"I have heard men cuss their luck, and right, for they were sinful men.
But I do not say it's a curse on me, because I have done no wrong to
be cussed by. I am not religious, I reckon. But peace is my heart: I
know it is. I have done things but neither better nor worse than them
that pretend otherlike, and I know that Old Marster will care for me
as for ere a sparrow that falls. But is seems hard that a
man in his need could be so flouted by a road."
from: As I Lay Dying
by: William Faulkner
My diminishing brain power is beginning to rear its ugly head again!
William Faulkner put my brain in a knot!
- Life was created in the valleys. It blew up into the hills on the old terrors, the old lusts, the old despairs. That's why you must walk up the hills so you can ride down."
- My beautiful niece, Becca, and I were visiting last weekend about our book lists- books we loved, books that made us laugh out loud, books we didnt understand. etc, etc.
Becca read this Faulkner novel in high school....(may it be said that her high school will not be contributing to the dumbing down of America!!!)
I read a Faulkner novel in college...and at this writing, I cant for the life of me recall which one.... I just remember thinking that I would NOT soon be choosing to pick up another of his books by my own free will and choice. Until I talked to Becca!I was recommending a hysterical, fluffy book entitled Minding Mama, when it triggered her to think of the exact opposite...As I Lay Dying....a novel that turns out to be anything and everything but hysterical!! ugh!!
Im not sure I can say that Im glad I read it...maybe just being able to say that I read a William Faulkner is good enough reason...not that I really care what other people think about what I read. It was truly a twisted and tragic tale. Each chapter- narrated by 15 differeint people- was a look into the mind of an individual dealing with the death of Addie; dealing with the taking of her body in a homemade coffin to the distant city of Jefferson. Why is it that some people never have anything go right in their lives!!?
Reviewers think Faulkner was genius...
I think he was a FREAK and enjoyed playing with ones head!!!
In my college days I would be writing about stream of consciousness and or existentialism. But...as I confessed eariler...my brain doesnt go there as smoothly as it used to.
That is why I love my niece...'cause....besides making my brain work harder than it has in a while...
Becca also sent me home with book one and book two of the Harry Potter series...much, much, MUCH lighter reading!!! Thanks Becca!! Cant wait to hear what you think of Minding Mama? It was written to make us laugh and to have us think about our own families and their importance in our lives!! No barns are torched in desperation nor were there flooding rivers to ford with rotting bodies in a wooden box; the mishaps that befall Dorie June Grimes are humorios instead of tragic. Let me know what you think...for you sure got an unsolicited dissertation on As I Lay Dying!!!
Love you!!
Peace out!!!
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