Mr Styron is truly in a class of his own, capable of making even the most mundane things like finger nail clippings seem interesting.

Whether or not one enjoyed this novel, it must be conceded that this is some extremely good prose. Styron is not the type of writer who will hold your hand throughout. The point of view shifts on a whim, and as a result, I was only a third of the way through when I finally felt at ease in the milieu of Port Warwick with the Loftis family.

Much of the praise for this book is contingent upon the young age at which Styron composed the novel. However, I would argue that while it is lyrically and poetically impeccable, he centers each character's external and internal conflict around the same fallacy. That is, when push comes to shove, these family members are incorrigibly selfish and petulant individuals who will never subside their selfish tendencies.

The startling beauty of the words can sometimes rob you of the realization that Helen, Milton, and Peyton had this same argument just two years ago or ten pages ago.

If it were up to me, this novel would be required reading for those considering replicating. It is a potent allegory that shows not everyone is cut out to advance the species.

Read 56 pages and was still at a funeral. Could not continue.

I was deeply engrossed in the book, turning the pages with great anticipation. But as I reached page 56, I found myself still immersed in the details of a funeral. The description was so vivid and emotional that it felt as if I was actually there, witnessing the solemn event. However, I just couldn't bring myself to continue reading. The sadness and grief that emanated from the words were overwhelming. It made me pause and reflect on the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss. I needed a moment to catch my breath and process the emotions that had been stirred within me. Maybe later, when I'm in a better frame of mind, I'll be able to pick up where I left off and see how the story unfolds.

I dedicated two years to the in-depth analysis of this book, which served as the subject of my M.A. thesis.

It is William Styron's first novel, penned when he was in his early 20's. This remarkable piece of literature delves into profound and complex themes such as suicide, depression, incest, and guilt.

The exploration of these themes within the pages of this novel offers a unique and thought-provoking perspective. Styron's ability to handle such sensitive and weighty topics with skill and nuance is truly remarkable.

As I immersed myself in the study of this book, I discovered layers of meaning and depth that I had not initially anticipated. It was a journey of intellectual and emotional discovery.

Does anyone else have an interest in exploring this fascinating novel and its themes? I would love to engage in a discussion with like-minded individuals.

I actually delved into the e-book edition provided by Open Road Integrated Media.

This particular edition is enriched with some remarkable supplemental material that offers valuable insights into the life of Styron.

Even though the book itself is rather dark and depressing, the quality of the writing is simply breathtaking.

I truly relished the story, and Styron's handling of it is nothing short of brilliant, especially when one takes into account that he was only 26 years old when it was published.

Of course, I must admit that I was particularly drawn to its Virginia setting and the scenes that unfold at The University.

The fact that it even ventures to New York for a while added an extra layer of interest for me.

Towards the end, I did experience a slight dip in my engagement with the stream-of-consciousness and a closing scene that I can only surmise is rich in symbolism.

Nevertheless, this did not significantly dampen my overall appreciation for the book, and I fully anticipate exploring more of Styron's works in the future.

It is indeed possible to have an excess of a seemingly good thing.

This particular book, which is written in a beautifully crafted manner, delves into great detail about a disastrous marriage. It focuses on the union between an alcoholic and a neurotic individual and vividly showcases the deadly consequences their tumultuous love-hate relationship has on their children.

The story is set in the Virginia Tidewater during approximately the time of World War II, thereby depicting the social backdrop against which the characters respond.

However, one cannot overlook the fact that the book is rather long. Perhaps this is a deliberate choice by the author, aiming to illustrate the long-lasting and far-reaching effects that such an unhappy marriage can have.

It forces the reader to endure and experience the full extent of the characters' struggles and the impact it has on their lives and the lives of those around them.

Overall, the book serves as a powerful reminder of the potential pitfalls and consequences of a dysfunctional relationship.

In 1945, there is a depressing tale of a completely screwed up Southern family.

It begins with the father picking up the body of his 20-something daughter at the train station. The story then alternates between describing that dreadful day in excruciating slow motion and delving back in time to show how things reached this tragic point.

Essentially, as the author succinctly put it at one moment, the girl was burdened with a "gutless father and soulless mother." But it seems to take an eternity to unfold the impact this double-codependent couple has on each other and their daughter.

I suspect the story holds some sort of metaphorical significance, yet I simply wasn't in the right frame of mind to fully grasp it. Nevertheless, since I have a deep love for William Styron, I just can't bring myself to rate it below 3 stars.

Despite my initial lack of enthusiasm, I'm sure there are hidden depths within this narrative that I may discover upon further reflection.

Perhaps with a more open heart and mind, I will be able to understand the true essence of this tragic family's story and the profound message it conveys.

For now, I'll hold onto my 3-star rating and hope that future readings will reveal more of its hidden treasures.

All I can say is that I truly loved this book!

As someone who is from "Port Warwick" myself, I could relate to a great deal of the lifestyles, the language, and the family dynamics presented in the story. Even though it had its flaws, mainly some distorted sentences that were rather difficult to follow, especially in Peyton's final story, I was still intrigued and completely immersed in this narrative.

The ending was not my favorite part, yet I think I have an understanding of Styron's reasons for concluding it in that manner. Styron incorporated all the faults of the 40s and 50s, such as war prejudices, societal norms, class prejudice, race prejudice, and even the prejudice of the South, and covered them in an almost mystical and beautiful way, through the poetical thoughts and philosophies of the characters. So many different character types were included, and he did it with great mastery.

Now, I am onto my next Styron novel, and I simply can't wait to embark on this new literary journey!

William Styron was awarded the Prix de Rome of the American Academy of Arts and Letters for his first novel, which he wrote when he was twenty-six. Compared to Updike's Rabbit Run, which was written at a similar age, Styron's work appears to be a much better one.

However, it wasn't a novel that I enjoyed. The echoes of Scott Fitzgerald, which William Burroughs even called it GETS (good enough to steal), diminished the book for me.

For example, in The Great Gatsby, about half-way between West and New York, the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile to shrink away from a certain desolate area of land. This is a valley of ashes - a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills.

In contrast, in Styron's Lie Down in Darkness, halfway between the railroad station and Port Warwick proper, a distance altogether of two miles, the marshland, petering out in disconsolate, solitary clumps of cattails, yields gradually to higher ground. Here, bordering the road, an unsightly growth of weeds can be seen.

Although Styron's novel has its merits, the influence of Fitzgerald was too prominent for my taste.

I recently managed to make it all the way through Sophie's Choice, a book I had attempted to read in college but lacked the maturity to finish. I adored it on my recent read, so I thought I should revisit Lie Down in Darkness, another book I hadn't been able to complete.

This is a very good, if not great, novel. It is also extremely depressing. I recall it being so disheartening that I simply couldn't get through it the first time (and my memory served me well). Nevertheless, the writing is beautiful, and the characterizations are clear and poignant. In a sense, this novel is a lyrical essay on Tolstoy's quote about unhappy families from Anna Karenina: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

The novel begins with Peyton Loftis' body being returned to her family on the train from New York after her suicide. Styron weaves back and forth in time and point of view throughout the novel, presenting the causes of Peyton's depression and suicide.

Peyton Loftis is the archetype of a particular kind of doomed Southern girl - beautiful, with daddy issues and a plethora of bad habits, the kind of girl certain types of boys fall in love with but never marry. She is, in some ways, a very old-fashioned character - very much of her own generation. Reading about her will make you grateful that our mothers' generation fought the feminist battles and provided us with options beyond attending Sweet Briar and marrying the first fraternity boy that crossed our path. I think it's a wonder more intelligent and creative women didn't slit their own throats in the public square out of sheer boredom.

I'd like to say that all the changes in the status of women in the last 50 or so years have made the Peyton Loftises of the world obsolete, but that would be untrue. There are still numerous boxes for both women and men to be confined to, and political and societal change doesn't necessarily eradicate them.

I'm glad I made it through this one this time. It is, as I said, a good novel. I can strongly identify with all the flavors of despair that Styron portrays and truly felt the presence of his own depression throughout the novel. Styron is wonderfully flamboyant with language and character, even when burdened with his own demons.

I'm officially declaring this as the very first book that I simply couldn't bring myself to finish. Perhaps, at some point in the future, I might muster the courage to give it another go. But as of now, whenever I lay my eyes on this book, I find myself unable to endure reading even a single additional page. It has reached a point where I truly wish it would just vanish from my currently reading list. After all, I haven't actually read a page of it in several months. There was a fleeting thought that if I were to force myself to read just one page per day, I could potentially complete it within approximately a year. However, upon further reflection, even that doesn't seem like a worthwhile endeavor.

Don't bother

A tragic novel that employs the stream of consciousness technique, yet still has a bit of a story running through it. I found myself skimming through its pages, attempting to pick up the fragmented pieces of the story that were buried beneath the seemingly endless flow of words. It was a challenging read, to say the least. The author's use of this style made it difficult to follow the traditional narrative arc. Instead, one had to piece together the events and the characters' thoughts and emotions through the disjointed fragments. However, despite the initial frustration, there was a certain beauty and depth to the way the story was presented. It made me think about the nature of storytelling and how different techniques can be used to convey complex emotions and experiences.

I found myself completely unable to make any progress with "Infinite Jest." It was a real struggle for me. So, I came to the decision that I needed to re-read this particular book. Oh, but when I did, it was an absolute revelation!

The way it is written is just breathtakingly beautiful. It has this power that makes my heart physically ache with its beauty and the emotions it evokes. In comparison, the work of DFW (David Foster Wallace, perhaps?) seems almost gimmicky and overly wrought.

Re-reading, as I have discovered, is truly one of the wonderful advantages that come with getting older. It allows us to see things we might have missed the first time around, to appreciate the nuances and subtleties that our younger selves might not have been able to grasp. It's like uncovering a hidden treasure each time we pick up a book we've read before and experiencing it all over again in a new and profound way.