drplantwrench's reviews
129 reviews

Another book that I wish Goodreads had a half star mechanism for. I'm torn between rounding down to 4, but choose to round up to 5 because this book really captures an ethos of familial weight. Another review pointed out all the topics this novel covered, and it sounds a bit ridiculous - suicide, incest, promiscuousness, pointlessness, etc. It would be easy for a book like this to fall apart under its own weight, become a grandiose parody of over dramatic books. But Faulkner has it set to mesmerizing poetry that it all falls into place. Heartbreaking yet somehow not unpleasant is a hard dichotomy to square, yet this book admirably accomplishes it.

I have often enjoyed the noir genre for as long as I can remember. But, I feel like I have always enjoyed the later branches of noir, and never really experienced the actual roots of it. So, decided to get this book and dive in, and it is exactly what I was hoping for. Despite being from 1939, it does not feel outdated at all, and it is quite easy to fall right into the impeccable style. If you like anything remotely connected to film noir, then this will a must-read.

I think people don't give credit to how funny this book is. Now, it certainly is no Douglas Adams or Mark Twain, but Kafka perfectly captures the type of humor that comes after a long, bad day when you get your jacket stuck on the door as your entering your apartment. The last unbelievable thing that makes you laugh, half out of frustration. I found myself laughing this similar type of laugh at half of this book, with the incredulity of it all. Of course, it is also a deeply cynical and dark, book, but there is also something infuriatingly amusing about the whole situation. All in all, a classic.