Have you ever read Faulkner’s The Sound and the...

Have you ever read Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury?

It’s impossible.

Actually supposedly the whole book is not impossible.

But the first chapter which is narrated by a mentally damanged young man is so difficult to follow that Faulkner said it should be printed in 14 different colors of ink to make it clearer. 

(14 colors of ink wasn’t possible in Faulkner’s time.  But last week a company announced they had recently done it. And the book is only 350 dollars!)

So recently when I was in Faulkner books in New Orleans I skipped the Faulkner section. 

The nice woman who ran the store asked me why.

And then before I could answer she smiled and said…"Sound and the Fury"?

Yes, I smiled weakly.

And then she handed me a copy of Faulkner’s short stories.

"You’re buying this."

(There some women in the South that it is impossible to say ‘no’ to)

I had no idea of the power of his writing. 

My favorite story is A Rose for Emily.

Sappy title but the writing is thrilling.

And if the last line doesn’t make you gasp you should see a doctor because chances are you are already dead.

Now I am a Faulkner addict. 

Who knows I might even attempt Sound and the Fury again.

(But only in 14 colors)