froggy2022's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
metallicait's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
tinyautomaton's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read this book because of a review of it that I read on this website. The review itself was beautiful, and made this book sound like one I had to read.
So weeks after I initially searched for it at the library (it was out), my Dad got it, and I, in the middle of another book, didn't get a chance to start it until a few days before its due date (but right now is amnesty period, or whatever it's called when you don't pay fines, so it's all good).
It took my a few chapters to get into the style of the writing, but once I did, it was great. Sometimes Faulkner says "him" or "Them" and you have no idea who he's talking about, so you just accept it and appreciate the beauty of the writing. And it is beautiful. Sometimes you don't have a clue what's happening, but the way it's written is enchanting. No, not enchanting. I'm blanking out on the word...capturing. Captivating! That's it, captivating, it's captivating. And you get to know the characters really well. And not like you normally would, meaning you don't know their favorite color and other stuff that other books tell you to get to know the characters. You learn the way they think, and that brings you closer to them than favorite colors ever could.
I could talk about individual parts of the book - I think I could talk a while about Darl and Vardaman - but I'm going to choose not to.
This book is different. You are in the story and watching it, while in some other books it is just being told. You have to think to get this book, and you have to think all the time, and maybe reread certain passages. I plan to reread this book in a few years to get what I know that I have not gotten now.
So weeks after I initially searched for it at the library (it was out), my Dad got it, and I, in the middle of another book, didn't get a chance to start it until a few days before its due date (but right now is amnesty period, or whatever it's called when you don't pay fines, so it's all good).
It took my a few chapters to get into the style of the writing, but once I did, it was great. Sometimes Faulkner says "him" or "Them" and you have no idea who he's talking about, so you just accept it and appreciate the beauty of the writing. And it is beautiful. Sometimes you don't have a clue what's happening, but the way it's written is enchanting. No, not enchanting. I'm blanking out on the word...capturing. Captivating! That's it, captivating, it's captivating. And you get to know the characters really well. And not like you normally would, meaning you don't know their favorite color and other stuff that other books tell you to get to know the characters. You learn the way they think, and that brings you closer to them than favorite colors ever could.
I could talk about individual parts of the book - I think I could talk a while about Darl and Vardaman - but I'm going to choose not to.
This book is different. You are in the story and watching it, while in some other books it is just being told. You have to think to get this book, and you have to think all the time, and maybe reread certain passages. I plan to reread this book in a few years to get what I know that I have not gotten now.
jvlasak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sammythearm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It’s a strange book. Certainly something you have to wrangle a bit but that effort is worth it. You get an interesting depiction of the complexity of people and family. I can see why it would be a masterpiece but I don’t really have the energy to undertake it on that level. If you truly understand it props to you.
meowkeyes's review against another edition
4.0
actually like a 3.5. it was good and does what the sound and the fury does but way better. did it really need to be that confusing though? (probably)
yobert's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really love the way that William Faulkner writes. It's a perfect mix of verbose and down to earth language: the characters in this book really feel like family - the way that they hold each other in their minds and how they exist in relation to each other is so well formed. It was a little bit jarring getting moved about in time and also form (changing character perspectives) but it really could not be the same beast without the multiplicity. The few chapters from Addie Bundren are one of the most beautiful portions of prose that I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I had such a peaceful time reading this book, especially the later half. The symbolism and imagery running all throughout the book is so cleverly interwoven with the melancholia central to grief. William Faulkner writes like poetry in motion and I love him for it.
damopedro's review against another edition
3.0
This was hard work. Faulkner isn't going out of his way to make things easy to understand. After a while I found myself alternating between reading a chapter from the book and then reading the chapter summary of what had just happened online. There were a couple of times i had missed something really important! That said the book was really interesting and sad and I can somewhat recommend it if you've got patience (or a good cheat notes website!).
pjraff's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
apocryphal_goose's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0