“Sometimes I ain’t so sho who’s got a right to say when a man is crazy and when he ain’t. Sometimes I think it ain’t none of us pure crazy and ain’t none of us pure sane until the balance of us talks him that-a-way. 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.“
- As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner
I had a hard time picking a quote from As I Lay Dying, by William Faulkner. I wanted to pick something that both summed up the book and resonated with me. After jumping between two quotes, I settled on the one above.
This quote, in my mind, fits the first criteria by perfectly summing up the novel. Through the eyes of fifteen different narrators, As I Lay Dying recounts one family’s attempt to fulfill their dead mother’s final request, to be buried in a different county with her parents.
The perception of sanity is a theme that runs throughout the novel. Everyone here seems crazy, or to at least make bad decisions. There were moments while reading this when I actually thought, “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea”. I’ll give you an example (without ruining the story for you): one of the characters breaks his leg. So, as a makeshift cast, they encase it in cement. Do you think any good will come of this? No, you don’t. But they don’t see a problem with it.
This sort of stuff is littered throughout the novel, and at times you think, “what the hell is going on here.” Then the perspective changes and you start reading things from that character’s vantage point, and their actions seem less crazy and
very human.
As for the second criteria: this quote resonated with me because I lived abroad, in Australia, for many years. While in Oz, I really liked being different from everyone else. I came form a different culture. I had a different perspective. And, more importantly, I had an accent.
What I didn’t like was being foreign. I would do things that seemed rational and quite natural to me. But to the people I was with my actions appeared strange and unnatural. It could have been something as simple as a Canadian expression or saying “how are you" to the girl at the deli counter. Or, it could be something bigger like when driving stopping for pedestrians crossing the street or playing American/Canadian Football on a cricket pitch. To me, all my actions were reasonable. But the Auzzies just didn’t get it. I would try to explain but that would more than likely lead to more confusion. And this is the key to As I Lay Dying. No matter how sane and logical you feel your actions are, others might not get it.
I have purposefully restrained from referring specifically to the story. I don’t want to give anything away, other than what I already mentioned. It’s such a good story. I was completely drawn in to their world. Twice I missed my sky train stop on the way home from work.
Though I will say this: when you read it get a character list. I found the story very confusing to start. Direct relationships between characters are not clear at first. As well, I had trouble remembering who was who. So I looked up the character names on the internet and wrote them on a piece of paper and kept it in the back of the book. It was very helpful. And, don’t feel bad about doing this. It’s not cheating. I figure plays have character lists, so why not novels. If it helps you understand the story, and get deeper in to the plot, then go for it.
Actually, I will even say this too: there are many similarities between the Bundren family, in As I Lay Dying, and the Lamb family, in Cloudstreet. The family mentality’s match – especially when you compare mothers. As well, both novels have character’s named Quick and Fish. As well, the writing styles and symbolic references in the two books are quite similar, which would also explain why I liked this book so much.
Anyway, As I Lay Dying, is the best novel I have read so far in my 25 in 2010 challenge. I really think people should pick it up. It’s short too, about 150 pages, so if you don’t like long stories, even better.
Next book: The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz, by Mordecai Richler.
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During a lovely coffee with a friend, we discussed the process/craft of writing and the reality that no idea is so perfect as when it’s in your head. It reminded me of William Faulkner (The Sound and The Fury, As I Lay Dying) and his interview in The Paris Review. Here’s what he says:
