Where To Start With William Faulkner 

Don't hate me but I think Faulkner's style is close to perfect for an audio version. If an actor catches the rhythm its fantastic to listen.

look. i’ve read Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. I’m here for the long sentences. just picked up As I Lay Dying.

I started to read Faulkner in high school. Didn’t get it. Tried thru my twenty’s. Same thing. When I reached fifty, I reread sound and fury. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I’ve read all his works since then along with commentaries and critiques.

I started with Absalom, Absalom in college. Book changed my life.

I too read “As I lay dying” my senior year in highschool. But only now I’m beginning to appreciate his work, and I recently finished “The Sound and the Fury”. Easily the most difficult literature I have ever read, but on re-reading, especially Benji’s and Quentin’s sections I think he pulled off a masterpiece of story telling. Teaching me to say FUCK YOU to the mere concept of time, is so therapeutic. I’m beginning to binge his content, so I just wanted to say I appreciate your video and look forward to checking out more on you channel!💯

I read 'As I Lay Dying' in highschool and absolutely adored it, it changed the way I viewed books. I give all the credit to my excellent teacher, who got us to approach the book as a puzzle, having us have mini debates as to what was going on from chapter to chapter and getting us to read ahead to see if we were right. I understand it might not be the best starting place for most but with a great teacher it can be a riveting and profound read, even for a first time reader of Faulkner.

I started with "The Sound and the Fury" and now I'm reading "Absalom, Absalom!" and the long paragraphs are hard. He starts saying something then he changes and then he opens another parenthesis and 5 pages after he'll return to that first thought and then you have to go back to understand what the fuck he's saying hahaha I personally love this because it forces the reader's attention, you can't simply read Faulkner without paying attention. Other difficulties I'd say he doesn't really define who's talking or who he's talking about so you kinda have to decipher who's the narrator and who's the narrator is talking about. And sometimes we're reading and then he says "But then Wash Jones appeared" and it's hilarious because we as first-time readers have no idea who the fuck is Wash Jones but he's talking like he was presented before I love these moments. It's obviously a book to be read at least twice in a row because most of it won't make sense until you have the whole picture, the way he goes back and forth in time is another confusing aspect but I think here in "Absalom" it's a lot easier if compared to the "Sound and the Fury" because he gives you a lot of dates throughout and then you go and organize the puzzle. Anyway love his writing and the way he structures the story in a way it's hard but you can't stop reading to see what happens and obviously very profound themes.

Just picked off my shelf "the sound and the fury" and read Benjy's narrative (1/4) in a afternoon and absolutely fell in love with faulkner's writing. Not THAT difficult (try James joyce!). It just requires reader's full attention and patience. Nice vid, bro. Keep talking bout classics!

Absolutely agree with Light in August as a good start. An easier read than some other works. Enjoyable and gripping

Excellent intro to Faulkner. Thank you. I had to read all of Faulkner to get it. The Collected Stories are essential. They worked like keys for the complete works.

I agree with what you say about "A Rose for Emily" which is all I am able to offer my students these days. I read "Absalom, Absalom!" first and Thomas Sutpen remains the most memorable character in all of Faulkner to me, but, having taught Faulkner to both high schoolers and college freshmen, I would recommend reading "Barn Burning" first, then "The Hamlet" for a more straightforwardly narrative reading experience. "The Sound and the Fury" is the penultimate culmination of his modernist narrative approach to story-telling. "As I Lay Dying" is the best example of Faulkner's tragi-comic style and the post(?)ultimate example of his cubist style of narration.

I love your editing style man. I've never read any Faulkner but I'm enjoying your videos on all topics so this was a great introduction for me!

Loved the video! We were assigned to watch your video as our homework, so I guess you can be proud of it. Production quality is top notch!

After 5+ readings, my only regrets about The Sound and the Fury are: 1) Waiting so long to read it for the first time, and 2) Never can I read it again for the first time :(

I sure hope this guy keeps making videos about books!

Great video. In one of his interviews, Faulkner suggested The Unvanquished as a good book to start with because he said it was the easiest to read. Light in August is really the greatest. Of his short stories, I think Barn Burning and Dry September are the good ones to start with.

I'm 20 percent of the way through Light In August and I am in love. Immediately went to the book store and bought The Sound and the Fury and yes, it is different, but there is still something magical about it but in a different way

As I Lay Dying was a major milestone for me. I've been an avid reader as long as I can remember, but As I lay Dying was like opening a door. Like you, I had it as assigned reading in high school. About midway through, something just clicked and I could not put it down. I finished it that night. Even though I was reading a wide variety of other things on my own at that point, it was hard to believe what he was doing... how different, new (to me), and exciting it was. I mark it as the moment when I began to love novels that made me work harder, that truly rewarded me for reading more closely.

Hearing you talk about Faulkner convinced me to pick up “As I Lay Dying”; can’t wait to read it!

I went to a continuation school meant for bad kids so I was never forced to read anything really. As I lay Dying was my first Faulkner I read and I did it on my own and its still one of my favorite books ever.

Super insightful. I usually don’t read too many fictional books but these videos/podcast really makes me wanna start

Never been able to read Faulkner, but I really enjoyed your articulate enthusiasm. I own some of his books "for that day" -- maybe I'll take a look. Thank you for posting.

A friend could not believe that I read his work - Absalom! Absalom! & Light In August - and liked them. He makes demands that do not always match up with the modern reader. But he is worth it!

Love Faulkner's work. Even though some can be challenging his rhythm is amazing.

I started out with As I Lay Dying, which was a fantastic introduction to Faulkner for me. Then I tried The Sound and the Fury. I had to put it down for a while, but managed to pick it up again later and I did finish it. It was a great read, but I wouldn’t recommend starting with that one, I think it is the most demanding, even more so than Absalom Absalom!. I would recommend starting either with Light in August or AILD. After that you’ll be hooked, at least that was my experience. Then just continue with Sanctuary, The Unvanquished, Absalom, Absalom!, it’s all brilliant stuff. Faulkner is probably the best writer I know of. The Hamlet is definitely on my to read list.

I found a copy of liht in August in a bookstore nearby and picked it up thanks to your video. I've been enjoying it so far, so thank you

Years ago I listened to a brilliant audiobook version of Light in August. The narrator was able to speak in the voice of each character. So Light in August is a very good place to start.

I had to read The Sound and the Fury in high school and I absolutely adored it. I still need to read more from him, cause I know that he'd be one of my favorite writers, I just haven't had the time. I'm definitely gonna prioritize that soon though. Great video man!

The Sound and the Fury 100% changed my life. Faulkner is genius! I nodded along w your video the whole time. Thanks for this! Excited to read more

This is a great commentary. I have read a handful of his books and you put into words exactly what I feel. At its best Faulkners writing takes flight in a poetic way, but it's not for everyone. If James Patterson is your type of "literature", this is on the other end of the spectrum.

I started with Light in August in 10th grade and loved it. Also---love to see Invisible Man on someone else's bookshelf!!

I feel like I've heard of this Faulkner guy but I wonder where...........................(my english teacher scared me so much) I actually haven't read any Faulkner, but I do want to. This video was really insightful too!! You're nailing these sit down and talk videos.

I read Go Down Moses. I had to do a little work, like go online and find a family chart, so I knew who he was talking about, the where and the when... But, the book was good and worth the invested research. I watched chapter summaries too on RU-vid after I read each chapter to get a better understand. That helped. There's a little bit of cipher in the book's work that sometimes I would miss. I'd like to read more of Faulkner's work at some point. Great video. Thanks for the advice.

I started with Sanctuary. I'm currently reading The Sound and The Fury. I am on part 2 and it's a tough read compared to Benjy's narrative. So far, though it's a hard read, I'm loving it. I feel like to start with Sanctuary was a lot more accessible compared to what I'm currently reading.

The footchase/bicycle chase at the climax of Light in August is my favorite action scene in literature.

The first book I read by him was The Sound and the Fury. I read it 8 times in a row until it made sense. I was in love at 15. As I Lay Dying came next and still makes me laugh out loud, because it is so morbidly hilarious. I don’t agree with you, but we all absorb and enjoy things differently. I really want to go to the Faulkner conference about his modernism in less than 2 weeks. I just spent the whole weekend in Oxford. Today marks 60 years since his tragic death in a sanitarium. I visited the site on Monday. It was heart wrenching. He died a tragic death, but he left us with beautiful work and an example to learn from.

Chose to read the Sound and the Fury after some surface level research about it for a summer AP English project. It was great and then I read Light in August, then the Reviers, then Absalom, Sanctuary, Intruders in the Dust, Requiem for a Nun, a Fable, and have skimmed around a lot of his other works. I have almost every novel of his in my collection!

Flem Snopes embodying capitalism, and we subtly learn (it is almost implict), that he is impotent. Oh the symbolism... I've discovered Faulkner a year ago with the (briliant) French translation of The Sound and the Fury and have read about half of his books since. Never have I been addicted to any author like that.

Just now diving into Faulkner. Pleased as punch he got the MCT treatment!

Thanks for this vid. I really liked The Sound and The Fury but I didn't like As I Lay Dying (found it lacked a real plot and the point of view stuff was way too experimental for me just due to all the different characters). I'm reading and loving Absalom, Absalom! right now and I plan to keep reading Faulkner's works over time. FWIW, I found the Sound and the Fury to be a great first start if you just want to jump in to it. It really relies on the ideas of the rural south but is still very modernist in it's point of view writing style. As a general rule I think you should always try to read online chapter summaries for Faulkner's books as his writing style sometimes leads to very subtle mentions of really important plot points that are very easy to miss.

Really good talk! like you Said the rythm and sentences are everything. I read Faulkner like I would read Ginsbergs poem ”Howl” it dosent have to make sence it just kinds is what it is.

My first one was "As I Lay Dying", then I was forced to read "The Sound and the Fury" and I'm even more intimidated...Someday I'll get back to him. Nice video!

For my final literature class in college, we had to read a novel from one of the authors we had read works of and write an analysis of it, and I just randomly chose Sanctuary. I think around 20-30 pages in, I realized I made a big mistake since I was not really enjoying it. I had to use an audio reading to help get through it and then really scramble to figure out what to say. It's one of those papers I don't remember writing, and in turn, the book is something I don't remember anything about. I may have to try giving it a go again someday since I still have my copy of it, but maybe I'll try some of the ones you recommend here first.

Flannery O'Connor recommended As I Lay Dying and Miss Lonelyhearts as good starter books for gothic/grotesque literature. Miss Lonelyhearts was so fast and wild, I loved it. Then I tried to read As I Lay Dying on and off for 15 years. And I got to the last chapter, and I realized it was a comedy.

I’ve owned his complete works for a while but dived back in recently with Go Down, Moses. Haven’t read his work since high school, and after reading the first section, I had to stop, read a synopsis and reread bits. That’s the thing that I love and hate about Faulkner, which I forgot about until now-you have to focus intensely on the words, but surrender to the rhythm.

It's his last novel, and a bit of context is lost from not having prior experience with Yoknapatawpha County, but The Reivers is very "readable" by Faulkner's standards. It's uncharacteristically optimistic, high-energy, and the prose is pretty easy to digest. It's one of my personal favorites, but then my favorite of Faulkner's is Absalom, Absalom, which is like... his most difficult lol.

I was about 13 and in strange time where my parents were kinda ovspending or gambling ig in Vegas, got a limo for the night. I was not about the nonstop schmoozing so I waited outside in the warm weather and nice city sounds compared to burbs. The limo driver sat with me and mostly talked about politics.. He said I was the smartest girl he ever talked to lol and he opened his trunk and handed me sound and fury which became one of my faves. I was already a bookworm but I couldn’t afford a lot of books, library was too far to walk and school didn’t have shit. So I’ve only read a handful.. I always prefer a tangible book than digital or audio even if it’s cheaper sometimes. Your reviews are hilarious and making me wish for that big book collection again. It’s nice to hear him get more credit cause as you said, half of what they teach in school on some famous authors is rarely their best work but just what garnered notoriety. I’m curious to hear your opinion on palahniuk? It’s a different style but a friend gave me a lot of their books and it’s been addictive, the last one I got half through was damned. My first was lullaby and diary followed by fight club. Everyone’s fave seems to be survivor or invisible monsters.

In high school, we had to read "A Rose For Emily", didn't have too much reaction to that. In college I struggled with "The Sound and the Fury". Then I read "As I Lay Dying" and suddenly I got Faulkner, I really enjoyed that story and understood the characters really well. A good short story to start with for Faulkner is "Two Soldiers", it is easy to comprehend and it is a smart, sometimes humorous story of the way two brothers relate to the coming of WWII. I just finished "A Fable", which was difficult. I had made it halfway through ":Absalom, Absalom", so I'm going to go back and finish that.

What you mentioned about Faulkner beginning a thought and then “but...” is Robert Jordan as well, I think that’s what pulled me through the books was needing to get to the end of each butt

Ayo great video my dude keep it up

I started with The Sound and the Fury and absolutely loved it. Still looking for where to go next...(the only other Faulkner I read is A Rose for Emily).

I started with "Sanctuary" and I must say, since English isn't my mother-tongue, I struggled like mad - owing in part to the fact that I had to look up in the dictionary about 20 words per page. However, the style and the atmosphere supported my interest till the end of the novel. I could have read a translation, but as the idiom says "translator - traitor". I agree with a previous comment, Faulkner should be read aloud to really appreciate the musicality of the language.

Point and case taken when he said to start wherever you want. Why should I read a whole Author's discography before I get into the book I'm most interested in? If you're confused I think that's the beauty. I started with David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest and I'm glad I did. I hope to read more of him one day.

As I Lay Dying and a Rose for Emily live rent free in my head. I love his long ass sentences.

I read The Sound and the Fury, scared of the weirdness. Absolutely my favorite book I read this year

I read Go Down Moses. Haven't yet continued on reading Faulkner but I want to get a copy As I Lay Dying Now to go on.

ABSOLUTELY -well, give it a shot... the republished version of sartoris with its original title and all the removed stuff put back in and it is called FLAGS IN THE DUST. i am reading a ripped-up copy, but i cannot put it down. it is THE introduction to yoknapatawpha county and a lot of characters who will show up again in other books. you can read it drunk or sober. it is not difficult but it sure is loaded with interesting people places ocurrences... it is just dynamite. give it a shot. america's greatest author. worth a read.

Part of a small group reading 24 of Faulkner's Collected Short Stories as our introduction. I plan to share some of your comments. Thanks for some great insights!

I am a staunch believer of the idea that there is never an all around "good" place to start with any author. The best place to start with an author is the work that sounds most interesting to you. If you want to start with Absalom, Absalom or A Fable, go right on ahead. You know your tastes best, and if you do your due diligence in researching the works of an author such as Faulkner, and you know exactly what you're getting into, then start wherever you damn please. That's going to hook you faster than any recommendation a Faulkner fanatic can give. I will say though that there is an advantage to slowly easing your way into Faulkners harder works. I personally think that if somebody wants to do that, then your best order is going to be Light in August, As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and then Absalom, Absalom!. By the time you've read Absalom, you've pretty much read the hardest Faulkner gets, and you can take on almost all of his works from there, maybe with the exception of A Fable because that book is *kicking my ass* right now

The Sound and the Fury is a tough one, even tougher than Moby Dick, especially for a non-native English speakers. After 20 pages I felt like lost in the middle of a forest, had to pause reading the book and do some research and read a commentary, and only after doing some homework I was able to resume with moderate success. It's a torture to read, having said that, I enjoyed philosophical meditations on the subject of time.

The Unvanquished was my starter and I highly recommend it

Reading Light in August for my American Novel seminar and I definitely feel weird and creeped out by Joe Christmas' story 😭 the start with Lena made me think it was gonna be an On the Road sort of novel. Almost stopped reading cause honestly I was getting uncomfortable. But I'm gonna push through, reading this novel in two weeks is a fun little challenge 😭 lol

Of the four Faulkner books I own (none of which I have read) fully three are included in the Where NOT To Start: Sanctuary, The Sound and the Fury, and As I Lay Dying. Light in August it is, then!

His books are so piled with symbols and motifs that it takes about a year of picking and shoveling to get to the point. Im reading Light In August right now, and I almost feel like Im reading a southern gothic Ulysses.

Light in August. I read it every August. As Shelby Foote said “If you read Light in August enough, you’ll see how he does it.”

Everyone says 'Don't start with Absalom, Absalom'? I picked it up second-hand at a sale, just seeing it and thinking "oh yeah, it's by that famous American author". And I thought it was one of the best books I've ever read. (Sure the first chapter was rough but that book has a brilliant structure)

Just read As I Lay Dying and it didn’t really speak to me. I really like McCarthy though, so I’m going to keep going. I really appreciate his different approach to telling a story though. He definitely decided to go his own way, didn’t he?

Just read Light in August....it makes Joyce's Ulysses seem superficial. Amazing read

The average High School student mostly don’t have the life experiences or skills to analyze a Faulkner novel. My first was AILD and didn’t care for it. When I did Snopes I fell down the rabbit hole.

Absolam Absolam was a brilliant book. I think his best.

Just finished The Mansion. Damnation.

I love your stuff my dude but the single though on top of my mind, always, when listening to your videos, is your voice which sounds like it's JUST barely not crying, like you're holding back tears.

A light in August..the best! You may want to start with "The Rievers". A great comedy that is funny!

I just started the Sound and the Fury... For fun, but I wish I had watched this first. I'll probably jump around and circle back like a Falkner sentence.

I think when it comes to Faulkner, you should start with The Old Man and The Sea

I love it, the schizophrenic leaning.... Absolutely brilliant, as I age.... I more appreciate his writing. More than Hemingway Or Fitzgerald.

Do you know anything about his novel “Pylon”? I own a copy and plan to read it but have never heard anyone talk about it.

My biggest advice when contemplating where to start with Faulkner is: read Hemingway instead

Advice - I got accustomed to long sentences through Proust. Read 'Sodom And Gomorrah', which is a book from 'In Search Of Lost Time'. If you can master his sentences, Faulkner's will seem like darts.

I don't get the interesting thing about book's, but I've enjoyed books before, so I guess I'll try.

Wish I had read Faulkner in high school

So correct me if I'm wrong but even if I don't understand who's talking or what they're talking about I should just forge ahead ? And while calling myself a horror fan is limiting I do love dark literature. I absolutely loved 'The Accursed' by Joyce Carol Oates and find horror everywhere in Flannery O'connor who I've read and reread. Knowing that is there a Faulkner book you'd recommend Sanctuary was what was recommended to me. Two more questions if you have the time. I'm sure it's wise to avoid novels by rock musicians have you read 'And the Ass Saw the Angel' by Nick Cave ? Faulkner appears in nearly each blurb on the cover and admit I'm curious to read it. Last of all - all the Huey Long stuff set aside - is All the King's Men a good read ? 'Great Literature for Horror Fans' would be a topic I'd love to see. If not by you than anyone.

The firsr book i read from faulkner was sanctuary, was easy but weird at the same time

Nice, Faulkner seems interesting

I just want to include, I think/feel that Faulkner transcends his time.... Like, dude dropped bombs.

Another question: Where to start with Paolini? The answer is Eragon. You should read it.

I’m actually related to him and Henry Lawrence Faulkner

The short stories, or the novella, "A Rose For Emily" could be the easiest approach to Faulkner for the first-time reader of his work.

in high school, I referred to him as William Fuckner. His incomprehensible dribble was something I could not stand. If one were to write they he did in high school, they would fail. We just give him a pass because of who he is.

Go down , Moses!

Absalom, Absalom! for me was the reading equivalent of water boarding. It was the most miserable reading experience of my life. I'm sorry I chose to read it first, because I may never read another Faulkner work again.

I'm from Poland and I'm trying to decide now, should I spent time reading such American author as William Faulkner? Because he is judged as one of the top novelists of XXth century, but at the same time, American literature is quite hard to grasp to me. Does anyone have some advice?

Faulkner vs Hemingway? I wanna hear everyone’s thought so even if your a watcher give me your thoughts!

Yeah I had to read A Rose for Emily for English class this year. It was... It was pretty meh imo.

Faulkner became easier to read for me when I started reading him with Foghorn Leghorn's voice for the southern tone, then acted like Foghorn was near blackout drunk for the pacing.

As a Brazilian it's really weird and funny seeing how long sentences make you guys weirded out. In portuguese it's really common to write out long sentences, it's sometimes preferable to short sentences. Funny seeing how language works. I'm guessing if you read translated Brazilian books you would be amazed.

Let's face it, Faulkner may be a bit difficult, but at least he's not incomprehensible like Finnegan's Wake.

The stream of consciousness stuff is frustrating.

Stress out ?

A writer whose work makes no sense and also perfect sense simultaneously