book review: The sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

I went out of my comfort zone this time, and had a go at Faulkner.

"The Sound and the Fury" is a groundbreaking novel that explores the decline of a once-great Southern family through the perspectives of four different narrators. The novel's complex narrative structure and experimental use of stream-of-consciousness writing make it a challenging read. Also the jumping between present and past, sometimes in the middle of a sentence makes it not easy to keep track of everything.

Faulkner's wider oeuvre is characterized by his exploration of the American South and the various societal issues that shaped the region. His use of stream-of-consciousness writing and non-linear narrative structures were innovative and influential, and his work is often associated with the modernist movement in literature.

"The Sound and the Fury" stands out as one of Faulkner's most iconic works, and it remains a significant piece of modernist literature. The novel's portrayal of the Compson family's decline and their inability to cope with the changing world around them is a powerful commentary on the social and cultural shifts that were taking place in the South during the early 20th century.

Faulkner's other works, such as "As I Lay Dying," "Absalom, Absalom!" and "Light in August," also explore themes of Southern identity, race, and class, but "The Sound and the Fury" stands out as a particularly poignant and challenging work that showcases Faulkner's mastery of the written word.