The Anything Goes chit-chat thread (subject to tiny fine-print rules)

[Carlton]

I also have a bookshelf of unread books that constantly grows, but mine is filled with books that feel unreadable. They look good, they feel right, they came highly recommended and favorably reviewed, but ten pages in they get too heavy to hold. I'm not as forgiving as I once was, a good story doesn't cut it anymore. I need good writing. I need authors who can write. For me "One Hundred Years of Solitude" is the gold standard. When I discovered "The Wind Up Bird Chronicles" I flew into Murakami . . . through his next five books, and then he lost me. I don't know what happened. Was it me? Or was it him? I'm afraid to revisit Wind Up Bird, what if it doesn't hold up?
The last book that delighted me was/is "People Of Paper" by Salvadore Plascencia. Every so often I come across a writer who is gifted, but it's like shooting fish out of the sky to find them.

[Traveller]

A book that I never finished, leaving me wondering why not, was Infinite Jest by DF Wallace. On the one hand, if I got enough people to go with me to do a group read, I'd probably force myself to finish, but on the other hand, I simply don't have the time or energy.
I'm sticking to shorter reads these days, and luckily there are many good reads that are short.

[Carlton]

Traveller wrote: "A book that I never finished, leaving me wondering why not, was Infinite Jest by DF Wallace. On the one hand, if I got enough people to go with me to do a group read, I'd probably force..."

I'm with you there. One of my teachers compared me to DFW and I ran out and bought Infinite Jest. Thirty pages in I thought, "am I really this boring?" So I guess I have to thank him for the drastic changes in my writing style.
I never got past fifty pages.
I thought The Gormenghast Trilogy was faster paced and more engaging.

[Esthy]

I could not finish The Last of the Mohicans. It was assigned in a high school English class more years ago than I care to admit. I had to write book report on it. But I also wanted to talk on the phone to a boy who was not my boyfriend. I could not finish that book. I cried. I heard whispers of Cliff’s Notes, but I knew as little how to get those as the sky blue fishnet stockings I so envied of Kelly Bundy. To this day I associate that book with confused longing, and the feeling of being forced to read something or else fail and work at Piggly Wiggly forever. I have tried a few times re-engage with this book, but I have yet been unable. I got an incomplete after crying after class that I didn’t know why but I just could not finish this book and I hated it beyond words. I never did that before or since. The teacher looked sorry for me and let me read The Mill on the Floss instead. I loved it and still have fond feelings about the memory of reading this. Ironically I remember almost nothing about it either though except a scene between a little girl and her brother involving scones.

[Traveller]

Lucky that you had such a nice teacher, Esthy!

[Bonitaj]

hello everyone. For some unbeknown reason I've suddenly become drawn to the work of William Faulkner. Is it his indomitable search to uncover the darkest corners of the human psyche?
So my question is this. Sitting on my desk, I now have procured the following:
THE SOUND AND THE FURY
LIGHT IN AUGUST
SANCTUARY.
Where to begin?
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[Traveller]

Bonitaj wrote: "hello everyone. For some unbeknown reason I've suddenly become drawn to the work of William Faulkner. Is it his indomitable search to uncover the darkest corners of the human psyche?
So my question..."

Phew, all I'm going to say for now, is that is a hard question. Seems like you already know Faulkner is dark. I haven't personally read the other two yet, but Sound and the Fury is stylistically unusual, and perhaps harder to get into because of that. From all of my friend's advice and reviews, though, I would personally go for Light In August.

I'll try to make a buddy read for it in a about 6 or 7 weeks or so, if I can get other things cleared off my list... but let's hear what other members think?

[Bonitaj]

Gosh thanks Traveller. that would be most helpful, as going down such a dark alley alone could be difficult to navigate.

[Bonitaj]

hey Traveller... just came back to fill you in on some extra info. (courtesy of Chatgpt) that might influence the order of merit/reading of the three novels. please see below.

Chronologically, the three Faulkner novels were written in the following order:Sanctuary (1931)The Sound and the Fury (1929)Light in August (1932)These novels are not considered a trilogy in the traditional sense. They are independent works, each with its own themes, characters, and narratives. However, they do share common elements typical of Faulkner's writing, such as the setting in the fictional Yoknapatawpha County and an exploration of Southern life, but they were not intended or perceived as a trilogy.
So my question was as follows;

[Bonitaj]

Incidentally, in my research I discovered that SANCTUARY Is perhaps the darkest of all three.
The response:
"You're right—Sanctuary is often regarded as one of Faulkner's darkest works. It delves into themes of corruption, violence, and moral decay, making it a stark and unsettling portrayal of the human condition. Faulkner himself described it as a "cheap idea" he wrote quickly, yet it remains one of his most provocative and controversial novels. If you're prepared for its intensity, it offers a powerful reading experience."

[Bonitaj]

so there it is..
You choose! ironically I need to get "The light in August" back to the library so that might just force my hand !

[Traveller]

Bonitaj, yes, you are correct about the chronology, but please keep in mind that an author's earlier work is not necessarily their best work, as many authors grow and mature along with their works. ;)
So yes, as far as I can make out from people's opinions in general, Sanctuary is not quite as mature as the other two, and many consider Light in August a masterpiece. ...and from what I can see of it, it has many dark psychological twists and turns, if that is your bent.

...but hey, if you have the guts to take on 3 Faulkners, by all means start with Sanctuary, while keeping in mind that it is not considered as much of a masterpiece as the other two are.

There's also the fact that one has to try The Sound and The Fury to say you have tried Faulkner, so perhaps the best would be to toss a coin 😅.

Let's get a third opinion, someone!

[Traveller]

Sorry, Bonitaj, I wasn't being very helpful, was I?
Give me a bit of time, and I'll maybe do a poll and try to organise a group read for sometime soon-ish, and see which one other members choose.

I know for a fact that I wouldn't want to do Sanctuary, so would you mind if we made it a choice between the other two?

[Saski]

I have The Sound and the Fury. I am not so sure about the others so....

[Traveller]

Hmm, it is very famous, and it would actually be nice to do that as a group read... let's hear from some more people, I'll do a poll in a day or two, just a bit busy right now.
You are tipping the scale, Saski!

[Dianne]

I would join the sound and the fury

[Linda]

Traveller wrote: "Hmm, it is very famous, and it would actually be nice to do that as a group read... let's hear from some more people, I'll do a poll in a day or two, just a bit busy right now.
You are tipping the..."

I would consider that within a week or two. Have to read and return 2-3 atm. Also, my settings were messed up and I haven't been getting updates.

[Traveller]

Guys, this is shaping up to become a Sound and Fury read. Ok, shall I send out a group message tomorrow and make it so we convene on Saturday the 24th of August, that sound good to all here?

[Linda]

Traveller wrote: "Guys, this is shaping up to become a Sound and Fury read. Ok, shall I send out a group message tomorrow and make it so we convene on Saturday the 24th of August, that sound good to all here?"
Is that "read it by Aug 24" or "we start Aug 24"?

[Traveller]

Linda wrote: "Is that "read it by Aug 24" or "we start Aug 24"? ..."
That's a "We start 24 Aug." Remember, on this group, we make threads for every few chapters, and then a thread for ending spoilers at the end, so that we can discuss while we read, in as much detail as we want, but without giving too many spoilers ahead of time. This way, we don't have to read in unison, but just more or less so, and can comment in the appropriate thread when we get to that section, and others who already commented will see your comment and come back if they like, etc.

But on the 24th (or the evening of the 23rd, if you like) we all get together in the convening thread and say things like "I'm still waiting for the book; I managed to get hold of it, I saw a good article about the book, or about the writer, or I started and I'm liking/not liking it/confused. etc.

[Traveller]

Oh, and since TSATF is naturally divided into four narrators, we can perhaps make 4 or 5 threads, and a thread for each narrator at the least.

[Dianne]

Starting 8/24 is great!

[Linda]

Traveller wrote: "Oh, and since TSATF is naturally divided into four narrators, we can perhaps make 4 or 5 threads, and a thread for each narrator at the least."

That sounds good, Trav, thanks! Im in!

[Bonitaj]

I'm perfectly happy with your choice. I started Sanctuary and so far so good - I can only imagine The Sound and The Fury will supersede it and I'll still be intrigued to go back and finish it. He somehow reminds me of Cormac McCarthy 's work or sitting watching Tarentino's movies. see you on the 24th. East Coast time?

[Amy (Other Amy)]

I don't know if I can make time to reread Sound & Fury right now (or any time the rest of the year really), but I will eagerly follow along the discussion and comment if I can. I really enjoyed it when I read it, but it was a long time ago.

[Traveller]

Bonitaj wrote: "I'm perfectly happy with your choice. I started Sanctuary and so far so good - I can only imagine The Sound and The Fury will supersede it and I'll still be intrigued to go back and finish it. He s..."

Glad to hear, Bonitaj!
Regarding the time, we don't meet in real time, so any time more or less on the correct date is fine, whether you find yourself in Australia, America, or in-between. Of course there are huge gaps in time from someone on the US West coast, to Greenwich time, to someone living in Australasia, so when I'm commenting some other member/s are probably sleeping and vice versa. No problema! :)

[Traveller]

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "I don't know if I can make time to reread Sound & Fury right now (or any time the rest of the year really), but I will eagerly follow along the discussion and comment if I can. I really enjoyed it ..."

Sorry to hear, but also glad to hear you will be popping in!
We should definitely do something for Halloween this year though, shall we? And maybe over December too!

[Amy (Other Amy)]

October would be lovely. I'll be traveling over Halloween, but I can always manage something spooky. Same for December.

[Traveller]

Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "October would be lovely. I'll be traveling over Halloween, but I can always manage something spooky. Same for December."

It's a date! 😎 We shall attend!

[Linda]

Traveller wrote: "Amy (Other Amy) wrote: "I don't know if I can make time to reread Sound & Fury right now (or any time the rest of the year really), but I will eagerly follow along the discussion and comment if I c..."

I'm in for all things Halloween!

[Traveller]

Linda wrote: "I'm in for all things Halloween! ..."

Good, good! Luckily there's a lot of short to novella length fiction that can be used as Halloween fodder, and I'm quite fine with putting a few works up that will give members a choice, and of course your own suggestions. I've read quite a lot of creepy stuff in the last year or two that I don't mind discussing as well!