Blimey! That was truly an adult's portion. I absolutely loved it, but boy, did it make you work for it?

The first story had me chuckling in a way I can't recall ever doing while reading Faulkner. "Hey!" I thought to myself, "I've finally gotten used to his style."

The second story, on the other hand, required a bit more effort on my part. Nevertheless, it also made me laugh from time to time during this odyssey.

I had a sense that both Cormac McCarthy and the Coen Brothers must have read this one. There is so much humanity, so much feeling, and such a magnificent use of prose.

"The Bear" is like a monster. The rules of grammar and syntax seem to be re-written. At times, I felt as if I was in a maze of understanding and confusion in equal measure.

By the end, I'd probably taken more from it than I would have had he chosen to follow a more conventional route.

An adult's portion indeed. It's rich and strong, but oh so satisfying. Here is a writer who most definitely had something to say and his own unique way of saying it.

I only read "The Bear" (and only half of that). However, Goodreads doesn't have just "The Bear" alone, without "Spotted Horses" and "Old Man", and neither did the library. So what can I do?

I adored the first half of "The Bear", which gave me a whole new perspective on hunting. It was truly fascinating to see how the author described the process and the emotions involved. But then, it got all philosophical about the environment and I lost interest. It's quite ironic since I picked this up based on its inclusion on Newsweek's list of 50 books for our time, and it made that list because of its importance as an environmental novel. Sometimes I really mystify myself.

A few things confused me. So if anyone has read this and knows the answers, please pm me.

******SPOILERS********** (as if)

1) How did Sam die? Did someone kill him? Was it Boone?

2) What was Boone pounding on at the very end with the butt of his gun? Were those really squirrels or was Faulkner being metaphorical? Was he bleeding?

These questions have been lingering in my mind, and I hope to find some answers from those who have a better understanding of this novel.

So, it is quite evident that this is actually three distinct novellas contained within a single volume. Now, let's break it down further:

Spotted Horses is a comical tale. To be honest, it didn't quite click with me. It felt rather drawn out and sluggish at times. However, as a "slice of life" story, it wasn't completely without merit. I would rate it a 2 out of 5.

Old Man is essentially an adventure story and a narrative about the struggle to survive when one has been accustomed to having everything provided. It also serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting how the prison system, throughout history, has only conditioned prisoners to remain as such. I would give this one a 3 out of 5.

The Bear, on the other hand, is truly the jewel in this collection. On one层面, it is about a boy's journey to manhood, while on another, it delves into the theme of man's struggle for dominance over nature. It combines the complex dynamics of a culture and landscape that have been forever altered by the end of slavery. Encompassing so many elements in just over one hundred pages seems ambitious, but it is executed extremely well. I would rate this a perfect 5 out of 5.

The Bear is truly a remarkable masterpiece.

It captivates the audience with its engaging story and well-developed characters.

The author's vivid descriptions bring the bear and its world to life, making it easy for the readers to imagine themselves in the story.

The bear's adventures and challenges are both exciting and heartwarming, and the lessons it learns along the way are applicable to our own lives.

Whether you are a fan of adventure stories or simply looking for a good read, The Bear is definitely worth checking out.

It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

So, don't miss out on this amazing masterpiece and pick up a copy of The Bear today!

**Spotted Horses**
A Texan owned a herd of wild horses. He sold two of them and gave away the rest. However, when the purchasers were attempting to catch the horses, they escaped, and chaos ensued. As a result, there was a lawsuit for damages. It was decided that if the woman could catch the wild horse, she would get ownership of it.

**Old Man**
This story is about convicts and a flood. During the commotion caused by the flood, one convict managed to escape and was presumed dead. But in reality, he ended up in a boat with a pregnant woman who went into labor in the boat. They traveled together and eventually reached Louisiana. Then they headed back to Mississippi, where the convict turned himself in, even though he was presumed dead.

**The Bear**
Some guys would annually stalk a big bear on a hunting trip. Finally, they caught the bear with the help of a tough dog, but there were a few casualties. I'm not entirely sure about the stream of consciousness of a secondary character in chapter 4. It seemed a bit disjointed and unclear.

Overall, these stories have their own unique elements and plots that keep the reader engaged.

It's Faulkner!

William Faulkner is one of the most renowned and influential American writers. His works are characterized by their complex and profound exploration of human nature, the South, and the passage of time.

Faulkner's writing style is unique, with its use of stream-of-consciousness, multiple narrators, and nonlinear storytelling. His novels and short stories often deal with themes such as race, class, and family, and his characters are vividly drawn and deeply flawed.

Some of his most famous works include "The Sound and the Fury," "As I Lay Dying," and "Absalom, Absalom!" These books have been widely studied and admired for their literary merit and their ability to capture the essence of the human experience.

In conclusion, Faulkner's contribution to American literature is immeasurable, and his works continue to be relevant and engaging today. Enough said!

I only read Spotted Horses this time.

The story, which is perhaps more of a novella as it's less than 100 pages in this version, doesn't possess the numerous stylistic innovations that are characteristic of Faulkner's novels, despite involving the Snopes family. In fact, it gives the impression of being a relatively slight and somewhat comic endeavor. This is indeed what the back cover description suggests, although that may not hold much weight.

While the story is humorous, if it is considered comic, it has a rather dark undertone. It tells the tale of a seemingly prosperous huckster who arrives in town and swindles the locals out of money by selling them uncontrollable horses. After he departs, two legal cases are initiated in an attempt to restore some measure of justice to the townspeople. However, perjury and technicalities prevent this from happening. There is a great deal of amusing material and what one might term local color, but ultimately, this story is about the systematically excluded poor.

It shows how the less fortunate are taken advantage of by those who seem to have the upper hand, and how the legal system, which is supposed to provide fairness, can sometimes fail them.

There were numerous moments of delight while reading this collection. However, Faulkner's style demands effort from the reader. His vivid descriptions, condensing a person's or a place's history into a single, extremely long sentence, and his unique usage of changing nouns to adjectives and vice versa - all the elements one anticipates from Faulkner are present here. But there is also the frustrating aspect that makes it impossible to read without constantly guessing who the subject of this long sentence is and where and when we are in the context of time and space.

I have abandoned several of his novels, yet I managed to plod through these stories. Perhaps they are more accessible, or maybe it was because I knew the last story was "The Bear".

The first story, "Spotted Horses", is a great tale about a traveling horse trader who arrives in the area selling small, wild ponies. There are several hilarious scenes where the ponies outwit their potential buyers, each of which serves as a portrayal of Southern backwardness. Always lurking in the background is a Snopes, who may or may not be behind the horse sales and may or may not be profiting from the ignorance of his neighbors.

"Old Man" is a fictionalized account of the 1927 flooding of the Mississippi (referred to as the "Old Man" in the title). For once, Faulkner's torrent of words has a subject that justifies its depth and power - a flood that inundates an entire area, even swallowing smaller rivers until they disappear.

"The Bear" was one of my favorite short stories in an American Lit anthology. A young boy learns woodcraft from an ancient Indian who is part Slave, all in the pursuit of a large bear that is almost mythical. In the end, he becomes very proficient at hunting, only to realize that true humility lies in understanding that to catch the bear, he needed the help of the Indian, a particularly reckless dog, and of course, his gun. In reality, even with all those advantages, he was no match for the bear. It concludes with an older character quoting Keats' "Ode on a Grecian Urn".

Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that "The Bear" is actually much longer and involves many other things, including White Guilt over the effects of slavery. Faulkner apparently worked on this story for a long time, and the longer version was part of "Go Down Moses". But in 1934, he needed money and extracted a shorter version for the Saturday Evening Post, which is probably the source of the story I taught from the anthology.

The shorter version was a better story. Perhaps this proves, at least to this reader, that Faulkner needed better editors.

I truly wish I had known right from the start that these short novels are actually integral parts of much longer works. For instance, "Spotted Horses" is derived from "The Hamlet", "Old Man" forms half of "Wild Palms", and "The Bear" makes an appearance in "Go Down, Moses".

Judging them on their own individual qualities, each one has its flaws. They are rather uneven, with only certain sections that manage to completely enthrall the reader. The first tale gradually builds up to an intense horse-auction scene, but then unfortunately deteriorates during a subsequent trial. The last one, on the other hand, awkwardly jumps from a hunting story to a rather rambling examination of the legacy of slavery.

Surprisingly, only the middle novella, which is about a convict struggling against a flood, feels somewhat complete. However, this feeling is now diminished since I am aware that this lengthy story has been extracted from a much bigger book. It makes me wonder how different the reading experience would have been if I had read the complete works instead of just these snippets.

19 October

I've just completed reading The Bear. I must say that I had a certain liking for it. It brought to my mind the works of Gary Paulsen and Godforbid - Why Are We In Vietnam. However, then came part 4, and I was completely lost. There were no periods and no capitalization, and I'm truly sorry, but I have a preference for proper format. I just couldn't understand it. It wasn't simple at all. I wonder why people claim that Faulkner is simple.

This was my very first encounter with Faulkner, and I can't say it was an overly positive one. I'm planning on finishing this small anthology, but I highly doubt that I'll have a greater liking for the other pieces.

28 October

I finished Spotted Horses several days ago. To be honest, I wasn't overly impressed, and I don't even remember the exact date.

I just recently completed Old Man, and that's definitely my favorite among these, although I must admit that I'm not a huge fan. I truly didn't "get" it. The sentences were extremely long and difficult to decipher. With Old Man, I liked it the best as I think I actually had a better understanding of it. But, then again, I could be mistaken.

I will definitely look into reading a Faulkner novel. After all, he is a classic author. However, I'm not having overly high expectations.

I had originally planned to offer cautious praise to "Spotted Horses," a shrewd and intriguingly eerie small-town narrative, and "Old Man," which combines an apocalyptic flood, alligator wrestling, and down-to-earth and frothing Existenzphilosophie.

However, without any prior knowledge of what was to come, I reached the second half of "The Bear" and was simply overcome by a sense of penitent, stupefied transport.

It then dawned on me as well that whoever at Vintage had the idea to bring together these three novellas had a great and correct concept.

The combination of these diverse stories creates a rich and engaging collection that takes the reader on a journey through different worlds and emotions.

"Spotted Horses" offers a unique perspective on small-town life, while "Old Man" presents a thrilling and thought-provoking adventure.

"The Bear," on the other hand, has the power to震撼 the reader and leave them in a state of awe and wonder.

Together, these novellas form a literary masterpiece that is not to be missed.

Gibberish is a form of language that seems to lack meaning or coherence. It can be created intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes, people may use gibberish as a form of play or to express confusion.

Gibberish can take many different forms. It might consist of random words, made-up words, or a combination of both. It could also involve speaking in a strange tone or rhythm.

While gibberish may not have a specific meaning, it can still have an impact on the listener. It might make them laugh, feel confused, or even激发 their curiosity. In some cases, gibberish can be used as a form of art or performance.

Overall, gibberish is a fascinating and often mysterious aspect of language. It shows that language can be used in many different ways, and that meaning is not always straightforward. Whether it is used for fun or for a more serious purpose, gibberish has the power to capture our attention and make us think.