As I Lay Dying

Told from the first-person POV, a family in rural 1920’s Mississippi travel to bury the family matriarch. As the family makes the trip, readers become privy to the troubles of the family as they struggle to adapt to the chaos around them.

As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner has got to be one of my favorite books (to be honest, I have many favorite books). Initially drawn to it because the book shared a name with a band I used to listen to, I was curious to discover the meaning of the title. Obviously it was going to be something hardcore- I mean, a band named themselves after the book, FFS. Also being a Lit major, I remember reading Faulkner’s short story ‘Barn Burning' and liking the author’s steelo. Jumping into the book, I can say I definitely wasn’t really sure what to expect.

Something I picked up on in ‘Barn Burning’ was Faulkner’s narrative style. The story, taking place in the American south, had a southern drawl to it- which kept me intrigued. But AILD was a whole different beast when it came to style. The story is about a family who is attempting to deal with the approaching death of their matriarch. As the family prepares to deliver the mother to her final resting place, the narration alternates between different members of the family- each with their own perspective on the events unfolding. Plenty is going on in the story as it is, but that southern drawl that I saw in ‘Barn Burning?’ Yeah, it’s all up in this piece as well. Best advice I can give you when it comes to reading his work if you aren’t familiar with it:

Read it out loud. Seriously. Who cares if people in the Starbucks lobby keep shooting you dirty looks as you whisper ‘Darl.’ (Hint: pronounced Darryl, bro). It’ll help you through a couple tough spots.

But that southern style is everywhere, and it might take a bit to get the hang of it. So take your time, it’s definitely a great book.

Though it’s a great book, is it technically part of the ‘Horror’’ genre that brought us all here to this blog? 

No, but it is definitely horror-adjacent. And extremely dark.

As the family reaches their destination, we as readers are just as worn out and emotionally drained as the family. The book is a rollercoaster to say the least, with the ending leaving me literally slack-jawed with shock. It’s because of the ending that I have forever suggested this book to anybody willing to listen. If you are a fan of shocking endings and dark humor, do not pass this book up.

Rating: I give this book 9 out of 10 caskets. The biggest hang-up is the dialect, something that you will get the hang of. But the ending of the novel is shocking AF and will definitely remain with you for years to come.

If you have read AILD and are looking for something else to jump at, Faulkner’s ‘Barn Burning’ is a great short story. Like I mentioned, it has a similar style, but is much easier to understand. You might also want to check out In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. Capote, a master artist of his craft, writes of a gruesome family murder and the hunt to capture the culprits- but more importantly (and most interestingly)- is the attempt to find out why the crime was committed. In my opinion, it shares many of the same features of AILD, except maybe a little less humor. And obviously it’s a bit darker, being based on real circumstances and all. Another book I stay preaching about is Native Son by Richard Wright. It tells the story of a young black man who takes a job as a chauffeur (something he has no interest in) in order to help support his family. While working, he accidentally kills the daughter of the family he has begun working for. As he goes on the run, he is not only forced to deal with the crimes he has committed, but with his anger at the hand life has dealt him.

If you are looking to take a break from reading (why would you do that, friend?), there are a couple movies you can check out. Parasite came to mind- the story of a family who manipulate the people around them for their own benefit, only for things to fall apart in a shocking- and gorey- chain of events. Hell or High Water also has that shock factor when it comes to the movie. Two brothers began robbing banks in order to pay off their family’s farm and ensure the future of their kids. With a great story and several great actors (one of the Chris’s is in it, Chris Pine I think?), the one liners seal the deal for me. 

What’s your favorite first-person narrative? Shoot it my way!

Until next time…

-M