As I Lay Dying. William Faulkner.

As I Lay Dying
William Faulkner
1930

Why read it? Novel. Faulkner uses words to help the reader visualize the character, mood and even the weather in the South. His characters are almost always stoic.

Addie Bundren lies dying and her children prepare to fulfill her desire to be buried in her native Jefferson (Mississippi), far from the crude back-country surroundings of her married life. After her death, the family, led by her husband Anse, begins the trek to Jefferson. The trip is disastrous with Darl trying to burn down a barn in order to cremate his mother's decomposing body. After fulfilling his wife's wishes, Anse buys a fresh set of false teeth and returns with a new Mrs. Bundren.

As I Lay Dying is crushingly sad in tone. The characters are cursed. The trip is cursed. But the situation, when looked at from a distance and in retrospect, is outrageously funny.

Sample ideas from the novel:
"Because the only burden Anse Bundren's ever had is himself." "...again he looks up at the sky with that expression of dumb and brooding outrage and yet of vindication, as though he had expected no less...." "In a strange room, you must empty yourself for sleep." "His voice is bigger than him." Anse: "Sometimes I wonder why we keep at it; it's because there is a reward for us above, where they can't take their autos and such; every man will be equal there and it will be taken from them that have and give to them that have not by the Lord."

"I always say it ain't never been what he done so much or said or anything so much as how he looks at you; it's like he had got into the inside of you, some way." "Then she begun to sing again, working at the washtub, with that singing look in her face like she had done give up folks and all their foolishness and had done went on ahead of them, marching up the sky, singing." "Was there ever as such misfortunate man." "Just because you have been a faithful wife is no sign that there is no sin in your heart, and just because your life is hard is no sign that the Lord's grace is absolving you." "And she said, I know my own sin; I know that I deserve punishment; I do not begrudge it."

"I could just remember how my father used to say that the reason for living was to get ready to stay dead a long time." "...and that sin and love and fear are just sounds that people who never sinned, nor loved nor feared have for what they never had and cannot have until they forget the words." "...because people to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too." "But He is merciful; He will accept the will for the deed." "And then, life wasn't made to be easy on folks." "It hurt my heart like the train did." "Seems like it ain't no end to bad luck when once it starts."

Quote: "It's like it ain't so much what a fellow does, but it's the way the majority of folks is looking at him when he does it."

Quote: Pa was coming along with that kind of daresome and hangdog look all at once like when he has been up to something he knows Ma ain't going to like...."