this post was submitted on 28 Nov 2023
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William Faulkner. Read The Sound and the Fury and did not care for it much. Later on someone who really enjoyed Faulkner encouraged me to try Light in August. I ended up reading and loving that novel, as well as As I Lay Dying.
Read Absalom, Absalom!
If all the literature of our current civilization were lost except for a handful of books - possibly even one book- I'd be proud if this was one of them. It's exceptional, beautiful, ugly, brutal, and incredible.
I will read it! That is quite the recommendation and I appreciate it!
I’ve read a lot of Faulkner and I found the sound and the fury to be absolutely, astonishingly profound. But I also read that one after having read like four or five others for a lot class so I wonder if there’s something to starting with easier Faulkner first.
Yes, that is a good observation. I should go back and revisit The Sound and the Fury now.
I think you are correct in starting with other texts. Now that I have committed to reading Absalom Absalom, I might go back and re-read Sound and the Fury as well.
Oof. I need encouragement to start that one again.
I started with Sound and the Fury. Didn't turn me off one bit - quite the opposite, it opened the door - but I totally understand how it might make people reluctant to try others.
Personally Absalom, Absalom may be my favorite. As I Lay Dying is amazing in its own way. Light in August is so beautiful and tragic. I haven't read Sanctuary, and i have ahard time getting into The Reivers, but I think I'm due for my annual retry.
I also have his Three Short Novels and a huge collection of stories. A Rose for Emily still hits me every time...
If you like Faulkner you’ll like McCarthy.
I do! Blood Meridian is one of my favorite novels.
Read and loved a bunch of McCarthy so I tried Sound and the Fury but had to give it up pretty early. Might be time to give Faulkner another shot.
Try As I Lay Dying.
The only McCarthy I have read -- and it was a horrible slog -- was THE ROAD. I was continually being dragged up out of the story to examine the writing and there's NOTHING I hate more as a reader. Why is this sentence capitalized, when most aren't? Is there significance to this bit of dialogue actually being attributed? Does McCarthy just not bother with editors at all?
Never had that experience with Faulkner.
Ah you just aren’t a fan of McCarthy writing style and that’s ok it’s not for everyone. Best way I can describe it is Cormac McCarthy novels don’t have any bloat, what you see on the page is exactly what he wants you to see and read. It can blend from him describing something to someone talking and if you aren’t used to it than you’ll hate it. You also did kinda jump into the deep end of the pool with The Road. It’s renowned but it’s also a difficult read especially if you haven’t read any of his other works. Try Blood Meridian (it’s extremely violent so be careful) or No Country For Old Men (Book is better than the movie) or even his early works like All The Pretty Horses. As for the Faulkner comparisons it’s more the similarities of southern poetry and southern gothic styles. Similar but also very different.
I found The Road to be relatively straightforward for McCarthy. Blood Meridian was much tougher for me.
Why was tough for you? The violence or the writing style ?
Ya that’s a solid prediction
Blood Meridian is on the top!