The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (2015 Reading Challenge)

[Val]

William Faulkner won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949.

[Val]

I have a paperback copy of The Sound and the Fury somewhere. I think it is one I would have kept, so I will read it again when I find it.

[Jan C]

I haven't quite decided yet if I will re-read it. It was excellent.

[Judy]

I'd been thinking of nominating a Faulkner book for October, but have just remembered that this one has already been voted in for the challenge.

I haven't been taking part in the challenge this year but would like to read this book, maybe in the autumn - is anyone else planning to read it?

[Judy]

Thanks, Val. I'll hope to get to this one in the next few weeks, as soon as I've finished some of the books I'm in the middle of at the moment! I'll order it from the library.

[Pink]

I'm still wanting to read this too....it's just got pushed the the back of my list for no particular reason, other than I don't own a copy. Perhaps I need the extra incentive of a group read.

[Nigeyb]

Pink wrote: "Perhaps I need the extra incentive of a group read."

Isn't this a group read?

[Judy]

Great, Pink - sounds as if there are a few of us interested in reading this one around the same time, then. I've checked and my local library does have it, so have just reserved it.

[Barbara]

I'm planning on reading it, but probably not for a while. I have so many books out from the library now that I can't imagine starting Faulkner right away. One of the books I've checked out is Dunant's Dream, another of our challenge books. It is 700 pages long! So that will take me a lot of time.

I think I saw Sound and Fury when I was in high school. (It was a Faulkner story, but might have been a different one) I tried reading the book after I saw the movie and it was impossible for me at the time. Hopefully I'm more capable of understanding it now....

[Roisin]

Yep! Nigeyb ta! The Sound and Fury is one of our Reading Challenge books. So people should just read it and add posts.

[Pink]

Nigeyb wrote: "Pink wrote: "Perhaps I need the extra incentive of a group read."

Isn't this a group read?"

Yes indeed, but I think because it's a yearly challenge, rather than a monthly read, I seem to delay these books, thinking that I still have plenty of time. Having someone else to read at the same time helps.

[Judy]

Barbara, I didn't know there was a film of it, that's interesting. The only Faulkner I've read as yet is Soldiers' Pay, his very first one, which doesn't have a particularly high reputation but I must say I loved.

Nigeyb and Roisin, I just posted in this thread because I wanted to know if anyone else was planning to read this book before possibly nominating a different Faulkner for October. As it seems there is still interest in this one, I will go ahead and read it and post here, and nominate something else for the poll.

[Roisin]

Year sure! I'd be happy to read it in Oct time, but it doesn't have to be the book of the month. If people let others know when they are starting, those who want to read it should just post.

[Roisin]

Oh ok, Barbara. I think another Faulkner should be picked for the book of the month, but who am I to say. : )

[Roisin]

I do have a copy of Absolom Absolom by Faulkner to read, so I have alternative motives. ; )

[Judy]

Thanks, Roisin - I'll post here when I'm starting it. At the moment I'm in a similar situation to you, Barbara, in terms of having too many books on the go - but I've been meaning to get to more Faulkner all year and am now wondering where the time has gone!

[Judy]

PS, I think as there is already this Faulkner read available I'll nominate another writer altogether for October... just need to decide who to go for!

[Barbara]

Judy, I think both of us are spending a lot of time on Proust this year. Great reading, but not easy!

[Judy]

You're right, Barbara - I'm a bit stuck in volume 3 at the moment, but hoping to get through to the end of that one soon!

[Roisin]

Proust! Brave souls! : )

[Pink]

Roisin wrote: "Year sure! I'd be happy to read it in Oct time, but it doesn't have to be the book of the month. If people let others know when they are starting, those who want to read it should just post."

That sounds good to me too.

[Judy]

I'm going to start this in the next few days - will post as I get into it.

[Roisin]

Great! Look forward to your comments.

[Barbara]

I definitely intend to read this for our challenge. Will try to do so in Oct so I can join in the discussion.

[Judy]

Great, Roisin and Barbara - thanks.

[Greg]

I'd like to read The Sound and the Fury with the group. I have five Faulkner novels in my TRL. The next Faulkner I'd intended reading is The Wild Palms, then The Sound and the Fury. The others are Go Down, Moses, Intruder In the Dust, and Light in August.

[Pink]

I've reserved this at the library today, will probably read in October too.

[Judy]

Greg and Pink, great that you are reading it too.

I've just read the first chapter and must admit that, while I can see the stream-of-consciousness writing is brilliant, I'm struggling to follow and have clearly missed a lot!

I did try looking up some free Cliffs Notes online but they were no help, as they assumed I'd already read the whole book rather than just the chapter being discussed. Can anyone suggest a good companion, blog or set of notes going through the book?

Suddenly, Proust seems less difficult than I had thought...

[Barbara]

Judy, I like your comment about Proust seeming less difficult. I haven't started Sound and Fury, but I read several reviews here on Goodreads, and it does sound like it's going to take a lot of effort to read this. I'll give it a try though.

I have no idea of a good guide to the book. I hope you find one--and let us know about it!

[Barbara]

How about this?
http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Gu...

Or Sparknotes? They have a chapter-by-chapter breakdown.

[Pink]

Judy wrote: "Greg and Pink, great that you are reading it too.

I've just read the first chapter and must admit that, while I can see the stream-of-consciousness writing is brilliant, I'm struggling to follow a..."

Oh no! That isn't filling me with confidence! My copy is ready to pick up from the library this week, but will probably take another week before I get around to it.

I hope it get's easier, or you find a study guide that helps.

[Jan C]

I don't remember it as being one of his easier books to read. At least, not at the beginning.

[Greg]

I made a brief start into The Sound and the Fury, and realised I will have to just concentrate and focus on this one book. I usually prefer reading several different books at the one time.

[Judy]

Thanks, Barbara - it looks as if both those notes sites will be useful to refer to to understand what is going on. I'm not sure which of them will be better.

I'm also wondering about getting A Reader's Guide to William Faulkner: The Novels by Edmond L. Volpe, which looks as if it is very good from a few snippets I looked at via Google Books, but it's pretty expensive so will only be worth it if I go on to read more Faulkner. I'll check if my library has it.

Pink, from looking at both sites, it appears that the opening chapter is the hardest one, so I think I'll be going back to it after reading the others. Hopefully it will then become more clear!

Greg, I also like to read a few different books at once, but that may be a tall order with this one.

[Judy]

Just checked and my local library does have a copy of the Volpe book, though it is an old edition from the 1960s - anyway I've ordered it and will report back on how useful it is in reading 'The Sound and the Fury'.

[Jan C]

I should be receiving the book tomorrow. I ordered it yesterday, along with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

[Jan C]

I started reading it today. It is a little confusing but probably purposely.

[Roisin]

Picked up my copy from the library. Will probably start next.

[Judy]

Jan and Roisin, look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Jan, I was totally confused and think I'll need to reread that section.

I've just got A Reader's Guide to William Faulkner: The Novels through from the library and it looks as if it will be very helpful - it goes through what happens in the book in detail and also has family trees.

[Jan C]

I have to admit my reading has bogged down this week. My brother and sister are here and we are clearing out my mother's house in preparation for the closing on the 6th. So no real time to devote to reading.

But I did finish the first section. And although this is the second time around for me on this, it still took me a while to get in to Benjy's head and figure out the different time periods. So I think that section may well require multiple readings.

[Roisin]

I'll start this week. Looking forward to reading it. I've never any Faulkner before.

[Greg]

I read the first chapter. It was difficult at first to get a handle on what's going on, but soon decided to just go with it. Near the end of the Benjy chapter it gets easier to understand, and all the characters in the family are introduced. It looks like it will be easier from now on with the other chapters. I think it is interesting that Faulkner started the story with a tough chapter to get through first up.

[Greg]

I'm well into the second chapter, getting orientated to it. It says in the introduction by Richard Hughes, three page intro in my edition, that it is in the third and fourth chapters when everything becomes clear and the reader has absorbed more than they realise, truly worth the effort. No pain no gain.
I'd be interested to know what introduction your edition has.

I can now also read other books as well without getting confused. I'm also reading Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Every Move You Make.
The other day I had a splurge in a great second hand bookstore I found, one find was Collected Stories by Faulkner which looks fantastic. I briefly dipped into the first story. Going to be a good one this book.

[Nigeyb]

Greg wrote: "...truly worth the effort. No pain no gain."


I'm never convinced by this argument when it comes to books. I prize accessibility.

Communication, and writing, is about conveying meaning. When that meaning is unclear and the recipient needs a study guide to be told what it is they've just read I become even more uneasy.

Still, each to their own.

And I do understand that a sense of achievement having battled through something obtuse can be a reward in itself.

I am following the discussion with interest though and getting a vicarious pleasure (?) through everyone's comments.

And with two BYTers re-reading it...

Jan C wrote: "It was excellent."

Val wrote: "I will read it again when I find it."

....it clearly has something going for it.

[Pink]

Greg, I have an introduction by Nicholas Shakespeare in my library's Everyman edition. I won't be reading it though, at least not until after the book as I know from past experience how these can spoil the plot.

Nigeyb, I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the 'no pain, no gain' argument. If a book is difficult for difficulties sake, just to try to be clever and literary, then I'm not a fan. If however it takes some close reading, continued effort and maybe even a re-read, but it pays off with a rewarding reading experience, then I can get on board with that.

I don't think I'll start until next week, as I want a lighter read over the weekend, but I'll try and get stuck in soon. I'll bear in mind that I might need to plough through the first few chapters until things start making sense.

[Val]

There isn't much point in re-reading books where you got everything first time, is there?
It is only the section Benjy narrates which is difficult to follow and even that makes sense once you get further into the book. This is an articulate writer using the voice of an inarticulate character. It is perhaps a bit off-putting to start with Benjy, but I don't think the structure of the book would work as well if we knew what Benjy was on about beforehand.
You could read a summary of part one and see what you think of the rest of the book, which would give you the chance of joining in with the discussion.

[Nigeyb]

Val wrote: "There isn't much point in re-reading books where you got everything first time, is there?"

Except perhaps in the case of favourite authors?

P.G. Wodehouse comes to mind as I happen to be reading him at the moment

[Roisin]

Re-reads - Depends on how old you are too. : ) One doesn't always feel the same about a book that one read 5, 10, 25 or 30 years ago.

When I re-read 'Down and Out...' By Orwell I felt quite different about. 'Do Androids Dream...' By P K Dick, couldn't get into it had to read again a few seconds years ago, love it.

I quite like things that you have to discover or do background reading to. It can distract from the main body of work, though.

The Divine Comedy I quite like but was very difficult and changed versions. Imagine Stella Duffy writing a poem about a journey through hell, purgatory and paradise, featuring Irish and British worthies, celebs, notables using a particular rhyming metre, full of obscure religious symbolism, being read by people 700 - 800 years later who speak a foreign language. Quite problematic. : )

[Barbara]

How is everyone coming along with this? I've now had it out from the library long enough to have renewed it TWICE and I still haven't even opened it. I'm so behind on my reading, and even further behind on writing any comments on what i HAVE read. I think I'm going to have to skip this for now. Sigh.

[Jan C]

I'm on the second part. But I have read it before.

I have to admit that I haven't picked it up for a while.