I think he was a genius - and a drunk. But even drunk, he could write like nobody else.
My favorite has to be "The Sound and the Fury." It's a tough read, but it so rewarding.
I've taught it a few times, and some of my students eventually forgave me for assigning it.
Here's an excellent summation:
"The Sound and the Fury, published in October of 1929, was Faulkner's fourth novel--and clearly his first work of genius. Now considered to be one of the strongest American contributions to the fiction of high modernism, it has generated countless critical interpretations. In writing the novel, Faulkner experienced a creative absorption and passion that he was never to forget; he said of The Sound and the Fury, "It's the book I feel tenderest towards. I couldn't leave it alone, and I never could tell it right, though I tried hard and would like to try again, though I'd probably fail again."
The novel tells the story, from four different perspectives, of the disintegration of a Southern family. The father is cynical and passive, and though he clearly loves his children, he drinks himself to death; the invalid mother has no love for her children and continuously demands that she herself be taken care of; Benjy, the mentally retarded son of whom his mother is ashamed, is castrated after he begins to exhibit sexual behavior; Quentin, the neurotic and romantic son, goes off to Harvard to fulfill his mother's lifelong wish and commits suicide there; Caddy, the only daughter, becomes pregnant while still a teenager and quickly marries a man who turns her out of the house when he discovers that their child is not his; Jason, his mother's favorite, loses his chance at a lucrative job when Caddy's marriage fails and is reduced to supporting the family by working in a general store. Caddy's daughter--named after her brother Quentin--is brought up in the unhappy Compson household although everyone is forbidden to speak her mother's name. She has her revenge upon her uncle Jason when she steals the $7000 he has amassed by embezzling from his mother and from funds sent to Quentin by Caddy. The family is supported and cared for by a family of black servants, led and held together by the matriarch Dilsey.
Because of its experimental style, The Sound and the Fury presents a daunting challenge for readers. By 1929 Faulkner had given up trying to please publishers and reviewers, and, as the critic Albert J. Guerard has noted, now seemed "to write only for himself and a happy few." Traditional aspects of the novel like exposition, plot, and character development are cast aside in the attempt to find a narrative form that could represent the realities of mental chaos, the fluidity of time and memory, and the painful interweaving of separate selves in family life. Though at times Faulkner's material may seem so inchoate as to be barely containable within language at all, The Sound and the Fury attains heights and depths of expression that are truly breathtaking: it is an unforgettable work that richly rewards the reader's efforts."
I'd very highly recommend it - but it'll require some close reading.
For short stories, I'll have to go with "That Evening Sun." (Although "A Rose for Emily" comes in a close second). It has stuck in my mind ever since I first read it, so many years ago. Here's a brief and partial review:
"For anyone reading Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury, “That Evening Sun” provides an excellent introduction to the novel: Every character in it retains the same characteristics they have in the longer work.
The title of “That Evening Sun” refers to a popular black spiritual that begins, “Lordy, how I hate to see that evening sun go down,” which implies that once the sun sets, death is sure to follow. Thus, at the end of Faulkner’s short story, although some characters are not convinced that Nancy’s husband, Jesus, is waiting outside her cabin to kill her, we suspect that he is close by, and that he will likely slit Nancy’s throat with his razor before the night is over. The setting sun is feared by the singer of the spiritual and Nancy alike.
Many critics refer to “That Evening Sun” as one of the finest examples of narrative point of view. The story is told by Quentin Compson, whose voice Faulkner utilizes at two distinct times in the boy’s life. First, we have 24-year-old Quentin remembering a 15-year-old episode concerning Nancy’s fear of Jesus. This introductory point of view is then followed by the narrative voice of 9-year-old Quentin, who recalls the episode as he experienced it at that time. Within this narration, we have the emotionally contrasting adult voices of Nancy and Mr. Compson, Quentin’s father."
Again, highly recommended.
2007-08-31 10:53:05
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answer #1
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answered by johnslat 7
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Wow, I've got a lot to say, but I'm not going to write as much as that last guy...
I too am a big Faulkner fan, but you have to be focused and awake when you read him because he takes every ounce of your concentration.
"Sanctuary" is an amazing novel and most haven't heard of it. It's very dark, very creepy, and very suspenseful. I agree "The Sound and the Fury" is wonderful, but you've read, or can read, enough about that everywhere. Another I enjoyed was "Go Down Moses". Like most, very complex. If you want to take the easy way out, read "As I Lay Dying" which is probably one of his easier novels to follow. It doesn't make it any less complex, it just doesn't hurt your brain so much to read.
2007-08-31 17:58:15
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answer #2
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answered by lduncan00 7
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I love The Sound and the Fury as well, but also Absalom, Absalom! and Light in August. As for his short stories, Carcassonne is my favorite. His stories in Go Down, Moses are really great too. His style and structure is really interesting.
2007-08-31 18:07:01
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answer #3
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answered by DngrsAngl 7
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