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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
Very interesting experience
I've been working my way through many of the classics of literature and finally came to Faulkner and picked this book since it was on several lists of great works. Early 20th-century literature has been hit and miss for me since sometimes the style gets the book on a list over substance. In this case, I found both.
The style was unique, and I found it annoying initially, but as I got into the book, it made for a worthwhile experience. The narration goes back and forth in time and through different narrators. The author tells the story many times, giving more details and diverse perspectives each time.
It ended up being a lesson to me in how there are always many sides to a story. A good example would be listening to the radically different sides of a couple, you know, going through an ugly divorce. Piecing the whole story together is a challenge. In this case, I eventually gained empathy for almost all of the significant characters in the story.
It also gave me a good look and feel for the pre and post civil war south. I continue to have an appreciation for the significant problems associated with slavery. I'm so glad I didn't live at that time and place.
I recommend this book to those interested in literature and patience to plow through the book. It does end up being rewarding, but it takes some time. Therefore, it would not work for the average casual reader.
I originally wrote this review on 5/28/2009.
This is one of the (in a good way!) gayest things I’ve read in my life. Even for Faulkner, incredibly gothic. Dense as all hell, of course. Surprisingly gripping and intense. Devastating, beautiful, horrific awful tragic funny upsetting etc etc etc and so on and so on.
Well. It didn't fulfill that desire I had for more of "Sound and the Fury" but it's definitely "in the universe of". I feel all Faulkner'ed out now. I think I liked "As I Lay Dying" better. This one seemed less stream-of-consciousness and more too-lazy-to-indicate-characters. Difficulty for difficulty's sake. Like, every time you might learn a piece of information, the same rhythm would play out - first the hint that you're about to get a reveal, then a slow emotional build-up for the point of view character, than a jump ahead in time to after the reveal and a long, slow reaction to what you don't know, and then five paragraphs later at the end of the chapter, he lets you know what happened, which is usually what you guessed happened, but it's nice to know, and exhausting to be held in suspense.
A really difficult read, but definitely worth it. Faulkner is like nothing you have ever read guaranteed!
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Murder
“But that our cause, our very life and future hopes and past pride, should have been thrown into the balance with men like that to buttress it- men with valor and strength but without pity or honor.
Is it any wonder that Heaven saw fit to let us lose?"
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes