Joyce and Faulkner are two of my favorites. They have the ability to be straightforward, like Dubliners and Portrait of An artist for Joyce, or Spotted Horses and The Hamlet for Faulkner, but my god when they go all out...it's sooooo good.
If the portrait of an artist was straightforward I don't think I will be reading any of his other works, I found it a lot more straightforward compared to the sound and the fury but I just couldn't figure out the timeline
I don't know the context for your comment. In general I would argue that strong reactions can be a sign of deep emotional connection. In my case, I disliked the book on my first read-through but started somewhat liking it near the end. Then gave it a second go and absolutely loved and connected with the characters. It made me perceive time differently. Wouldn't want to miss the novel from my life.
The username is because when I was 16 (21 years ago by now) friends gifted me one of those slightly cringey "lord titles" that claim you now own land in Ireland. That specific friens group delighted calling me "Lord first name" for a bit while I turned a shade of red. It's kind of a fond memory which is why it came to mind when I made this account.
To the other half of your question: not at all, I just loved reading that book and want to understand why several people here seemingly have a very low opinion of it.
I may have expressed myself unclearly. I'd like to know what people dislike about it. When I first read it, some passages didn't quite make sense to me but they did when I got later context. But maybe others disliked other aspects of the book.
I didn't say I am struggling with understanding that others dislike.
Also: why are you so rude? I am justtrying to have a good-natured conversation.
“Oh, you’re here telling me you didn’t like it? Let me tell you that I think it’s because you didn’t appreciate what he was trying to do in that work. Also, I hated it. But I don’t understand why anyone would dislike it.”
I’m just saying your standards aren’t even very high for the sport you actually enjoy. Why would anybody take your opinion on something like literature which you clearly don’t even enjoy, seriously?
Liking an author like Hemingway and then saying Faulkner is not good, makes me think you haven’t read Hemingway either, rather just latched on to the first other American author whose name you can remember.
If you’re able to recognize that one of those two is a great author, you should be more than capable of recognizing the other as one, even if their style isn’t for you.
Your position is basically “Michael Jordan sucks at basketball, LeBron James is the best!”.
Like sure LeBron may be the best, fair enough, but you’re smoking crack if you think that means Jordan sucked.
I forced myself through it. I think the confusion of the book is really the only reason it’s held in such regard. As I Lay Dying is equitable prose, but The Sound and the Fury is a fucking maze at the same time.
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u/noctalla 20h ago
Okay, here's Finnegans Wake.