欧宝娱乐

I read one of his books, and that was one too many.

You're not alone in that opinion.

Are these four stars ironic, then? Or is the review?

I did love the book at the time or I thought I did; years later I wonder if it was a case of literary Stockholm syndrome. Four stars though for sure. It's brilliant.

Bless you, my child, for finishing this book. I wish I could get through _Heart of Darkness_, feel the same way about it.

I totally agree with your "clambering through a barbed wire fence at the bottom of a swamp" analogy. I felt like I was drowning in this book, but I really enjoyed the challenge and the experience of fighting to stay afloat.

perhaps something a little more discreet

You can see that bookworm has crawled through a swamp...

Some things amaze me, like how people compare Cormac McCarthy to Faulkner, and I love McCarthy's books and hate Faulkner. Where's the comparison?

Southern - check, grotesque characters- check, fairly-to-very experimental prose style - check, tragic view of life - check, not the easiest reading - check. Oh, and great author - check!

Paul wrote: "Southern - check, grotesque characters- check, fairly-to-very experimental prose style - check, tragic view of life - check, not the easiest reading - check. Oh, and great author - check!"

Those things are true, but it is the way they are said that make me like McCarthy and hate Faulkner.

oh sure, apart from the obvious similarities which I mentioned, they're chalk and cheese. I think both have written great books (As I Lay Dying and Child of God) but I sure wouldn't want to read the complete works of either.

Paul wrote: "oh sure, apart from the obvious similarities which I mentioned, they're chalk and cheese. I think both have written great books (As I Lay Dying and Child of God) but I sure wouldn't want to read th..."

I am working on reading all of McCarthy's books, but I am not sure if I can read "No Country For Old Men" or "Blood Meridian." I just knew that I read one of Faulkner's and hated it every step of the way.

Blood Meridian is raved over by its fans who seem to be able to accommodate its extreme violence in a way I am not able to do. But I really liked No Country for Old Men.

It was my brother who introduced me to McCarthy. I saw the movie, "No Country" and it was rather upsetting.

Oh my gosh -- so true! I had to read this in high school -- never made it to the end and hated it from the first sentence. I've read some non-fiction by Faulkner that was OK but I can't get into most of his books.....

High school, Anna? That's just cruel. No wonder you hated it. I had trouble with Huck Finn in high school, this would have broken my brain. With Faulkner, best to start with As I Lay Dying or Light in August, brilliant books but not too difficult to read, and save The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom for later, possibly much later.

Kirk wrote: "High school, Anna? That's just cruel. No wonder you hated it. I had trouble with Huck Finn in high school, this would have broken my brain. With Faulkner, best to start with As I Lay Dying or Light..."

Ha! yes -- can you imagine? It was a burden of being in advanced placement English junior year....luckily I already loved literature and reading, so my reading spirit wasn't broken. I read "Huck Finn" for another class and really liked it -- Twain is much better for high school, I think, but I can see not liking it at that age too. "As I Lay Dying" is actually on my TBR list -- I'll check out the others too -- thanks for the recs!

Blood Meridian shows the violence of humankind. I do not think of the violent scenes and descriptions as the book's grotesque display of atrocities; those heinous acts belong to our species. I believe it is McCarthy's masterpiece, hands down.

Faulkner can be recondite and a chore to read (The Snopes Trilogy), but some of his works are quite accessible (Light in August).

I read the book in the 70's. I recall that the stream of consciousness of "Benji the man idiot" was pretty tough to follow. I don't think Faulkner is read much any more. Although I have always liked his writing tip: "you must kill your little darlings."

Michael wrote: "I read the book in the 70's. I recall that the stream of consciousness of "Benji the man idiot" was pretty tough to follow. I don't think Faulkner is read much any more. Although I have always like..."

Yes -- the stream-of-consciousness stuff was the cross you have to bear with that one.

I started Light in August this August expecting, I don't know, to see the light? In August. Well, it's September and I'm gasping for air on page 160 tapping at my oxygen tank. I must have consumed it on Carey's godawful Anosmia.

that one is still on my shelf. So it's grim, is it?

You finished it! Yeah!!! (I'm being completely sincere! I couldn't finish it, and that sad fact will haunt me until my dying day. <3 )

My recommendation is that you read this book when you are up for reading something challenging, and, then after you have finished it, immediately read it again so you can really understand it. The first 1/3 is from the perspective of someone who is mentally challenged, so ...

Paul -- yeah, don't bother with it.

"Literary Stockholm Syndrome." That is a brilliant term. I'm afraid I'm going to have to appropriate that. Clearly explains all those great reviews for Catcher in the Rye.

it's not mine, I'm sorry to say - I stole it from this article in the Millions

Great review! But I'll plod through As I lay dying first before tackling this one.

I really liked that one... also I reviewed it, you will be curious to know.

Great review! I`ve never read Faulkner and although I want to I`m put off by so many saying how difficult his books are to read!

those people aren't wrong!

Ha thanks Paul!

Congratulations! I have never made it all the way to the end and I've tried a few times :( I've been told Absolam, Absolam! is supposed to be a readable one and although I have it I haven't ventured - yet.

I thought As I Lay Dying was really good so long as you could get with the programme and enjoy some seriously weird writing. I would like to read more WF but most days I don't have the energy.

Please allow me to jump in. I'm only a high school grad from the early 70's. A little LSD, some mescaline and too much pot. I read TSATF, off our bookshelf, in high school. I knew I had read something special but I didn't now what. Since then, three additional times. Every time is new.

William Faulkner? My feelings are that he is the bench mark for American authors. Surpassing Hemingway, imho. Faulkner's characters are highly developed, their responses reaching to the core of the American experience and humanity itself. Emotions run hot.

For someone wishing to read Faulkner I would suggest
First and foremost: Be Patient. His novels were written well before television. Know that all answers will be questioned.

Second: Genealogy is critical. This is the resource I use


Third; You're in for a bumpy ride. Start with something relatively simple . ie. Flags in the Dust . Even Light in August is rather straight forward. Many people read his stories multiple times for a reason. Absalom, Absalom! is one such example.

William Faulkner's stories are richly rewarding and can be well worth the effort.

Good Luck, and thank you

john turner

thanks John - as it happens I do have Light in August right here on my shelf. So that will be the next one. Hey, how did you make tiny book covers appear in your comment? Very cool.

Well Paul, whaddya know, i put together a quiz for Light in August. Here is a link to all my quizzes.
/quizzes/by_...

The little book covers.
Right above the comment box you will see (add book/author). click on; enter book; search;at the bottom of screen is a selection for link or cover; go back to your book, select Add

now. this for tat. i've been trying to figure the significance of your profile pic. i've seen it some place but can't remember where. It's truly grotesque. Death shows a middle aged gal his visceral cavity. Her with the keys hanging on the belt. This isn't Bosh, but it's close.

jt

thanks! the profile pic immediate source is the cover of John Fahey's 1965 album The Dance of Death and Other Plantation Favorites



but the ultimate source is a woodcut illustration "Le Chamberiere et la Recomanderesse" from the book "Danse Macabre des Femmes" dated 1486. Artist unknown. I always liked it.

Agree with John on #38 (except I'm unfamiliar with Flags in the Dust), and well said. I've never understood why so many (in the U.S. at least) get introduced to Faulkner by being assigned The Sound and the Fury. That's being thrown in the deep end when the deep end also has hungry piranhas. As I Lay Dying and/or Light in August are better to start with, stone classics but fairly accessible. Sound & the Fury + Absalom, Absalom are better taken on much further down the road, though very much worth it.

Uh oh, you sound like Quentin the older.

that's me

You鈥檙e reviews are simply fabulous:)

why, Susan.....!

Your reviews...(sad oops) are always insightful and self-deprecating and I wrote a very long winded paper on Light in August in grad school, but definitely felt enlightened and exhausted and like my brain had been rearranged after... And I felt similarly after reading Crime and Punishment. 鈥淗ey family! I finished this book,鈥� only to be met with blank stares as they went about their lives. Dammit! I want a parade. 馃槃

Susan, we're here for you. Can we all say"Caddy"together

haha! YES. OMG. YES.

LOL, it's like you were watching me read the book and then talk to my wife about it through a hidden camera.