My very own Personal Opinion of As I Lay Dying:
Shall we just say that I was unpleasantly surprised with this novel? When I first ran my background check on the book, I saw that is was a satire. I smiled. I then saw that it was told from multiple perspectives, and did a quick fist pump. I was imagining a Stephen King-type of chronicle with multiple characters telling the tale. I was excited to open the paperback and to read the whole thing, from cover to cover! So I began reading. The first paragraph left me slightly uncomfortable, what was this “Darl” talking about? And who spells their name like that?! By the second page I was most definitely frowning. I did not understand half the words, and when I did, I did not understand the phrasing! I also do not value the serious misuse of grammar in books, even when the book is merely mimicking the local yokels. However I did find myself appreciating the main idea of the book- a dysfunctional family trekking across unfamiliar land to deal with the loss of a family member. Their goal is admirable. They wish to fulfill the last wishes of Addie, unloving mother and wife. And of course, havoc ensues. Another respectable piece of the novel was the totally unpredictable ending. It was however, unsatisfying. I did not expect Darl (my initial favorite character) to crack like an Easter egg and set everything on fire, nor did I expect Anse (my dim-witted second favorite character) to marry the next thing he saw. I did wish for a better, more conclusive and kosher ending. But we cannot have every little thing our heart desires, now can we?
Alas, as I finished reading the last page, I could not wait to close the book for the hopefully last time. I wish I felt differently. I wish I could have enjoyed the great Faulkner like I hear so many smart people do. What a shame. I guess I will just have to return to good ole J.K. Rowling.
Shall we just say that I was unpleasantly surprised with this novel? When I first ran my background check on the book, I saw that is was a satire. I smiled. I then saw that it was told from multiple perspectives, and did a quick fist pump. I was imagining a Stephen King-type of chronicle with multiple characters telling the tale. I was excited to open the paperback and to read the whole thing, from cover to cover! So I began reading. The first paragraph left me slightly uncomfortable, what was this “Darl” talking about? And who spells their name like that?! By the second page I was most definitely frowning. I did not understand half the words, and when I did, I did not understand the phrasing! I also do not value the serious misuse of grammar in books, even when the book is merely mimicking the local yokels. However I did find myself appreciating the main idea of the book- a dysfunctional family trekking across unfamiliar land to deal with the loss of a family member. Their goal is admirable. They wish to fulfill the last wishes of Addie, unloving mother and wife. And of course, havoc ensues. Another respectable piece of the novel was the totally unpredictable ending. It was however, unsatisfying. I did not expect Darl (my initial favorite character) to crack like an Easter egg and set everything on fire, nor did I expect Anse (my dim-witted second favorite character) to marry the next thing he saw. I did wish for a better, more conclusive and kosher ending. But we cannot have every little thing our heart desires, now can we?
Alas, as I finished reading the last page, I could not wait to close the book for the hopefully last time. I wish I felt differently. I wish I could have enjoyed the great Faulkner like I hear so many smart people do. What a shame. I guess I will just have to return to good ole J.K. Rowling.
You're the best and I didnt know you were form Jersey Shore! Are you the newest add on character? Maybe your nick name could be Dewy Drake or Drakey Dell? Sorry that didnt turn out as clever as i had hoped...but although i disagree with you i appreciate your disappointment. As i came to find out it's definitely a novel that you have to be in a particular dazed, surreal sort of mood to like and since i'm always in that state of mind, naturally i enjoyed it quite a bit! Like i said on Jon's blog, though the story was a little obscured by the style of the book i thought that in the end it added more than it took away. The obscurity actually drew me in to keep reading the book, so i did. Anyway, i think your wrong and a funny kid, even if you are from Jersey.
ReplyDeleteYou think my opinion is wrong? I think that is a logical fallacy. Opinions cannot be wrong. Other than yours of course, which is wrong.
ReplyDeleteI think we can safely say that you were unpleasantly suprised with this novel! To start off, I completely agree: who spells their name "Darl"?! And furthermore, how are we expected to pronounce it? In regards to the "grammar misuse" however, I felt a little less negative. There were parts of the novel that I definitely felt it to be frustrating and irksome; but overall, I felt that the different types of misuse added to the character's different personalities and narration styles. Also, I'm not sure if your description of their goal as "admirable" is facetious (only because of your description of Addie immediately after), but I did not find their goal to be admirable. It seemed as if the true goal was for Anse to get his teeth, while Vardaman, Dewey Dell, and to some extent Cash were simply dragged along. Darl and Jewel did care for their mother, it seemed; but, as you said, Darl eventually attempts to burn down the coffin to end the journey. Speaking of which, I also did not like the ending much at all, for just the same reasons as you.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the beginning was very confusing and was not very reader friendly. The phrasing of this book was not fun to read. If it could have been written just a little clearer I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I do agree that the story line of the book, a family doing anything for one another, was very good and exciting. While I did not enjoy the style either I did like the actually story, atleast until the end but then I was very dissapointed. After finishing the book I could not remember one extremely important event that stuck out and was a turning point in the book. This was very frustrating and I share your feeling of hopefully closing the book for the last time.
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