Book Report: "The Sound and the Fury"

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Shifting through perspectives, narrative styles and timelines through a lively, innovative narrative, William Faulkner paints an intriguing, mystery-laden portrait of a Southern artistocratic family imploding from within.

While the disjointed nature of the material makes it tough to keep pace with the narrative, the story unfolds in the manner of a puzzle, with often satisfying conclusions set up by a steady trickle of hints.

Faulkner's immense talents are on display throughout, but his storytelling methods are jarring and often exhausting. The novel is worthy of study and analysis, but it's so brutal that I left feeling punished and exhausted.

A classic that is worth the effort while not wholly satisfying, I recommend the book for someone looking for a readerly challenge to kick off the new year.

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