Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Sound and the Fury

1.5 stars.

Assigned for university, and we haven’t had the lectures on it yet, so maybe there’s something I’m missing. But I doubt it.

I understand the events of the novel as they occurred (though I still haven’t figured out Quentin the Younger’s father, or which one of the brothers admitted to incest - Quentin, I think?), so I understand that it’s supposed to be a sad tale about intergenerational trauma, shame and secrets.

What I didn’t understand is - why I’m supposed to care? I didn’t find any of the characters in the slightest bit compelling, and Faulkner’s stylistic and syntactic choices served no other purpose than to confuse.

And the entirety of the final section - April 8th, 1928 - added nothing to the story, save Quentin the Younger robbing Jason and running off. I don’t understand the purpose served by the novel following Benjy & Dilsey to mass, and the ending is abrupt and un-final. Why can’t Benjy be taken to the left of the Confederate statue? Why does it upset him so? What is over there?

- Those are questions which I’m hoping my uni lectures will answer, though I quite doubt it. I really do hope my mind is changed on this book, as I was really excited about reading Faulkner, and am disappointed to be as let down as I was.

Content Warnings

greystimemachine's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Content Warnings

grantsharpies's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

econsidine's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I doubt anyone needs me to tell them this is a Good Book, but yes, it is considered a masterpiece by many, and justifiably so. If you’re like me and your close reading skills need some dusting off, the appendix is crucial. Also, to save you a degree of the confusion: there are 2 Quentins.

Otherwise, it’s a beautifully inscrutable and captivating novel that treats everyone, even people I would hate in real life, with equal lack of cruelty or sentimentality. I had no idea what was happening half the time yet couldn’t put it down. I want to reread it immediately.

Content Warnings