William Faulkner

[Walter]

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!

[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.

[NickAdams]

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.

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

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

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

[plainjane]

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.

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?
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.

[storybookauthor]

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.

[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.

[plainjane]

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.

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.

[Tuesday]

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

[Virgil]

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.

[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"?

[Nossa]

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.

[Virgil]

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"?

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. What kind of novels do you like then? Harry Potter?

[andave_ya]

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

[Virgil]

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

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

[Alexei]

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

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? 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 )