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theoriginalallison's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, Emotional abuse, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Slavery, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Incest, Abandonment, Antisemitism, and Cursing
braveprincess11's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
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.
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
Graphic: Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, and Incest
Minor: Death of parent and Death
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