William Faulkner

One of my most favorite writers within the Southern Gothic genre is William Faulkner. He is considered to be one of the most important writers in Southern literature. Faulkner has often been cited as one of "the most influential writers of the 20th century." There are several reasons why Faulkner is a favorite author of mine, but you should know my love for Faulkner is new. In high school, I loathed Faulker and anything having to do with him. Last fall, I took a course that was strictly dedicated to anything and everything William Faulkner. That class was when my love of Faulkner started to bloom. Most of his novels are based in his native Mississippi and almost all his works include controversial topics. One of the reasons I enjoy reading Faulkner is because he pushes the limit on what was acceptable during his time period. His novels are not an easy read, but something you must wade through in order to fully understand what is going on. I also like Faulkner because he is experimental in his writing style. Most of what he writes in certain novels can seem like rambling, but if one delves deeper you will see that it is just meticulous attention to "diction" and "cadence." If you have never experieneced a Faulkner novel, you should. I recommend starting with either Sanctuary, one of his most controversial novels, or with Absalom, Absalom.