William Faulkner: Where NOT To Start (Big Mistake in video. See Below)
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- ****ATTENTION!!!!******
I made a huge mistake and confused Faulkner's novel The Town with The Hamlet_. _The Hamlet is the book I meant to recommend. It is the first book in the Snopes Trilogy, not The Town Please forgive my stupidity.
SPECIAL THANKS TO ZACH MAIELLA for catching my mistake!
Please also go over and check out Una from @TheCodeXCantina 's video "William Faulkner Where To Start."
• Where to Start with Wi...
The Sound and The Fury was my first Faulkner. Read it in 48 hours. Only put it down when I needed to sleep. Likely the most incredible literary experience of my life & still my favorite novel. Absalom, Absalom was my second read. Love Faulkner.
Mine too. I still don't think its the best place to start.
@@BookishTexan For most readers that's most likely right. Depending on the person, I'd likely recommend As I Lay Dying . What a narrative and what a story.
You're giving our secrets away that we coordinated the drop time! :D
Dogs had some feedback for where not to start, eh?
Ah, sorry. Can't trust me with a secret.😁
I was going to ask if you all coordinated!
Ha! Randomly picked As I Lay dying last weekend in the thrift book store as my introduction to Faulkner. Great content btw, really enjoy your videos 😊
Great choice! I hope you are enjoying it.
I started earlier this year with As I lay dying and it was a great reading experience. My second was Sanctuary with your readalong. I am looking forward to next August! Light in August is already sitting on my shelf. Thank you for your recommendations!
Thank you. I think you will find _Light in August_ to be really powerful.
Those three are a very good trio for beginners, IMO.
I really like your channel! I just discovered it today and wish I’d watched this video a year ago!
@@eanayac Thank you very much.
@@BookishTexan What do you think of his short stories? Would you recommend them? Was he as good at writing short stories as he was writing novels?
@@eanayac He has several excellent short stories -- A Rose for Emily, That Evening Sun, Barn Burning, etc,. The thing about Faulkner is that he often mined his short stories for characters and plot ideas so if you are reading one of his stories and something seems familiar you probably read it in a novel or if you are reading a novel you've read it in a short story.
@@BookishTexan Thank you. Do you recommend any of his short stories collection?
@@eanayac I've only ever read his stories in the big collections: The Collected Stories of William Faulkner and The Uncollected Stories of William Faulkner
The Sound and the Fury was my first Faulkner. Benji’s part was so difficult and my first introduction into stream of consciousness ever. I didn’t pick up any other Faulkner until 8 years later, so I wish I had started with something else.
_The Sound and the Fury_ is my favorite, but I agree about it not being a great starting place.
I have been waiting for you to do this video! I can't wait to get started on some of these books. Thank You.
Thank you. I mixed up The Town with The Hamlet. So if you decided to start with the Town, I meant to say The Hamlet.
I agree: do _not_ begin w _A,A!_ which I've always considered it being the sequel to _TSATF._ Its a great masterpiece and I love it, but it's the epitome of "TELL Don't Show!" PS: I was the _First!_ to comment upon Una's video, too, and mentioned yours appearing at the same time 😁
Thanks Allen. Glad we agree. Don't know how I missed your comment here until now. I'm very sorry to be so late in getting to it.
Came from Una’s channel! Subscribed!
The Hamlet was written in 1940, and The Town was written in 1957! I’m not sure if those were confused. The Town is the second one in the trilogy.
Some places I’d also avoid as a first time read are A Fable, and Go Down, Moses. A Fable is a great piece and it’s considered his “magnum opus” to some, but it drags on a fair but. It has an interesting plot but the novel has serious religious themes and concepts. I haven’t finished Go Down, Moses, but from what I can tell it seems incredibly challenging due to multiple stories being woven together.
I’m in the middle of reading Solider’s Pay, and I really admire that book. Although it’s my tenth or so Faulkner, it’s a good page turner. I haven’t finished The Hamlet or Pylon in their entirety either [Insert funny joke about Requiem for a Nun being my favorite book].
Thank you for the interesting video!
Holy Cow, what a mistake. You are right. I got the two confused. How stupid of me.
Thanks for catching that I will have to fix this.
I was going to mention not starting with A Fable and Go Down, Moses can also be a bit of a chore.
I was surprise by_ Soldiers Pay_ . I liked it more than I thought I would, but I don't think its a great place to start.
The Wild Palms was my first novel … amazing.
@@alysonjenkins436 I’ve never read that one.
This was fantastic, Brian. I am firmly with you on Absalom! Glad you included The Hamlet in here. I think it’s an underrated Faulkner work and one that can be a rewarding read.
My wife and I both read The Sound and the Fury as or first Faulkner novel, about 18 months apart. We still have the family tree of the Compsons I sketched for her to figure out some of the puzzles.
The Portable Faulkner is probably the book of his I recommend the most because it has so many of those great stories.
Hope you have a great week!
Best, Jack
Portable Faulkner would be a great starting place. I never think of collections like that when I do these videos. I really like the Hamlet and the Town. The Mansion, if memory serves, isn't as good.
Thanks Jack
I love FLAGS IN THE DUST. Very rewarding.
For beginners, it's nice that "As I Lay Dying" is also short. My first was "Light in August." Bleak, sure, but really very accessible, perhaps the most traditionally written novel from Faulkner's "great" period, 1929-36 (though "Sanctuary" is also pretty straightforward). LiA remains my favorite Faulkner novel after having read 11 (He considered both "Go Down, Moses" and "The Unvanquished" - one of his least exceptional, IMO - to be novels, despite their episodic, not-quiet cohesive nature). My ranking of those 11: 1) Light in August 2) Absalom! Absalom! 3) As I Lay Dying 4) Go Down, Moses 5) The Sound and the Fury 6) (tie) The Hamlet and Sanctuary 8) (tie) The Wild Palms and The Reivers 10) Intruder in the Dust and 11) The Unvanquished. It may seem an odd list, but I like my favorites for quite different reasons, ditto for my - I won't say "least" - less favorites. None of the 11 books are bad; all are well worth reading. It's just that Faulkner set himself a mighty high bar, so when his efforts flag even a bit, it's noticeable. P.S. Even though Faulkner himself dismissed Sanctuary as a potboiler written for cash, it's a pretty powerful, meaningful novel in many ways. For newbies, I would recommend starting with Light in August or As I Lay Dying.
Thank you for sharing your love of Faulkner’s work. As I Lay Dying was my first Faulkner and I agree it makes an excellent introduction to Faulkner’s stylistically innovative work. It is the book that we will be reading as a part of this year’s Faulkner in August readalong. My ranked list would be a bit different with The Sound and The Fury at the top and Sanctuary and Requiem for a Nun at the bottom.
I started with a Rose for Emily and Barn Burning and glad that is where I started.
I thought about starting with stories, but so many people have a prejudice against them. Those are great stories. Faulkner wrote a fair few.
Faulkner wrote many great short stories.
Heh, if you hadn't mentioned that it was pre-planned I was going to comment on the coincidence of you and the Codex guys posting at the same time!😆
Now I think I should have just let it seem like a coincidence.
Oh thank you- i had forgotten about him. We did as I lay dying in school and I didn’t like it BUT that was forced and so young so I will be looking for a cheap copy to pick up again- or the Hamlet- I know it will be better me choosing him! Thank you!
Thank you. I hope you like the Faulkner you pick up.
I was going to ask if you and the Code X coordinated! ☺️ What a great video! Glad to have a better idea of where not to start and where to start for a Faulkner newbie!
I do want to try Faulkner again. Thanks, Brian!
Thanks Shelly. We only coordinated on the release time and date. His recommendations were a surprise to me, though I think our reasoning for what we chose is pretty similar.
I mixed up The Town with The Hamlet. So if you decided to start with the Town, I meant to say The Hamlet.
@@BookishTexan Ah, good to know! The Town/The Hamlet did interest me so thank you for that!
I just bought The Hamlet so I"m glad it comes first. I *listened* to Light in August - it's here on youtube. Does listening count?
Of course listening counts!🤓
I'm intrigued! It's on the list.
I started with "Go Down, Moses" which, for me, was not a great place to start. I actually never even hear people talk about that one, either. . I just came from watching the Codex video, I hope you two have more of these "where to/where not to" kind of videos.
I think _Go Down, Moses_ is a really important book in the Faulkner universe, but I agree not a great place to start. I think Una and Krypto may have done a video on _Go Down Moses_ early in their channel.
I started with Absalom, Absalom. Someone had it when I was camping, some twenty-something years ago. It made a lifelong fan out of me.
That’s great. It is an amazing book. A true masterpiece.
Great discussion. I know you're focusing on the novels here, but I will always offer that my opinion is the best place to start William Faulkner is with the short stories, though that's just based on my own experience and I don't know his works as well as you do. I definitely agree that Sanctuary isn't a good place to start.
Short stories are a great place to start as well. I didn't suggest that here because with Faulkner, unlike Hemingway, I think his best work is in his novels though he does have some very good short stories.
Oddly enough Absalom, Absalom! was my first Faulkner novel. It was for a college class in the 80s on the Modern Novel. I was captivated by the long sentences.
The long sentences are an experience unto themselves sometimes. I think _Absalom, Absalom_ is amazing, but it would have been a tough place for me to have started.
The Absalom, Absalom! controversy!!!
Hahaha!
One of my local indie bookstores always keeps a decent collection of Faulkner in stock, I think the owner must be a fan. I want to try out this writing eventually so I've bookmarked this video to refer to in that case ☺️ stream of consciousness sometimes works for me, sometimes it doesn't.
Sounds like my kind of bookstore.😁
I hope you'll give Faulkner a shot.
I mixed up The Town with The Hamlet. So if you decided to start with the Town, I meant to say The Hamlet.
@@BookishTexan oh thanks for clarifying ☺️
I've always known Faulkner as a name but nothing that detailed about what he wrote or his style. Stream of consciousness can work really well for me or annoy me to death. I will give As I Lay Dying a read sometime
I think you will find _As I Lay Dying_ to be challenging and rewarding.
I agree with you about Absalom Absalom and As I Lay Dying!
Thank you James.
Soldiers’ Pay it is then, great sale!
Good Luck with that.
@@BookishTexan Yes Sir! it does to me seem to be the best place to start with Faulkner's first novel. To watch his progression as a writer and master storyteller of my home. Thank you Sir!
Meu primeiro contato foi com O som e a fúria. Gostei muito do capítulo do Benjy. No do Quentin quase desisti do livro, mas foi um bom primeiro contato. Mas merece reeleitura. Agora quero ler Absalão, Absalão. Obrigada pelo vídeo. Infelizmente no meu país muitas obras que você citou não estão sendo publicadas mais no momento. Só esses mais famosos. E meu inglês não é bom para leitura no original 😢
I've read almost all of Faulkner stories included, lectures novels all and I think that Flags is one of his more enjoyable books and my friend Matt who is also a Faulkner lover agrees having also read pretty much everything by Faulkner.
Fair enough. I enjoyed reading it too. I just dont think its a good place to start.
I haven't read any Faulkner yet but I should (right?) so i'll keep this video in mind for reference.
Well, I love Faulkner's books so I'd say yes, but . . . . .
I may have to give The Hamlet a go! It’s one I’ve never read or even heard much about. Thanks, Brian! Kinda weird, but I want to read Requiem for a Nun now just to see how it could be more brutal than Sanctuary. 😳
I liked _The Hamlet_ and the whole Snopes Trilogy. Just as a heads up I think we may be reading the whole trilogy for next years Faulkner in August/ Summer of Snopes.
It is less violent (?) but more brutal in its portrayal of Temple as a person I think.
@@BookishTexan Ohh! 🤩 Thanks for the heads up! I’ll definitely save it for then.
As I lay Dying remains the only book I read by him until today - one of these days I'll read more. *lies I tell myself*
I tell myself and others similar lies about what I plan to read every time I watch a booktube video.😁
Sanctuary was my first Faulkner. I do not read enough... Requim will be next... then, probably, As I Lay Dying.
Oooh.... so you are going directly against my advice....
I like it!
Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@BookishTexan well... read Sanctuary before I heard this... and Requim... it follows Sanctuary... I WILL say, his stream of consciousness is not difficult for me to follow... and the subject matter... I have had the misfortune of experiencing much the same.
Unfortunately, Absalom is where I started and then followed it with Sanctuary 🤣 I have as I lay dying… but stream of consciousness is also not my favorite 😳 we will see
_As I Lay Dying_ benefits, I think, from not staying too long in one characters head, but Stream of C can get tiring.
I agree with you about Absalom, Absalom! though I think it's by far his best book. I think Intruder in the Dust is his most accessible.
Intruder is accessible, I agree; but I find it one of his most pedestrian, prosaic works.
what about "A Fable"? I read it both in English and Spanish (my motherly lenguage) and still don't get it.
I have never been able to get more than a few pages into A Fable. So I can't help. Sorry.
My first Faulkner was The Reivers. I mean, Steve McQueen movie? Yeah.
Would you say The Sound and The Fury is a typical Faulkner novel? And is it a good starting point? It's the only one I've read and I am forever judging him for it.
_The Sound and the Fury_ is my favorite Faulkner novel. I don't know that I would call it typical. Faulkner's reputation was based on his "stream of consciousness" novels like TS&TF, but he wrote more books that weren't stream of c. I think its as close to perfect as Faulkner came, but _Absalom, Absalom_ is considered to be a greater book. If you do decided to read another Faulkner I would suggest _Light in August_.
I mixed up The Town with The Hamlet. So if you decided to start with the Town, I meant to say The Hamlet.
Thank you, I don't get along with steam of consciousness, just not my thing, but I will have a shot at _Light in August_ probably next Faulkner in August, but maybe sooner.
OMG....:)! I guess we are on opposite sides of the fence.
Oh well, if everyone always agreed this wouldnt be any fun.
Appreciate this!
Thank you. I mixed up The Town with The Hamlet. So if you decided to start with the Town, I meant to say The Hamlet.
What do you guys think of Pylon by Faulkner. I can’t find a single review of this novel on CZcams
I am sorry. _Pylon_ is one of the Faulkner titles I haven't read.
The best time to start any Faulkner novel is tomorrow. Always tomorrow.
Haha! Not a fan then?
First was "Flags in the Dust", really liked it. Second, "Light in August", really didn't like it. Haven't been brave enough to read any more.
Haha! I didn't dislike _Flags in the Dust_ , but I just didn't find it as interesting. _Light in August_ is pretty dang bleak.
Sure Faulkner is cruel to Temple Drake, but Temple Drake and her father, Judge Drake, are two of the most despicable characters in all of Faulkner! This is rarely pointed out by Faulkner critics; the Drakes are, self-righteous, entitled, racist, 'cruel and inhumane' people.
Temple is certainly entitled and her family is awful