3.87 AVERAGE

rhoetger's profile picture

rhoetger's review

5.0

Rating: 4.5 stars

This was my first introduction to William Faulkner, and I was afraid I wouldn't like it, but “I don't hate it ... I don't. I don't! I don't hate it! I don't hate it!” :)

This story, while complex and a little difficult at times to understand, is about human nature and the desire to change and become better. While it chronicles the life of Thomas Sutpen, the lives of those he has contact with or who have learned his story change as well. I can understand why it has been deemed one of the greatest novels. The prose, run on sentences aside, is simply beautiful.

I am excited to read The Sound and the Fury, which also has Quentin Compson.

verityw's review

2.0

I read this for my History and Literature class in second year of university. There's a reason why I didn't read a lot of books whilst I was studying. Books like this were part of it.

Read this one many years ago for a college course. Not my favorite Faulkner, but very interesting and shows off some of his strange stylistic choices without being too far in that direction. Not sure how I would have enjoyed it outside of a class setting, but it was one of my favorite reads in school.

mak__taylor's review

3.0

I had to read this book for my class, the writing was well done but the story was confusing.
simonegld's profile picture

simonegld's review

2.0

there are no words to describe the pride i feel about tackling this book.
 
after putting hours of time into understanding this novel, it’s ever-changing narrators, and just trying to pinpoint the fucking timeline i feel 1. exhausted and 2. immensely proud. 

if you’re up for a literary challenge this is a good choice! 

cindygauthor's review

3.0

From everything I have heard, the first time through is difficult and the second is amazing. I am looking forward to the second read :)

izzyd725's review

4.0

I have to admit, I was not the biggest fan of this book until the ending chapter. That last chapter changed my mind. It has to be some of the best writing Faulkner ever published and entirely worth reading the rest of the book. The pages are few in number, but every word is as beautiful as the one before. The person who last owned my copy wrote a note on the very first page: "RE-READ THIS PLEASE". I think those words were in some way meant for me, and I will return shortly.

What a strange and beautiful novel! This is Faulkner’s most revealing work about the South, his best illustration of stream of consciousness. Although I have read plenty of Faulkner works, nothing prepared me for Absalom, Absalom! (got to love that title, as if Faulkner is telling us something about the South before we even embark) Everything about this book is difficult: the narrative structure, character development, story line, thematic content and grammar (page-long sentences, paragraphs that never end). It’s like trying to read Shakespeare as a high school student – you need a few hundred pages before you start to comprehend ye olde English. The same is true about this novel, except you never reach a comfort level. I think Faulkner is saying that if you are having trouble following the story or understanding the characters, well, then, welcome to life, especially because he is using various perspectives to reconstruct a story about the past, without ever providing a definitive version.

Sometimes, while perusing Good Reads reviews, I want to track down some of you insolent fools that give my favorite books one-star ratings. I want to interrupt you while on a date, maybe out at a nice restaurant and throw wine in your face. I want to find you in a shopping mall and attempt to embarrass you in public. I want to tie you to a chair and refuse release until you see the beauty of the work that you’re probably just too stupid to appreciate. But this book is different. I understand the one-star ratings. I understand why few finish the novel. It’s the same reason we have heated discussions about Infinite Jest or Finnegan’s Wake. These books are enigmatic puzzles that hold revelations for those who are patient enough to put up with them.

There is a conversion tactic used by missionaries of all stripes; they promise that if you put in the investment, you’ll become a believer (just keep praying, attending, donating, reading). Psychology shows that the more involved we become in something, the more we believe. So with the same zeal as a missionary, I’ll tell you that with a sufficient time investment this book can change your life. How do I back that up? I don’t need to, because once your in, you’ll have your own reasons to stay.

I've never read anything quite like this book.

This was my first Faulkner, and while it was certainly difficult--even baffling at times--it was well worth it. Faulkner himself said that this book "may be the best novel yet written by an American." He may have had an ego, but I also think he may be right. Prepare to be baffled, but just carry on reading--things will become clear in time. Well, as clear as Faulkner is inclined to make them, anyway.

Ostensibly a tragedy about a man's plan to establish a dynasty and an allegory about the fall of the South, Absalom, Absalom! is also about perspective, truth, storytelling, and our search for meaning. Honestly, this is one of the most amazing books I've ever read, and now I get why all the fuss about Faulkner.
uoltera's profile picture

uoltera's review

4.0

Ֆոլքներ կարդալը մեռնելուն հավասար մի բան է, հատկապես էս մեկը: Բայց մի առավելություն ունի, չես կարողանում կտրվել իրենից: Կարդալու ամբողջ ընթացքում մոտս գլխացավ էր սկսվում, աչքերս հոգնում էին, ձեռքիս ափերը` քոր գալիս: Մի խոսքով տարօրինակ բաներ էին կատարվում:
Աշխարհի ամենաերկար նախադասություններով գրքերից ա, մենակ վեցերորդ գլխում մի նախադասություն կա, որը 1288 բառից ա կազմված:
Հարավային գոթիկա ժանրում է գիրքը, ընթացքում հերոսներից ամեն մեկը իր տեսանկյունից է խոսում: Դժվարամարս, բարդ-ընկալելի, լիքը համեմատություններով, ահավոր խիտ բովանդակությամբ գիրք է: Խորհուրդ տալ չեմ կարա ոչ ոքի, կվախենամ նույնիսկ էդ ուղղությամբ մտածել:
Ֆոլքները ակնարկներով ա խոսում, մի բանի շուրջ հազար անգամ պտտվում ա, ամեն անուն տալիս ա դրան, բացի հենց բուն երևույթից: Դրա համար տարբեր ձևերով ես հասկանում ու մեկնաբանում գրածը:
Ընդհանրապես հարավի մասին պատմությունները շատ են առանձնահատուկ, հնարավոր չի ոչ մի ուրիշ գրքի հետ խառնել:
Հերոսներից գլխավորի` Սաթփենի մասին գրքի սկզբից մինչև վերջ ինչ վատ կարծիք ասես որ չի ասում, մտածում ես` ով ա էս հրեշը, որ էսքան վախենում են բոլորն իրենից: Բայց մինչև վերջ էլ կոնկրետ չի նշում, թե իր արածներից որոնք էին էդքան հրեշավոր:
Էլենը օդերի մեջ սավառնող, վերացական մարդ էր, իսկ քույրը` Ռոզան` ընդհակառակը, հողից էր կառչած, բայց արտաքին աշխարհից ինքն իրեն դուրս էր համարում, որովհետև ամբողջ ժամանակ դիտորդի դերում էր:
Մնացած հերոսների մասին շատ բարդ ա ինչ-որ բան ասելը, հեչ համակարգված չէին իրենք

Տեսնես Ֆոլքների գլխում ինչ ա կատարվել էս գիրքը գրելու ընթացքում: