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The Sound and the Fury - William Faulkner
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Dini, the master of meaning
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May 05, 2011 06:34AM
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I'm eager to hear what anyone else has to say about this book. I'm about half way through the second section ... the first was just plain nonsense as far as I could see. However, I have to give a nod to the genius (or lunacy, I'm not sure which) that could actually write in such a way. Any thoughts as to why this nonsensicle first section is first?
I had some difficulties reading the first section too, but I looked it up :) Benjamin is narrating in the first section and he is retarded, his biggest problem being that he doesn't have any idea of time... he just feels and every little thing that reminds him of memories in the past, take him there. And from his point of view, he is still in the present, although he thinks about the past :)It is really complicated, but through the whining and moaning that Benjy does, the critics say that he was the one that felt that the family was breaking apart... :)
I plan to read all of Sparknotes or whatever ... but I like to read the book first and see what, if anything, I can get on my own. So what I got on my own was ... Benjy is mentally retarded, probably in his 30's. The family is a southern aristocratic family that is quickly becoming disfunctional. The three brothers spoil their only sister ... who at some point gets married, and at some point apparently has a child (perhaps illegitimate). So, since you already looked it up, how close did I come? I'm now into the second chapter, which is narrated by Quentin. He is apparently at college, not very responsible as a student, and my guess is he's contemplating suicide.
I will finish the book ... but I'm currently taking a break to read a couple of mindless mysteries. I am delighted to have someone to discuss this with, though! Thanks!
Hey! you really got it pretty well! :) I got these details too, but I never can wait to finish a book until I start looking things up if I am not sure about them :)I'm way too curious :)
I finished the book ... you can read my review, but basically I said I didn't like it but had to give a nod to the genius of the writing.
I'm about a third of the way through and it's taking forever (for me) to finish. I get confused and then I fall asleep. It's the weirdest thing-reading never makes me sleepy.
I can certainly understand why this book makes you fall asleep ... it's so hard to understand what is going on that you don't get a good sense of "gotta keep reading". The only way I made it to the end was to just keep trudging through ... and try to find some of the things the author was trying to say.Stick with it, I know you can make it.
I finished the book. I've been thinking a lot about Caddy. I wonder how her situation read when the book was published. These days having a child out of wedlock is a lifestyle choice, not a fall from grace. That wasn't true back then, but it probably wasn't that uncommon either. Anyway, as I read it, I thought, "Good for her. She got out. It's just too bad she left her daughter to suffer her awful family."
Hooray! I finished The Sound and the Fury this morning. I realize it's a little late for the group discussion but I didn't start reading it until almost the end of May.
The novel was very confusing, complex and mysterious, yet interesting. At times I felt like I was just reading words, trying to glean what meaning I could from them. I agree with the reader who said she would fall asleep when reading it. So I would try to read part of it at night before going to sleep. Anyway, I'm glad I stayed with it until the end. As the novel progressed, I started to understand more of the story. I had been wondering for years what all the fuss was about regarding the book. I don't think I will attempt any other novels by Faulkner for a while, but it's nice to be able to say that I got through this one.
I posted more comments about the novel in my review.
The novel was very confusing, complex and mysterious, yet interesting. At times I felt like I was just reading words, trying to glean what meaning I could from them. I agree with the reader who said she would fall asleep when reading it. So I would try to read part of it at night before going to sleep. Anyway, I'm glad I stayed with it until the end. As the novel progressed, I started to understand more of the story. I had been wondering for years what all the fuss was about regarding the book. I don't think I will attempt any other novels by Faulkner for a while, but it's nice to be able to say that I got through this one.
I posted more comments about the novel in my review.
