The library
Author William Faulkner Origin United States First published 1929 Genre Modernist Fiction Pages 384 I read it Mar 2025
The Sound and the Fury
My review
This book is a challenging read, but it is deeply rewarding and a perfect masterpiece. Seeing the world through Benjy’s eyes is a hauntingly beautiful experience. His reliance on smell to understand his sister—noticing when ‘Caddy smelled like trees’ and panicking when that smell disappears—tells you everything you need to know about his grief and confusion. Faulkner is an absolute master of the human heart, and this book deserves every bit of its legendary status.
My favourite quote
He went on and we stopped in the hall and Caddy knelt and put her arms around me and her cold bright face against mine. Caddy smelled like trees. ... “Hush now.” she said. “I’m not going to run away.” So I hushed. Caddy smelled like trees in the rain. ... Caddy put her arms around me, and her shining veil, and I couldn’t smell trees anymore and I began to cry. Benji, Caddy said, Benji. She put her arms around me again, but I went away. “What is it Benjy.” she said. “Is it this hat.” She took her hat off and came again, and I went away. “Benji.” she said. “What is it, Benji. What has Caddy done.”
