What is one to think about Faulkner? I am a little undecided myself. I am not a huge fan of this book because I like book to paint pretty pictures in my head that I can imagine and see. Colors and all!!! Isn’t that the whole point of reading? To use your imagination and have your very own TV in your head? Well it is for me anyways. Faulkner is under the delusion that we as readers have to search and find and dig for a pretty picture. And they aren’t even that pretty!! Suicide, sex in the fields, castration, incest, and impotence!! Yes let me please imagine this on the TV in my head. But lets face it, half of us had no idea that castration happened until it was pointed out to us. Is that the way anyone wants to read… I want to read a book and be hanging on the edge of my seat wanting more. Not sitting there obsessing over the same two pages trying to figure out what the hell it means!!! I don’t even want to discuss the time crap Faulkner is trying to pull with the furture and past and present and past again and hey lets forshdow but not really… UGGGG
On the other hand, I did find myself wondering waht happened to the Compson family, NOT THAT WE EVER REALLY FIND OUT!!!, which may make him a genuis. I mean the reaason people keep buying and reading all the Harry Potter books is beacuse you want to know ultimatley how it all ends. Can’t fault Faulkner for doing the same thing. After I got used to the way he wrote in a specific chapter, I was enthralled and had to finish said chapter.
So overall what I think about The Sound and the Fury, I guess my opinion is that for something like this, a literature class it is a good selection. But for everyday fun, I am going to sit under a tree and sun bathe…. no thanks… I would much rather read Patricia Cornwell or Chuck Palutnik (however you spell, the guy that wrote Fight Club).
February 22, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I agree with you about reading is suppose to help your imagination and paint a picture in your mind. But I didn’t understand the first two chapters because of Faulkner’s writing style. One chapter is on a mentally disabled character with no concept of time and the other is obsessed with time but his thoughts are delusional.
February 23, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Well I can definately agree with you that this book does not paint any pretty pictures in one’s mind! Suicide, sex in the fields, castration, incest, and impotence are what fill a persons head while reading this book. It is quite disturbing and not the normal “everyday” book you would find someone reading. However, Faulkner is a brilliant writer for creating such a piece. It leads you wondering, what kind of life did he live?