The Sound and the Fury is considered by many to be Faulkner's masterpiece. As my first venture in to modernism, I must admit that is don't necessarily share the same opinion of the book as the experts. The book describes a southern family with a somewhat better than average heritage. The current generation of siblings all face strange psychological and physical challenges as they see their family's greatness diminish. Using the literary tool known as stream of consciousness, Faulkner tries to take the reader into the minds of the characters. The language and style of writing is used to not only tell the story of the protagonists but to give a insight into their inner dialogue and view of the world. This appears to be one of those books that requires several rereads in order to really appreciate. Time will tell if I ever return to it.

438. The Sound and the Fury & As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner (read 28 June 1952) I read The Sound and the Fury on June 27, 1952, and on that day said of the novel: "Quite a tale. The Compsons, a degenerated Mississippi family, are represented by Miss Caroline, the Mother, her sons Jason and Benjy, the latter of whom is an idiot, and Quentin, the bastard daughter of Candace, the daughter of Caroline. Quentin, another son, killed himself after Candace got married because he had an all but incestuous relationship with her.
I read As I Lay Dying on June 28, 1952 and said of it: "Great story, and absorbing. Addie Bualena dies and husband Anse takes his sons Cash, Darl, Jewel, and Vardaman and daughter Dewey Dell on the trip with her body to Jefferson. What a time they have, with floodsleg, Anse's ideas against being 'beholden" and Dewey Dell's pregnancy!" ( )