Light in August

Let me say at the outset that this is a very impressive novel. Probably not surprising given Faulkner's reputation. Unlike some of his other works, this does not rely heavily on "stream-of-consciousness" techniques and is written in a more straightforward manner. Still, the structure is very complex, involving up to a half dozen main characters, with flashbacks and hints of future events that are only revealed later. Most, but not all, of the characters are alienated, isolated from society, and highly conflicted. These include Joe Christmas, a man haunted by his origins and confused about his racial identity. He can easily pass for white but may in fact be part black. This uncertainty obsesses him and takes him on a self-destructive odyssey, ending in murder. His victim is Joanna Burden, a Northerner transplanted to the Mississippi town of Jefferson, who is ostracized by the community for her pro-black, anti-slavery views. Joanna is also a victim of her upbringing that instilled in her a strong New England puritanism. Joe and Joanna commence an affair that passes through various stages that include Joanna releasing her repressed sexuality and later reverting to religious zeal where she tries to convert Joe. Joe is so antagonistic to both her sexual and religious overtures that he is driven to murder her. Another key character is the Rev. Gail Hightower. He is a former pastor in Jefferson who is driven from his post due to scandal involving his wife's adultery and suicide. Hightower, who continues to reside as a recluse in Jefferson, is also possessed by his own demons from a malformed childhood and an obsession with the Civil War valor of his grandfather. This leads him into nightly reveries involving the thunder of horses hooves and his grandfather's last cavalry charge. Wrapped around all this is the story of Lena Grove and Byron Bunch. Lena is a simple soul who is 9-months pregnant and hitchhikes to Jefferson in search of the man who impregnated and then abandoned her. Those who encounter her offer help and compassion. Byron is a non-complicated, hard-working citizen of Jefferson who never asserts himself, but who falls in love with Lena at first sight. Byron helps Lena try to find her seducer, but secretly attempts to woo her. Unlike the other characters, Lena and Byron are not alienated from society. They represent an anchor of sanity and decent behavior amid the chaos and machinations of the other main characters. The crisis of the story involves the flight of Joe Christmas and what eventually happens to him. Hightower, who is pulled into to trying to help Joe, is offered the chance to encounter reality again and pull himself from his self isolation and hallucinations. The novel reveals whether he succeeds or not. Byron pursues Lena as they leave town and there is the suggestion that they may come together eventually. This is a highly complex study of damaged humans, their obsessions and violent potential, the consequences of alienation and separation from human society, the tragic effects of racial prejudice and antagonisms, small town backwardness and hostility, and the underlying optimism of human love. I rank it as one of Faulkner's best and highly recommend it. I read this book in conjunction with Reading Faulkner: Light in August, Glossary and Commentary by Hugh Ruppersburg. It proved invaluable in deciphering many of the complexities both in language and structure that the novel contained.

I've been on this Faulkner journey of late, this is the eight novel on that road and I've come a "fur piece", as lena Grove would say. (I've read 11 of the 14 Yoknapatawpha County, but three we long ago and they are next on my list to re-read).Light in August, like The Reivers and The Unvanquished (where I began), is more accessible to the new Faulkner reader than most of his other works, so it makes sense that many reviewers suggest starting here. I still maintain beginning at The Unvanquished as it is accessible, broken into parts and provides a good foundation for reading the rest of the novels of the county while still displaying the author's magic. He can put a picture inside your head and a bring a character to life in the first few words of introduction. Light in August has these characteristics as well; Faulkner couldn't help himself.It's been difficult for many a reader a reviewer down the years to bring the different characters and story lines together. What does Joe Christmas, Lena Grove, Gail Hightower, Johanna Burden and Byron Bunch have to do with each other?They are all outcasts and that's the glue that keeps this plot together. The only one who isn't punished for being an outcast, except what he puts on himself, is Byron. And of course, Lena seems immune to even noticing if people are anything but "right kind".Christmas is the draw. He's supposedly got Negro blood in him and as such he doesn't fit anywhere. He can pass for white and would prefer that, but he knows he doesn't really belong there either. Not to mention the abuse he suffers at the hands of his adoptive father and the kind of hellfire southern Calvinism that Faulkner obviously disliked and want to say something about. In a community of church music on Sunday nights these same people have rejected our outcasts; two of whom for racist reasons. It was 1932 in the south after all.What may get overlooked if you're not familiar with the Bible, particularly the New Testament, is how many corollaries there are for Joe Christmas (JC) - his wondering, rejections by his own people (Negro, in this case), his temptation by Burden to enter a kind of upper middle class, his wandering. It's not all perfectly mirrored but it's there.I don't think Faulkner was aiming as blasphemy here; I think what he wanted to show was the community as a character and highlight the problems when that community acts as one toward the outcasts.My criticisms are just a few: the coincidence of Christmas showing up in a town he's never been in that happens to be inhabited by two characters connected to his past (I'll say no more); and chapter 20 (the second to last) which was very much an information dump on Hightower with things that could have been sprinkled in other places. I felt like I could almost skip that entire chapter.All in all this more a straight novel than any I've read besides The Reivers.

Magnificent work, rightly named in 100 best twentieth century novels lists.This Kindle edition is slightly marred for me by the numerous misprints ('be' for 'he' just one typical example)in this Random House edition; in this respect it compares poorly with several of the free Project Gutenberg books I have downloaded. Poor show Random House.Faulkner's style takes a little getting used to: his overuse of the words 'myriad' (employed both as a noun and adjective) and 'threatful' is a minor irritation. However,having just discovered Faulkner,it certainly made me realise what a craftsman he was and I certainly intend to read others.

A brilliant writer, working my way through as many of his works as i can. Wonderful characters, such an understanding of human nature.

I quite enjoyed it, although it is fairly heavy going. I think perhaps I have over-dosed on this genre at the moment.

One of my favourite novels by my most favourite American writer

Beautiful book and arrived on time