In the vast and complex Faulkner universe, there are very few stories that lack intensity.

Absalom, Absalom! is a captivating tale that delves into the concept of karma. It tells the story of Sutpen's grandiose and delusional dreams of achieving greatness, which are ultimately shattered by his own children. This is strikingly similar to the troubles that Absalom brought upon David in biblical mythology.

This remarkable book, along with the epic The Sound and the Fury, were two of the main reasons why Faulkner was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949. The narrative style of non-sequential flashbacks employed in this work was highly innovative and had a profound impact on the next generation of post-modern writers like Pynchon or DFW.

Compared to other works such as Light in August or The Sound and the Fury, Absalom, Absalom! is extremely readable and entertaining. It is one of the fastest-paced tragedies that Faulkner ever wrote. If you are new to Faulkner's works, I would highly recommend starting with this book, perhaps along with As I Lay Dying (due to its relatively short length and equally powerful writing).

The themes explored in Absalom, Absalom! are common in most of Faulkner's writing. These include the blood debt of slavery, the brooding atmosphere in the post-Civil War South, ignorance, pretense, and the hollowness of southern gentility. All of these themes are masterfully treated and brought to life with incredibly vivid writing.

The picture above, used on the first edition dust jacket in 1936 by Random House, represents Sutpen's Hundred, a plantation built by Thomas Sutpen. The "hundred" refers to 100 square miles or 64,000 acres, a truly enormous place. Thomas Sutpen essentially built an empire. These large plantations required a vast amount of human labor as mechanical inventions weren't advanced enough to replace it. When faced with more land than could be worked and a lack of available labor, what should they have done? We know what they did (turned to slavery), but perhaps a better solution could have been the system of tenant farmers. Technology would eventually have caught up, freeing the tenant farmers for industrial work and maybe even encouraging manufacturing in the South.

The story of Sutpen's Hundred is complex and multi-layered. Quentin Compson is the central figure who stitches the plot together as he hears stories about Yoknapatawpha County from various people. The families in the county initially regarded Sutpen with bemusement but later worried as he gained influence and wealth. The Civil War disrupts everything, and the relationships between the characters become even more complicated. Charles Bon, Henry's half-brother, becomes engaged to Henry's sister Judith, causing much consternation in the family.
The book is filled with incredible passages and the story is told in a non-linear fashion, which adds to its frustration and magnificence. It's like going to a family reunion and hearing different perspectives on the same events. Faulkner not only preserved a piece of Southern history but also the tradition of Southern oral storytelling. Reading this book requires a quiet place and a zen-like focus to fully appreciate its intricacies. It can be difficult, but it's a rewarding experience. So, find a quiet corner, relax, and let Faulkner's words transport you to Jefferson, Mississippi.

Bonus points if you can smell the "wistaria"!

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In college days, there was always that one favorite moment that could be summed up in a rather strange way. It was when your roommate, a few beers deep, would come out with these really odd statements. Like that time when he insisted, "so everything ended up fucking terrible and it was a horrible disaster but I want to impress upon you that I want to believe they meant well?" It was both hilarious and a bit mind-boggling.

What made it even more interesting was the cool uses of punctuation in his rant. The way he used question marks and exclamation marks randomly added a certain charm to his already strange words. It was as if he was trying to convey some deep, hidden meaning through his drunken ramblings.

Looking back on those days, those moments with the weird roommate and his unique way of expressing himself are some of the most memorable. They added a touch of quirkiness and fun to the college experience, and will always be remembered as some of the highlights of those formative years.