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emudly's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
mightysparks's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
cayleigh's review against another edition
1.0
When I was reading this I told my friend “you know, at least I can read this quickly because it’s a stream of consciousness novel, and that means I’ll be done it soon.” I think that sums it up.
jkammann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
My new favorite book
bortdasport's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my first Faulkner novel and I really enjoyed it, but it was a bit too slow. I also found Quentin’s chapter a little painful to decipher, but that might just be my pea brain. Faulkner’s prose is beautiful and one of the biggest influences in American literature, and I see his direct influence in so many of my favorite books. I will definitely read more Faulkner eventually.
c8_19's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
1.0
kolar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
nanyoni's review against another edition
5.0
One of my all time favourite books. The structure it’s written in is not what you expect but totally worth it as you get more into the novel. Absolutely loved it. I need to read it 3 more times then I’ll be happy with life
alienclans's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not a good enough reader to appreciate what Faulkner was doing here.
art_cart_ron's review against another edition
4.0
hoo boy
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if a book makes you think intently about its characters night and day while you're reading it (which I did in 3 days) and afterwards, it's worked some magic in your life.
If you've got a virtually housebound lapsed catholic mother and a dad who's an 85% match to Jason (the younger), it's gonna sting - and in a way that tells you that your experience is nowhere near as exclusive as you've thought.
Regarding style, I went in mostly unaware of what to expect. I lie, I'd read As I Lay Dying, but where that book may stray into some stream-of-consciousness, this one uses that approach about 70% of the time (while tossing you into timelines you need to learn to decode). If you aren't wondering "what have I gotten myself into?" during part 1, you have been coached ahead of time.
The (committed) reader who doesn't put this book down isn't reading right through because they necessarily want to - they are compelled to, because losing the tenuous thread is a near certainty if you try to read it in pieces. And the language - regardless of whether you're as lost as you are intended to be, or just plain lost - is amazing, so you can gladly read it as moving artwork. You have to know what you've gotten yourself into.
I lost Quentin's (the elder) thread, despite connecting with him the most. Where part 1 is the jumbled awareness and recollection of a mentally disadvantaged man, part 2 does some beautiful things to overlay that approach on the mental disadvantage posed by depression and anxiety. So much to love in that notion. But I missed elements I feel I should have been aware of (after looking into some critical analysis post-reading), and I was paying attention, so Faulkner wasn't maintaining the narrative at a level that resonated quite where I needed it to be. He's a mad genius - but if it doesn't come across enough to catch key developments, is it still communication? I guess so. He doesn't owe me anything.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that if a book makes you think intently about its characters night and day while you're reading it (which I did in 3 days) and afterwards, it's worked some magic in your life.
If you've got a virtually housebound lapsed catholic mother and a dad who's an 85% match to Jason (the younger), it's gonna sting - and in a way that tells you that your experience is nowhere near as exclusive as you've thought.
Regarding style, I went in mostly unaware of what to expect. I lie, I'd read As I Lay Dying, but where that book may stray into some stream-of-consciousness, this one uses that approach about 70% of the time (while tossing you into timelines you need to learn to decode). If you aren't wondering "what have I gotten myself into?" during part 1, you have been coached ahead of time.
The (committed) reader who doesn't put this book down isn't reading right through because they necessarily want to - they are compelled to, because losing the tenuous thread is a near certainty if you try to read it in pieces. And the language - regardless of whether you're as lost as you are intended to be, or just plain lost - is amazing, so you can gladly read it as moving artwork. You have to know what you've gotten yourself into.
I lost Quentin's (the elder) thread, despite connecting with him the most. Where part 1 is the jumbled awareness and recollection of a mentally disadvantaged man, part 2 does some beautiful things to overlay that approach on the mental disadvantage posed by depression and anxiety. So much to love in that notion. But I missed elements I feel I should have been aware of (after looking into some critical analysis post-reading), and I was paying attention, so Faulkner wasn't maintaining the narrative at a level that resonated quite where I needed it to be. He's a mad genius - but if it doesn't come across enough to catch key developments, is it still communication? I guess so. He doesn't owe me anything.