A review by gene_parmesan
Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner

challenging dark emotional reflective 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

A work of indescribable beauty and depth. You have to understand what you're getting into. This is art of the highest caliber. You will be challenged, in many ways. Some days I could only manage a single page - not because it was hard to read, but because each page contains so much richness - of character, theme, prose - that I could hardly digest it all.

The first book I've ever read where I don't think I could even attempt to give an answer to the question "what's it about?" I found myself in tears for the final few pages and I don't even know why. 

Certainly the most masterful novel Faulkner ever wrote. 

PS - no shade to audiobook listeners but this is NOT a good one for that format. There are sentences that go on for pages, meaningful usage of italics; you will be very very lost if you try to listen to it. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings