Monday, May 11, 2009

ON BOOKS ~ As I Lay Dying...



Every Tuesday I have participated in Teaser Tuesdays, the great book meme hosted by MizB that encourages you to post 2 random spoiler-free consecutive sentences from the book you are reading. I wanted a place to play along and therefore The Bumbles Blog was created.

Last week, for I think the first time in our short blogging history, I skipped Teaser Tuesdays. Partly it was because I was busy with other things, but also because I was re-reading Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" and I figured people were probably more interested in discovering all the great new books out there competing for our attention as opposed to being reminded of the words in an old faded book. But as I read along, and got reaclimated with all the characters and reminded of the story, I got more and more of an itch to talk about it and all the tools that good old Faulkner used to tell his tale.

Faulkner is not for everyone. Some may consider him an acquired taste. I'm not sure that many stick with him long enough to acquire him actually. I wouldn't recommend starting off with "The Sound and the Fury," although that is my favorite book of all. He doesn't write about a lot of action, but he writes about the impact of the actions of his characters with great depth. He crawls into their minds and their souls and exposes them to us. Sometimes the words are nonsensical or intimidating. They go 'round and 'round and are often repetitive. If you've ever had a conversation with yourself, he writes it the way it probably took place. Disjointed, with thoughts coming out so fast sometimes you skip over words - or stop short at the realization of something. He likes conflict, torment and dilemmas. He writes about women who have a different take on things and are misunderstood because of it, but whom I always get behind, the way I think he does too. And he is also pretty funny when he wants to be.

I am not quite through with "As I Lay Dying" because I myself am not laying around and thankfully I am not dying - though I am dying to lie down and read some more. So I have decided that instead of every week, I will participate in Teaser Tuesdays whenever I have gotten around to finishing a book so that I can share a piece of it with all of you and give a little review to get your thoughts as well. Here's a Teaser from "As I Lay Dying" - even though I haven't finished it yet. Seems only fair since I have gone to all this trouble to get you interested in Faulkner again. This example is less stream of consciousness and more of a chuckle.


From pg. 70 of AS I LAY DYING by William Faulkner (fiction)...


"I reckon if there's ere a man or woman anywhere that He could turn it all over to and go away with His mind at rest, it would be Cora. And I reckon she would make a few changes, no matter how He was running it."

15 comments:

Erika Powell said...

I love Faulkner and As I Lay Dying. I also really like Light In August

Sandy Nawrot said...

I hope you are speaking to me again, after having found out that I've never read Faulkner! I will make sure that I put these two books on my list of classics I must read. I'll make you proud, I promise!

Caspette said...

I must confess to having never read Faulkner, in fact while I know the name I could not name a single book he has written.

Good teaser though.

Mine is here

The Bumbles said...

Well Sandy - you did inspire me to spread the word.

Erika - I haven't gotten to Light In August yet. Shame on me.

Caspette - check him out some day!

JoAnn said...

I really liked As I Lay Dying, and it deserves a reread. I'm sure I'd catch a lot more the second time through. Light in August is waiting on my shelf...

Jenny Girl said...

I'ver never read any Faulkner....someday :)
Although TT will miss you, you do what you must. Posting should be fun, not tiresome, or tedious.
Will stop by your blog regardless :)

Anonymous said...

I have never read Faulkner (gasp!). But you have interested me enough to try :)

kayerj said...

I'll have to try a Faulkner, nice teaser read my teaser here

Unknown said...

I liked As I Lay Dying when I read it many years ago. I may have to add it to the TBR pile for a refresher.

Jersey Girl said...

It's been a long time since I read Faulkner. May have to give him a go again.
When u have time, stop by my blog. I have a surprise for you.

Urban Panther said...

Never heard of the dude. :) Okay, so you just open up the book you are reading and pull out two consecutive sentences?

Loamhedge by Brian Jacques (okay, not exactly the classics!) page 67 "Badredd, however, had totally different plans. Not for him all this lying about on sunny streambanks."

Makes you want to run out and buy this book, doesn't it?

Margot said...

Good for you Molly - reading Faulkner and putting a great couple of sentences on for Tuesday Teaser. I have not read any Faulkner since I had to for school. Again, good for you.

Wendi said...

Sadly, I haven't read Faulkner. Sounds like you have come up with a great way to concentrate on reading/reviewing and adding Teasers as available. :) Yeah!!

Here's my Teaser! ~ Wendi

Teddyree said...

I've never read Faulkner either but your post had me thinking, maybe just maybe I would try.

Anonymous said...

I have never read Faulkner. I should really give him a try sometime.