play, part novel.

The Hamlet is also good. It's part of the Snopes trilogy (Hamlet, Town, Mansion.) This thread is spurring me on to read the last two.

[mollie]

Cheers. I must dig that one out!

[mono]

Unfortunately, as much as I hate to admit, I have neglected reading Faulkner for some time; I feel I have delved into my favorite authors, and dove deep, leaving him on the dry shorelines. Hopefully, the thread-starter, Adagio, will not mind my asking this on his thread (not an attempt to hijack it), but, a question for you Faulkner connoisseurs: where should I start? :)

[NickAdams]

Two I like that don't get much press anymore are Sanctuary and The Reivers. It's hard to go wrong with WF.


... Is Sanctuary any good anyone?

Sanctuary was my introduction to Faulkner and I really enjoyed it.

[papayahed]

I've picked up Absalom, Absalom twice but haven't been able to get into it, maybe I should try As I lay Dying instead.

[WiseCookie]

All of the Faulkner I've read has been superb, so I recommend them all. I would say, though, that Absalom! Absalom! is my favorite so far. Others I've read are As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, Light in August (probably my least favorite, but still excellent), and many of his short stories.

[Brad Coelho]

I'm working my way through 'As I Lay'...surprised to see no descension from the complimentary opinion here (perhaps I am jaded by the wine boards, where no one agrees!).

[Jason Lycurgus]

I like Absalom, Absalom! the best. Probably the hardest though. As I Lay Dying is a good one to start with. The Sound and the Fury is also incredible. Absalom, Absalom! is fairly difficult the first time through but it is worth it and serves as sort of a prequel to The Sound and the Fury.

[joebob]

I couldn't finish As I Lay Dying! I mean, it wasn't horrible, but I don't see what all the fuss is about.

I'll give the sound and fury a go though.

[dfloyd]

is a much harder read than As I Lay Dying. If you are just starting Faulkner, As I Lay Dying is a good place to start. Faulkner was prolific for dying relatively young so don't expect every Faulkner novel to be a classic.

Thus far, I have enjoyed Absolam more than any others. As I lay Dying, in spite of its title's classical allusion, was not particularly interesting to me. It was like Steinbeck writing a novel where the Oakies go to a funeral.

[Rogers_68]

I am currently reading As I Lay Dying. It's my first novel by Faulkner. So far, I like very much. I'm about half way through it.

[bluosean]

As I lay dying is better classified as a fable than a novel. This is easy to tell because the actors are fish. This can be seen in lines such as "My mother is a fish", and in the part where they go diving in the river for stuff that has fallen to the bottom. They are also in love with the river and keep hanging around it. When they decide to go past it one fish starts a fire and ends up getting cooked. Obviously fish shouldnt play with fire.

Can you guys tell that I am bored?

In all seriousness though the young people in the book are trying to find out how things are and it is very confusing for them. They don't have very good role models. They are a little like fish out of water. They arent doing that well. I agree with the Steinbeck comment. The way that the characters deal with things is the important part of the book. The plot itself is not very interesting.