William Faulkner — Light in August

I dive into a gap in my knowledge of American literature, and am pleasantly surprised by Faulkner's style and talent.

[janiceandreyka]

even so, Faulkner was a genius at writing. Having read 8 of his novels, there is more substance in his writing than other writers of his time.

[reaganwiles_art]

I read a little Faulkner around age eighteen/nineteen including Light In August and a couple others w/o (getting anything out of them) I later found that I had to bring a lot to them if I wanted to get anything out of them, AND I learned after reading almost all of Faulkner in my mid-thirties that his oeuvre can only be fully appreciated after having read and reread the whole thing. That being said, I will continue to read Faulkner in the entirety for so long as I am able to read. Don't skip the Collected Stories, they are key to understanding the novels is my recommendation. Thank you for these vids. Good stuff

[juanfarrell]

This book hit me harder than any piece of art ever has. Faulkner captured the essence of growing up multiracial and turned it into an allegory. No wonder why he was hugely influential among South American writers. I still think about it every week, years after reading it and I'm tempted to go back that world, as a visitor, knowing what I'm getting myself into.

[hakim-tkwu]

Thanks for the excellent review. I read Faulkner works translated into Arabic and find them amazing in narration style and deep in expression of characters feelings.

[filmbouillabaisse]

This was an excellent video and it has inspired folks to read As I Lay Dying.

[elroyrebello]

I couldn't comprehend some sentences even after reading them thrice; like as if Faulkner wrote them out of some insanity or just to piss me off, but overall it was an enlightening experience. The most instrumental part for me was where Hightower describes his second phantom, his mother on her deathbed. The novel at many points shows how sensitive to human emotions Faulkner was. A constant thought as I was nearing the end of this novel was "I should read more of his works".

[crabnebula]

Well said, starting Light in August now, if you get around to Absalom, Absalom! and hope you post a video sharing your thoughts on that as well.

[marymuggins]

Great review. I have just started Light In August (on Chapter 4). I also found some of the phrases very difficult to understand; having to go back & read them several times. Noticed several of the main characters' names started with "B' - very similar; wondering if this was intentional?

[ttowntrekker]

Excellent review! I had to reread some paragraphs several times. Definitely not a fast read but I love Faulkner. He makes you slow down and enjoy the novel. I think I saw a vid that the Library of America novels are color-coded based on the literary period the author lived in. So a particular author will always be bound in the same color.

[cambridge]

Notes: Faulkner belongs to the literary style of Southern Gothicism. Different from the british gothicism, with castles and knights, Light in August paints a gloomy color to the American south. Faulkner took liberty in uses of punctuations and can be difficult to read at first. There wasn’t much plot but mostly character development. There was also many authentic racial slurs, which can appear offensive, and critical views of love and religion.

[farahch.]

Great summary and thank you for sharing!

[noeytindol]

I really wish when folks are doing reviews that they would go right into the review and then do the rest later. Your interview is the best I've seen so far but you didn't start it right away either. I appreciate it though.

[troyvinson]

Faulkner's working title for this book was Dark House'. There is also a fantastic double meaning in the title. Lena Grove will have her baby by August therefore she would be 'light' in August. Style was also little mentioned in your review. Bill was well read. He knew Whitman, Blake, Keats and the Bible all equal. Most of his references come from such rich source material. He was, no matter his language, a man that was for all humanity no matter the color. He spoke in the parlance of his time to quote the Cohen brothers. Who if you read Faulkner and watch their movies you see his influence. Percy Grimm who you did not mention. Think of him when you watch Oh Brother Where art thou. There is Faulkner in Raisin Arizonia as well. Nice try, you seem well read but have completely avoided the American South. I suggest you check out Geronimo Rex by Barry Hannah. And anything else by him or Larry Brown.

[DavidAndersen]

Great review, as always! I lover your straight forward no nonsense reviews.

I am reading Proust right now, and I have a pile of books on my nightstand.

Have you read Steinbeck? I highly recommend him, start with one of his lighter comic novels like "Cannery Row". Also, Hemingway is great. Fitzgerald is wonderful, too. The "Great Gatsby" is his finest. Also Henry James. Try "The Golden Bowl", and "Portrait of A Lady" There is a lot of very fine American literature out there.

You are right about "Light in August". Faulkner can be very heavy.

Thanks, buddy!

[marikami]

Another theme I think was the worst attitude towards children, common to that times, I felt so bad for Christmas.... 🤯🤯🤯 I liked how the author described the character, doing the hirrible crime and still I was understanding to him.

[felinthia]

I'll study this book in my French University

[GreggMikulla]

I'm reading this now, but i think his usage of devices is a little extensive. I am more distracted by the author's intent rather than his story.

[robburnside]

Nice, but needs to be slower. Try a little of Yaknapataw drawl

[electricmastro]

4:00 Honestly, while I don't condone racial slurs, I do condone showing history as honestly and upfront as much as one possibly can. Should much anger be given towards an author in today's society for wanting to write honest stories with honest history with using racial slurs, or should racial slurs never be used even when it comes to presenting history? I suppose it's quite the conundrum.

[elroyrebello]

The book is more realistic than pessimistic, so one of those three thumb-down is me here ;p