Reading Faulkner's Sanctuary

Cafe Society
1

I haven’t read any Faulkner since high school. I recall being impressed by the structure of “A Rose for Emily.” And I recall being infuriated by “As I Lay Dying.”

Eighteen years later, I’m reading “Sanctuary.” I’m up to Chapter 16, when the lawyer Horace Benbow is taking Ruby Lamarr to a hotel.

I found the chapters leading up to the rape and murder extremely confusing. I found it very hard to keep track of the characters at the Frenchman’s house, how many there were in any particular scene, and who was saying what and who was doing what.

Am I just not reading closely enough or is this a difficult read?

2

Hm. Crickets. Is this thing on?

3

Well, considering that Sanctuary is about Faulkner’s fifth or sixth most popular work, I’m not surprised that no one is ready to discuss it with you right now. I find Goodreads has more discussion, especially clarifying plot points, but still not in real time. I think you need a book club.

4

I read As I Lay Dying in high school. I could barely understand what was going on. Sanctuary was not much better. I read that in college. I was a Phi Beta Kappa English major, and I think they’re both just very tough reads.