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A Summer of Faulkner
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A Summer of Faulkner |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738
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Yep, I'm plugging Oprah again. (sheesh, that sounded so naughty, I think I'll leave it that way.  )But while I have previously tried Oprah's bookclub, I found some of her choices questionable. But now? She is offering "A Summer of Faulkner" and while I believe most of us have read the selections, I decided to try it again, as I don't think I could fully appreciate "As I Lay Dying" in High School. (The other two are "The Sound and the Fury" and "Light in August") She is also offering free access to accompanying lectures--of course, you'd have to join to enjoy that. I thought it was something a little different and hoped some of my Pip friends would join with me. The boxed set is paperback, but nice, and reasonably priced. Just about every book store I've seen offers them for about thirty bucks, but naturally, you can also purchase them from Amazon. Hope to see ya'll there.  |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
OK..... I KNOW I'm just a mere moth... but tell me my witchy queen... just HOW did you get the ad banner above this post to be links to Faulkner? Ooouuuuuuuhhhhh you are goooooooood.  |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Ever the obliviate, twin, you know? I didn't even notice.   |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
He is one of my favorites!! Count me in, maybe? |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I've been noticing those banner links for sometime now. Go to 'Deer's favorite golfing poem...you'll see something about golf... go to an angel poem, chances are you'll see something about angels... etc. There's mystery afoot...  OR... maybe it's Magick! |
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timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough |
Actually without sounding too anal hehe I think that our homeowner here (Ron) has his banner programs set to use keywords from the first post in a thread to pick up banners to match that keyword if they are relevent in anyway.... I have noticed that too, and that would be my guess. And Serenity... I don't know that I can buy the set of books that Oprah is offering, but I will do my best to read the works that she has selected and then participate when I can. I have been working on my own poetry site and that has taken (and still does) forever. Hope to see ya round here 'scussin these thankgs hehe Love ya bye |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Well, Karen... your timing is perfect... cuz I've been vowing to start reading more... (you and Twist inspire me, yanno... *smile*) and?... this intrigues me just enough to actually do it... Sooo... I joined... and now?... all I need are the books... Thanks for the suggestion/invitation...  |
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timothysangel1973
since 2001-12-03
Posts 1725Never close enough |
Okay... I'm in, dont know about getting the books yet... money is tight this month, but I am listening to the lectures now and they are really good so far. Thanks for the invitation this looks as though it will be really neat Tima |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Count me in M'lady  m Oh, you speak to me in riddles |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I would love to join the group, but work isn't going to allow that... but any thoughts and byplay on what goes on with the group would sure be some enjoyable night reading! |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Sooo... has anyone actually been reading?... |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
As I lay reading, if someone starts building a coffin outside of my window, they are going to get a book 'hummed' at their head.  |
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littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
I am so in and you can get the books at any decent library. I have already read: "A Rose for Emily" "Barn Burning" (both short fiction) "The Human Heart In Conflict With Itself" (acceptance speech Nobel Prize for Lit) I have three huge Lit books full of beauty. quicklink to his work: http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/~egjbp/faulkner/library.html |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
I am waiting for my order.....sigh impatiently.. of course heh pfflllt drove me like a magnet to the sea ~stevie nicks~ |
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Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
wait..there are ad banners??? "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
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Cloud 9 Senior Member
since 2004-11-05
Posts 980Ca |
I'm with Susan here!! |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Serenity, I went over to Oprah's site and joined. A friend lent me the three copies needed plus another. Do keep this thread going. I am already finding the first chapters of The Sound and the Fury hard as it goes back and forth and I am confused about who is who. And all of a sudden they seem older. I am trying to do it nights at work and my eyes tire. So I have to re read already. Thanks for the suggestion, martyjo P.S.I hope your electricity has been turned on. I am praying for you and Dixie and anyone in your areas that Dennis peters out.. [This message has been edited by latearrival (07-07-2005 03:34 PM).] |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Hmmm, still waiting for my order, impatiently now HUMPH!  Have you and yours in my thoughts and prayers m'lady.. also hoping that Dennis pans out |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Well I thought I'd go ahead and post some comments anyhow--I haven't yet watched the lectures as my phone line connection makes the streaming lecture a bit shaky. But what I am loving is everything I didn't love about Faulkner to begin with. No numbered chapters in "As I Lay Dying"--each chapter is first person narrative and named according the character. I find that a powerful tool of insight, most especially (serenity scurries to get the book) whereas as a writer, I thought I would have to spend time (lotsa time) writing background to give insight to each character; and for example, Cash, the carpenter who builds his mother's coffin, could have been explained, but instead, in a single chapter, his character is beautifully described by a list: (I hope it's okay to quote it here) " I made it on the bevel. 1. There is more surface for the nails to grip. 2. There is twice the gripping-surface to each seam. 3. The water will have to seep into it on a slant. Water moves easiest up and down or straight across. 4. In a house people are upright two thrids of the time, so the seas and tjoins are made up-and-down. Because the stress is up and down. 5. In a bed where people lie down all the time, the joints and seams are made sideways, because the stress is sideways. 6. Except. 7. A body is not square like a crostic. 8. Animal magnetism. 9. The animal magnetism of a dead body makes the stress come slanting, so the seams and joints of a coffin are made on the bevel. 10. You can see by an old grave that the eartch sinks down on the bevel. 11. While in a natural hole it sinks by the center, the stress being up-and-down. 12. So I made it on the bevel. 13. It makes a neater job." "As I Lay Dying" - William Faulkner Vintage International Edition page 82-83 ---this actually blew my mind a bit. How much more of a characterization can you get than that? It displays the commonsense stoicism of Cash, and I thought perhaps, that certain distance that personal death requires--while today our mores differ, I thought, it is the same. And it occurred to me that those rituals help us to cope with an incomprehensible situation. and yep, I'd love to hear other viewpoints on this, and all of "As I Lay Dying." |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Well... I finally got my 'A Summer of Faulkner' set last night... and started reading right away... I'm in 'nanny' mode at the moment, so I don't have a lot of time... but?... just gotta say... wow! Having never read ANY Faulkner before, this is a brand new experience for me... and I LIKE it... *smile* Keep in mind that I'm one of those folks that has to be 'grabbed' within the first chapter... and often within the first few pages... or I'll just put the book down... I realize that's a bad habit and just plain lazy reading... but my eyes really aren't that good, so if I'm going to strain them to read something, I want it to be enjoyable... but yep...I know... I'm trying to break the habit and give the authors more time to get my attention... but anyway... 'As I Lay Dying' already had points in its favor, because the title intrigued me, as did everything I had read about the story and the style of writing within the book... I still wasn't sure that I would really be captured by the story, though... and expected to have it be somewhat of a struggle for me to really 'get into it'... I was wrong... As you said, Karen... though there are no outright descriptions/explanations of the characters?... there really ARE... I have never read such 'simple' (for lack of a better word) writing that painted such a vivid picture in my head... and the last time I had such an immediate and clear view of a story's characters?... was with The Hobbit... Anyway... like I said... am in nanny mode right now, and can't wait to get home so I can read more... I will definitely be back... and Karen?... Thank you... *smile* Love ya, YOU...  |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Do go to the lectures and the Q&A section. It helps a lot. My mind is not as agile as it once was and now that I understand how old Will was working it is becoming easier and more interesting. I went right to The Sound and The Fury as I started late. So have to read As I Lay Dying along side. Thanks serenity for suggesting this. martyjo |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
sighhh... take bread away from me, if you wish, take air away. but do not take from me your laughter. |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Yay, i finally got it.....wet and damaged..sigh. But readable, after holding "As I lay Dying" up to the car heater as i was driving to work. Sigh. mxx take bread away from me, if you wish, take air away. but do not take from me your laughter. |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
Sorry they were damaged, Maree... but?... glad they finally arrived... So... have you been reading? Tell me what ya think... Pretty please?... *smile* and Karen?... Where'd ya go, lady?... Come baaaaaaaack... |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I'm here Miss V--just been having to earn my keep of late. I'll be back with comments after I re-read. (I tend to read too quickly at times, so I like to read twice, thrice, and then I glue the pages on my naked body.) I'm kidding of course. I glue them over a body stocking. I'll be around...  |
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Dark Angel Member Patricius
since 1999-08-04
Posts 10095 |
Vicky? I loved it! So much that i was inspired to er, lets say 'give it a go' /pip/Forum15/HTML/002331.html And you? What did you think of it? miss chatting to ya.Mxx |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
I'm so glad you enjoyed, everbody. I'm a little bit behind, but I'll be starting "The Sound And The Fury" this weekend. And thanks all for reading Faulkner with me. Believe it or not, it was hard to find anyone in my realtime life to participate with me (we were all FORCED to read Faulkner (as well as Tennesse Williams) so there's some negative connotation for most of the folks around here.) I'm convinced most kids aren't ready to appreciate the nuances of his work, anyhow. I know I wasn't. and yawp...I'll be around.  |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
I'm going to play catchup...a very kind Shenachie gifted me with her set just last night...and now I'm chomping at the bit. Especially since I just gobbled down two of Rick Bragg's books..."All Over but the Shoutin'" and "Ava's Man". After you're all done with Faulkner? I think Bragg is a star on the Christmas tree! Of the gift in your stocking.  |
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Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
I've been a bad bad girl...I haven't started yet, but don't give up on me. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
In the "April Seventh, 1928" section (Benjy's section), the small bright object is a condom box. During the 1920s one of the popular brands of condoms was "The Merry Widow," which came packaged in a round metal box of threes. The man in the red tie reads the label of the Merry Widow box when he says: "Agnes Mabel Becky" (p. 50). Those were the names on the top label of the metal boxes, "Three Merry Widows Agnes Mabel Becky". I found this hilarious! It is as much fun reading all the notes,.questions and answers as reading the book.I have not finished The Sound and The Fury as I neglected to take the book to Ct.I read two books while there but Summer reading type.Beach Girls and another by Luanne Rice. Any one finish yet? They are starting the third book this week. |
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
tsk...I'm behind m'self. I got so caught up in As I Lay Dying, I read it three times. (I tend to read too fast, so I try to make up for it by re-reading.)  and Merry Widow, indeed. I'd love to have a box of that, just as a conversation, um, piece....yanno? Hugs all. |
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vlraynes Member Rara Avis
since 2000-07-25
Posts 8229Somewhere... out there... |
You think YOU'RE behind, Karen?... I'm still not through "As I Lay Dying"... With all the work we've been doin' around the house lately, seems I'm havin' trouble slowing down enough to do much reading... but?.. I WILL finish it...and?... I WILL read the other two books too... Um... soon... LOL And Maree?... In answer to your question... though I haven't finished it yet, I am LOVING it! Was telling K, the other night... it's one of maybe 2 books that I've ever read that have made me wanna highlight parts of the book... it has grabbed me THAT much... That doesn't happen to me... I'm the kind of reader that has to be grabbed in the first few pages, or I'll put the book down... and yep.. I know that's a bad practice.. but it's the honest truth... This book, though?... no problem at all.. I was intrigued by the title alone...and then the style of writing?.. was just icing on the cake... I can't wait to read more!  And?... I miss you too, my friend... |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
I knew I had to stay away from this thread until I'd have time for the F man. LOL I read him before I was ready. It seems that after accumulating 59 years on planet X, I am finally ready to handle this guy.  SOOOOO, next week, I think it'll be time to tackle'em. Better late than never, is that still a truth? oh, and I think a tin can of Merry Widows might be a most delicious...hmmmm, conversation piece? |
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