Absalom, Absalom! by William FaulknerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fairly difficult to read (well what do you expect, it’s Faulkner), though more consistent in that the difficulty doesn’t fluctuate as much as Sound and the Fury does; it’s easier than the most difficult parts of that book but harder than the easier ones. That said, SOTF is probably more accessible and appropriate for a new reader; the characters in that book are more easily recognizable and memorable (Benjy! Caddy! Quentin!), whereas this one really just focuses on the specter of Thomas Sutpen, aka the definition of Mr. Unlikable, which doesn't make this book any more enjoyable to read. Or well, I enjoyed it, but for different reasons.
(Also, I hate people like Shreve. "Wait/All right/Listen-" shut up Shreve you weren't there. And you sound like Navi from Zelda.)
It’s been too long since I read this already for me to give a more thorough review, but I will say that a few moments from this book still stick with me in the way that good literature always does-- especially the chapter adapted from Faulkner’s previous short story, “Wash.” Holy **** that ending. So good. And that final chapter ain't too shabby either.
It’s Southern (in all storytelling senses of the word: gothic, legendary, tragic, speculative, what-have-you), it’s epic, it’s sad... and it's surprisingly relevant if you want to understand the white American South mentality. It makes me wonder how much of it has really changed, over a century later. So much of what happens in this book, for all its twists and turns and climaxes, didn't really surprise me or change my view in the grander scheme of things: cognitive dissonance, racial hubris, self-serving ambition and victimization. We've all seen this before. Just look at the news in the past year.
It's as they say: "these wounds, they will not heal." (and that's the only time you'll ever hear me quote Linkin Park haha.)
