William Faulkner

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Originally Posted by Redzeppelin

... Light is good, but its length makes plot recall pretty tricky ...

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I am going to read this one twice. Slight mentions in the beginning, like the backless chairs and frictionsmooth tables in a diner, are later revealed as important locations. But when you do remember, it makes one hell of an impact.

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Originally Posted by NickAdams

I am going to read this one twice. Slight mentions in the beginning, like the backless chairs and frictionsmooth tables in a diner, are later revealed as important locations. But when you do remember, it makes one hell of an impact.

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Very true - one of the astonishing qualities of reading Faulkner - but one hard-won, to be sure.

In true Faulkner fashion you should read The Sound and the Fury first, but keep in mind you won't have a clue what you just read. Just know that you will at least realize you have read something extremely powerful and it will pull you back to it time and time again. After you read it a few times the novel is not complicated at all. I've always said the best novel to read first for students who seek out Faulkner is As I Lay Dying because it's simple yet profound. Sartoris is another one, and eventually Absalom is a must. It's a novel that is hard to be drawn to compared to his other works, but that is because it is a bible for the literary. All you have to do is just read a few pages now and then and everything is ok.

I really enjoyed A Rose For Emily. I thought that was an excellent short story. I haven't been able to read his novels though. I tried to read As I Lay Dying, but the stream of conciousness parts really confused me and I just stopped. Then I tried to read The Sound and the Fury, but I had to quit that also because I could never tell which character was doing the narrating, and what event happened when, because it all seemed to jump around all over the place.

I see most have recommended As I Lay Dying, but I started that and put it down in.....frustration and aggravation. Just didn't like the characters I suppose and at that point swore off of Faulkner. Wrong! Now a year later I am reading Absalom, Absalom and just enjoying myself no end. :D

I think the key is to take him very slowly and try to absorb and reread right away. I reread the first several pages 4 or 5 times until they sunk in, and kept that sort of pace for the first two chapters.....then all of a sudden the thing seemed to click and I could go forward much faster.
What helped me as well in the beginning was to write the family connections inside the back cover...just to keep who was related and how.

I'm still only in the 4th chapter, but it is flowing well now.

Well, I have just finished my very first Faulkner, Absalom, Absalom!, and I am still reeling. But in a good way! :D I tried As I Lay Dying last year, and couldn't stand it. I suppose I will have to go back and try again, but first I think I want to read the Snopes trilogy. Or maybe The Sound and the Fury....decisions, decisions!

I heard Absalom, Absalom! was the toughest. Good job.
I've read Sanctuary and Light in August and found Faulkner the only author to stir me emotionally.
I wanted to read either TSNTF or AILD next, but I'm really interested in Absalom, Absalom.

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Originally Posted by plainjane

Well, I have just finished my very first Faulkner, Absalom, Absalom!, and I am still reeling. But in a good way! :D I tried As I Lay Dying last year, and couldn't stand it. I suppose I will have to go back and try again, but first I think I want to read the Snopes trilogy. Or maybe The Sound and the Fury....decisions, decisions!

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Wow, you started Faulkner with Absalom. That is a tough one, but well worth it, if you can get it.

Congrates :D
I've had The Sound and the Fury on my list for sometime now, I guess I'll add Light in August and As I Lay Dying too :D

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Wow, you started Faulkner with Absalom. That is a tough one, but well worth it, if you can get it.

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Agreed. His layering technique is unique to say the least but once settled into is quite soothing.

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Originally Posted by Nossa

Congrates :D
I've had The Sound and the Fury on my list for sometime now, I guess I'll add Light in August and As I Lay Dying too :D

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NickAdams /I heard Absalom, Absalom! was the toughest. Good job.
I've read Sanctuary and Light in August and found Faulkner the only author to stir me emotionally.
I wanted to read either TSNTF or AILD next, but I'm really interested in Absalom, Absalom.

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Thanks y'all. :D

A good friend of mine that happens to be a New Yorker said it must be subliminal picking up of the vibes on my part as I was born and raised near New Orleans. ;) Whatever it is, and actually I agree, it works.

All of my superlatives go to Faulkner and Absalom, Absalom! I think that may be the very best novel I have ever read; Faulkner is certainly the most incredible author I have ever read. Sheer genius!

Absalom, Absalom! is the only novel by Faulkner I've read so far, so I can't really make any comparisons here, but I think the hardest thing when tackling the book is to just keep on reading. I think when reading this you're actually supposed to be confused most of the time, especially at the beginning. But page after page things slowly find back to each other and begin to make sense.

So if you read the first chapter and don't understand anything, don't re-read it. Just keep on riding the endless flow of words and sooner or later things will work out.

I've certainly never read a novel like that one. It's just so incredibly dark and wicked and eerie. The part at the end when they visit the old mansion is better than any horror movie.

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Originally Posted by Tuesday

Absalom, Absalom! is the only novel by Faulkner I've read so far, so I can't really make any comparisons here, but I think the hardest thing when tackling the book is to just keep on reading. I think when reading this you're actually supposed to be confused most of the time, especially at the beginning. But page after page things slowly find back to each other and begin to make sense.

So if you read the first chapter and don't understand anything, don't re-read it. Just keep on riding the endless flow of words and sooner or later things will work out.

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That's true. I've only re-read sections that have time, character, location, or subject shifts in the same paragraph.

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Originally Posted by Tuesday;435062I've certainly never read a novel like that one. It's just so incredibly dark and wicked and eerie. [B

The part at the end when they visit the old mansion is better than any horror movie[/B].

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I felt the same about Sanctuary. There's something about Faulkner's houses: Sanctuary, Light in August, A Rose for Emily and Absalom.

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Originally Posted by Tuesday

Absalom, Absalom! is the only novel by Faulkner I've read so far, so I can't really make any comparisons here, but I think the hardest thing when tackling the book is to just keep on reading. I think when reading this you're actually supposed to be confused most of the time, especially at the beginning. But page after page things slowly find back to each other and begin to make sense.

So if you read the first chapter and don't understand anything, don't re-read it. Just keep on riding the endless flow of words and sooner or later things will work out.

I've certainly never read a novel like that one. It's just so incredibly dark and wicked and eerie. The part at the end when they visit the old mansion is better than any horror movie.

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I did reread the first few pages several times, had to just to get into the flow, but once I realized his method, it was easy. Well, easy as a relative term, you know? :D
I think I have settled on The Sound and the Fury for my next Faulkner...I want to read more about poor Quentin. But not yet. Decompression time.

I cheated when I read Faulkner's As I Lay Dying.

I read a character list when I was halfway through it. :(.

I needed it for a class though, so I had less than 4 days to do it. I was desperate.

-Anna.

Faulkner is epic.

I cheated too, though, on a lot of his novels. I don't think it hindered my appreciation of his work any; indeed, to the contrary, so I don't regret it or feel ashamed.

Absalom, Absalom! is indeed one of the greatest novels I've ever read. Every sentence is so compelling.

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Originally Posted by tudwell

Faulkner is epic.

I cheated too, though, on a lot of his novels. I don't think it hindered my appreciation of his work any; indeed, to the contrary, so I don't regret it or feel ashamed.

Absalom, Absalom! is indeed one of the greatest novels I've ever read. Every sentence is so compelling.

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I don't know I'd call any of that really cheating if it helps. I had a time sorting out the relationships in A,A to begin with, I didn't even notice the listing in the back, and I'm glad I didn't notice, it was more fun working it out myself.....BUT I was not working against the clock either.
I did start writing the genealogy down in the back cover of the book to start to get it straight, and that helped. For some reason Rosa's age really threw me off at first...being younger than Judith I mean.

My next Faulkner is going to be Light in August. I've already ordered it on Amazon and it should arrive here within the next week or so. I'm also quite curious about his short stories.

Cheating? I would consider none of the methods you used as cheating...especially when it comes to Faulkner. It's certainly better to read a summary after each chapter than to throw the book out of the window because your confusion slowly turns to anger ;)

Anything that helps you understand the work is not cheating. Now if you don't read the work for school and just use the helping aids, then that might be cheating. But if you're reading for your own pleasure, then nothing is cheating.

I've been reading William Faulkner's Light In August for the last week or so. I haven't been having any problems understanding it at all. My problem is that I find it very boring. Faulkner is considered one of the greatest writers ever and so many talk about his genius for writing. However, I'm bored stiff about 2/3 through.

Does anyone else have this problem? Am I intellectually vapid or is Faulkner just "not my type"?

I've never read Faulkner to be frank, but I don't think that just cuz everyone thinks he's great, you should think so as well. I know people who hate Jane Auten's guts...while I think she's the best female writer of all time.
Tastes change, and from what I hear Faulkner can be a bit difficult to keep up with.
There's nothing wrong with you...and nothing is wrong with Light In August as well...it's just that you happened to get bored from this kinda literature..while others didn't.

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Originally Posted by BadassBookworm

I've been reading William Faulkner's Light In August for the last week or so. I haven't been having any problems understanding it at all. My problem is that I find it very boring. Faulkner is considered one of the greatest writers ever and so many talk about his genius for writing. However, I'm bored stiff about 2/3 through.

Does anyone else have this problem? Am I intellectually vapid or is Faulkner just "not my type"?

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Ha. Light In August is one of my favorite novels. If you find it boring I'm afraid then yes there is something wrong with you. :p What kind of novels do you like then? Harry Potter? ;)

Nah, Faulkner is (don't eat me, Virgil! :D) not my cup of tea either. Or whiskey.

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Originally Posted by andave_ya

Nah, Faulkner is (don't eat me, Virgil! :D) not my cup of tea either. Or whiskey.

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:lol: No, Faulkner is an acquired taste. Perhaps in several years you may like him afterall.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

:lol: No, Faulkner is an acquired taste. Perhaps in several years you may like him afterall.

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Why when you don't like some novel, others considered great and tell this aloud people start told you that you aren't mature enough? :lol: I have said i don't like so much "The Catcher in the Rye" and a whole forum have started all over me ;) (not this one...yet:lol: )

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Originally Posted by Virgil

Harry Potter? ;)

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Yes. At least it's not boring :D

Avada Kadabra ===> Virgilus :D

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Originally Posted by Lote-Tree

Yes. At least it's not boring :D

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As A.S Byatt said, The Harry Potter books were:

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written for people whose imaginative lives are confined to TV cartoons, and the exaggerated (more exciting, not threatening) mirror-worlds of soaps, reality TV and celebrity gossip

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Oh, and yes, Faulkner is an aqcuired taste. I adore his work personally, but it has it's dissenters.

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Originally Posted by Lambert

As A.S Byatt said, The Harry Potter books were:

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That's why AS Byatt books do not sell like Harry Potter :D

she has no understanding of how imagination works;-)

Lambert said: Oh, and yes, Faulkner is an aqcuired taste. I adore his work personally, but it has it's dissenters.

Lote-Tree said: she has no understanding of how imagination works;-)

My question is: Is this Faulkner a man or a woman, or maybe a lovely combination? ;)

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Originally Posted by Lote-Tree

That's why AS Byatt books do not sell like Harry Potter :D

But she has no understanding of how imagination works.

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Really?

I almost believed you for a second, but then I remembered that Byatt has gotten a massive amount of critical praise and Rowling has just gotten a big fat cheque.

So, the imagination is in the bank account, is it?

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Originally Posted by Lambert

Really?
I almost believed you for a second, but then I remembered that Byatt has gotten a massive amount of critical praise and Rowling has just gotten a big fat cheque.

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Rowling was able to engage the imaginations of millions worldwide of both children and adults.

Byatt only is able to engage the ego of snotty critics who know the price of everything but value of nothing :D

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Originally Posted by Lote-Tree

Rowling was able to engage the imaginations of millions worldwide of both children and adults.

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Her prose style, heavy on cliche, makes no demands upon her readers. In an arbitrarily chosen single page--page 4--of the first Harry Potter book, I count seven cliches, all of the "stretch his legs" variety.

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A vast concourse of inadequate works, for adults and for children, crams the dustbins of the ages. At a time when public judgment is no better and no worse than what is proclaimed by the ideological cheerleaders who have so destroyed humanistic study, anything goes. The cultural critics will, soon enough, introduce Harry Potter into their college curriculum, and The New York Times will go on celebrating another confirmation of the dumbing-down it leads and exemplifies.

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-- Harold Bloom, Yale Professor i.e. Another "snotty" critic

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Originally Posted by Lambert

-- Harold Bloom, Yale Professor i.e. Another "snotty" critic

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Dear old professor has not been able to engage the imaginations of the few let alone millions of readers worldwide :D

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Originally Posted by Lote-Tree

Dear old professor has not been able to engage the imaginations of the few let alone millions of readers worldwide :D

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I'll emphasise this and be done.

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makes no demands upon her readers.

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I think that sums up the popularity Potter claptrap pretty nicely.

Turn off your brain for a couple of hours and stare at banality. That'll get the "imaginations" going. ;)

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Originally Posted by Lambert

Turn off your brain for a couple of hours and stare at banality. That'll get the "imaginations" going. ;)

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If it was banal it would not have enticed millions of readers worldwide both adults and children. This is the mark of how engaging her books are compared to AS Byatt.

Byatt has the engaging ability of a nun when it comes to romance.

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Originally Posted by Lote-Tree

Avada Kadabra ===> Virgilus :D

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Hahaha, I had to google that to find out what it meant. :lol: I have never read a Harry Potter book. It was only a tongue-in-cheek comment. ;)

If it was banal it would not have enticed millions of readers worldwide both adults and children.

Oh give me a break. And Madonna and Britney Spears and Survivor and Arnold Schwarzenegger are all examples of masterful art because they too have enticed an audience of millions world-wide. The reality is that the masses have nothing to do with deciding which art is great and which art will stand the test of time. Harry Potter or the DaVinci Code are but publishing phenomenas which will be lost to history... period pieces like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Eric Segal's Love Story or the Monkees. You can dismiss the "snooty critics" all you want but all such a strategy reveals is a reverse snobbery... an anti-intellectualism, which sneers at anything which
requires intellect, or achieves a high standard. You might also want to think upon the fact that all those snooty elitists are in actuality the people (be they critics, professors, artists/writers, or just art/literature lovers) who have invested some time and effort into seriously learning and thinking about the art of writing.

Give me a break. You sound about as warm as a gravestone, or Schopenhauer, good lord, I am surprised you didn't mention Danielle Steele in there. As if anyone considers Harry Potter novels or Survivor in the same vein as Faulkner.

as far as Faulkner goes, I would choose to read a poetic flash of life via him than any sort of Joyce.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

What kind of novels do you like then? Harry Potter? ;)

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Actually, I've never read Harry Potter. I thought The Brothers Karamazov was facinating. The Red Badge of Courage is one of my all time favorites. Heart of Darkness is wonderfully disturbing. I do read from all over the specturm...that only adds to my anxiety. :bawling:

Well, I asked if anything was wrong with me and it started a war between a Harry Potter fan and someone who looks down upon Harry Potter fans for liking Harry Potter. As I was reading this catty little exchange, I realized that if I went around proclaiming that I love Faulkner and everyone must read him to understand what real writing is, I was be a damn hypocrite because I would be promoting something I truely never liked myself.
One can never make someone NOT love something due to another's opposing view wheter it be a book, movie or lover.
I'm not making any judgements about the posters on this thread. This was just a couple random thoughts.

FLAME ON!

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Originally Posted by thelastmelon

Lambert said: Oh, and yes, Faulkner is an aqcuired taste. I adore his work personally, but it has it's dissenters.

Lote-Tree said: she has no understanding of how imagination works;-)

My question is: Is this Faulkner a man or a woman, or maybe a lovely combination? ;)

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Just to clarify Melon, Faulkner is a HE. The she Lote was referring to was A.S. Byatt.
I love how Virgil unintentionally started this war and he has never even read Harry Potter! ---That makes me giggle---By the way Badass, I tried reading “The Sound and the Fury”, and could not get into it so you are not alone. Of course, that was in my younger days and I may actually enjoy it now.