Nate's profile

338 ratings | 15 reviews
avg rating: 3.96

Nate's bookshelves

read (339)
currently-reading (1)
to-read (2)
own (257)
classics (94)
contemporary-fiction (51)
cinema (26)
plays (24)

politics (24)
religion (23)
memoirs (21)
short-fiction (20)
philosophy (17)
history (14)
humor (12)
reference (10)

science (10)
biography (9)
poetry (8)
visual-art (6)
screenplays (5)
music (5)
on-loan (5)
psychology (4)

literary-crit (3)
manuals-tech (3)
mystery (1)
sociology (1)

cloud shelves | see all bookshelves »

Nate is currently reading

	08/19 Nate is currently reading: The Lime Twig (Paperback) by John Hawkes bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, currently-reading, own	my rating:
	add a comment

Nate's recent updates (rss)

August 19

Nate gave

to:
The Sound and the Fury (Paperback)
by William Faulkner
bookshelves: classics, own

my rating:

read in August, 2008

Nate said: "I was a bit intimidated when I started this novel, but it really does become more accessible as it progresses and is absolutely worth the effort required. The characters, at times extremely frustrating, are wrought with depth and tragic humanity lik...more I was a bit intimidated when I started this novel, but it really does become more accessible as it progresses and is absolutely worth the effort required. The characters, at times extremely frustrating, are wrought with depth and tragic humanity like no other novel's. Faulkner's combined use of stream of consciousness and frequent perspective shifts allows the reader to form a unique, intense relationship with most of the main characters in a way not possible through typical first person or third person omniscient narratives. Even if we can't relate to their particular situations, we can identify with their feelings of frustration, loss, regret, embarrassment, pride, and shame, because Faulkner has given us such nuanced insight into their subconscious and conscious worlds.

The first section, narrated by Benjy is the most difficult to comprehend for several reasons. We're not yet familiar with any of the characters, the temporal changes are abrupt, perspective shifts without warning, and our primary narrator is mentally deficient. However, I think the main difficulty in coherency is due to our unfamiliarity with the characters and events being described, not solely due to the narrative style. I highly recommend rereading this section after finishing the novel, as it will then be much clearer.

Quentin's narrative section is just as challenging stylistically as Benjy's, if not more anxiety producing due to the obsessiveness and depression conveyed in his stream of consciousness bursts, but narratively the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place with a bit more clarity.

Things get much more lucid once we get to Jason's narrative, but the trade off is dealing with his brutal cynicism without throwing the book across the room. The only way to comprehend his inhumanity is to remind oneself of the cruel, unstable environment in which he was raised.

Finally, the last section of the book abandons first person narrative voice and stream of consciousness for a third person omniscient view mostly centered around Dilsey, who has endured more hardships than any of the Compsons. It is in this section that we see the true strength of her mental and spiritual fortitude, especially awe inspiring when contrasted with the weakness and selfishness of the Compson family.

Through the tragedy of the Compsons, Faulkner illustrates the tragedy of the post Civil War South. Their self-pity, bitter resentment of unavoidable circumstances, abnegation of responsibility and failed self-righteousness creates and fuels their own descent into shame, financial ruin, and death. Ironically, it is the servants, treated like animals by the Compsons, who weather unimaginable hardships with true forbearance and dignity, instead of self destructing with anger or wallowing in self-pity.

My only complaint is that Caddy doesn't have a narrative section like the rest of her siblings, which I must assume is more of a poor structural choice than a gross oversight. I've wracked my brain trying to figure out why Faulkner would make such a choice, and I can't come to any reasonable conclusions. Please let me know if you have a theory.

So, don't be like me and put off reading this book for years out of fear of difficulty. The achingly memorable characters and sheer brilliance of style and narrative structure will make all of the work well worth it.
...less "

add a comment

Nate is currently reading:
The Lime Twig (Paperback)
by John Hawkes
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, currently-reading, own

my rating:

add a comment

August 17

Nate took the never-ending book quiz.

questions answered:	712
correct:	452 (63.5%)
skipped:	526
best streak:	12
questions added:	0

beat his score »

August 16

Nate gave

to:
The Blood Oranges (Paperback)
by John Hawkes
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction

my rating:

read in August, 2008

Nate said: "Blood Oranges seduces with its surreally idyllic world and sumptuous, lyrical prose; although, the intoxication is both poisonous and blissful.

Hawkes has birthed a dubious yet charming narrator, Cyril, akin to Nabakov's Humbert Humbert in persi...more "

add a comment

Nate made a comment on Eric's profile:

Nate wrote: "What was the name of that book you were talking about last night? The one involving the pacifist du...more "

Nate marked as to-read:
Moby-Dick: or, The Whale (Penguin Classics)
by Herman Melville
bookshelves: to-read

my rating:

add a comment

Nate marked as to-read:
The Red Badge of Courage (Paperback)
by Stephen Crane
bookshelves: to-read

my rating:

add a comment

August 14

Nate gave

to:
The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso (in one volume) (Everyman's Library)
by Dante Alighieri, Allen Mendelbaum (translator)
bookshelves: classics, own, poetry

my rating:

add a comment

see all 339 of Nate's books »

Nate's groups (recent posts)

beantown bookworms — 161 members — last activity 22 days ago, 12:56PM
For goodreads members living in & around Boston, MA. General discussion about topics including - but not limited to - favorite bookstores & l...more

Nate's friend comments

showing 1-4 of 4. (add a comment | view all)

from Eric

05/21/2007 10:51AM

Nate, I will be very impressed if you can teach Rodger how to read in less than a year. Let me know how that goes. In any case, he will soon be "a dog against the war."

flag abuse

from Naomi

03/29/2007 12:23PM

I do love him! 50% of my tattoos come from Neil Gaiman. I do, indeed, know that's weird. What to read next would depend on the kind of commitment you want to make. The Sandman graphic novel series, as a whole, is one of the most amazing pieces of literature I've ever read. Novel-wise I'd go with either Neverwhere or Good Omens.

flag abuse

from James

03/29/2007 06:09AM

you must have spent the last 12 hours adding books. I commend your dedication to the ancient art of books.

flag abuse

from Laura

03/28/2007 05:30PM

Isn't it great? The last two hours at work flew by. Recommend me some good stuff!

Miss you. :)

flag abuse

block this member *

Nate's friends (33)

	Christine 224 books 12 friends
	Anne-Marie 134 books 20 friends
	Hunter 245 books 19 friends
	Naomi 242 books 14 friends
	Eric 269 books 20 friends
	Derek 89 books 6 friends
	cathy 181 books 28 friends
	Christine 24 books 10 friends
	Courtney 98 books 2 friends
	ivelisse 36 books 27 friends
	Patrick 23 books 12 friends
	Chris 119 books 11 friends
	Aimee 197 books 16 friends
	mia 93 books 16 friends
	San 0 books 3 friends

see all 33 friends »

never-ending quiz

ranking:	1025 out of 63691
questions answered:	712
correct:	452 (63.5%)
best streak:	12
questions added:	0

take the quiz »