I want to tackle this book. How do I get through the nonlinear

>>8785709
you literally just fucking read it, I don't know why so many people struggle with that concept.
given the facts that 1.Benjy is in fact retarded, and 2. The narrative is fractured and nonlinear, it goes without saying that it isn't a puzzle to be reassembled by the reader. you can vaguely tell what age Benjy is in the narrative jumps by whether or not they pick him up, who's watching over him, the tendencies of his siblings, and other events, but it isn't necessary to rearrange the events because the events themselves aren't important. Focus on the people, their relationships, their actions. It's my favorite chapter of the book, but I think people wrestle with it needlessly. Just accept the fact that it's nonlinear and narrated by a retard and you'll hopefully enjoy it as well.

protip: there's two Quentins, a male and a female. That shit messed me up the first round.

if you stop trying to dissect and rearrange and fully understand the first part you lose whats good about it. Part two is much more difficult than part 1 desu

Both Benjy's and Quentin's sections are going to be rather difficult to read and understand fully the first time around, but you'll get it. It isn't too bad. Just read sparknotes or something along with it if you insist.

>>8785709
other anons are spot on. just keep reading page-by-page. if you don't understand it, don't worry, just continue moving forward. you'll come to understand benji as you progress through the book. faulkner didn't write benji's section intending it to be understood in the first pass.

>>8785755
I have a friend who refuses to start it for this very reason. You've summed up really well what I want to say when we argue about it.

>>8785709
The Sound and the Fury is my favorite novel and unlike works like Ulysses and The Recognitions, for example, it is not full of references or cultural/historical context or anything for which the reader would be well served by a guide of any sort. What TSatF does require is a close reading and patience. Read Benjy's chapter again after reading the entire book once and things will be more clear in that part as well. Do not be overly stressed by the lack of temporal consistency in Benjy's section. It's not exceedingly important. Understand that most of his section deals with memories from childhood and exactly when it happened is as important.

Also, there is action in the present in Benjy's section but it's of little consequence, mainly just a framing device. You know you are in the present when Luster appears. Luster only appears in the present, never memories. There are two Jasons (Benjy's father and brother), two Maurys (Benjy's uncle and Benjy himself before his name is changed) and two Quentins (Benjy's brother and Benjy's niece). This last one is probably the most confusing, because not only is the name the same--the girl Quentin mimics/repeats certain behaviors her of her mother Caddy, Benjy's sister.

The very beginning will be the most difficult of all because Benjy introduces people simply by name without providing any context or relational information. (There are quite a few different black servants). But you'll get the swing of it.

>>8785883
>faulkner didn't write benji's section intending it to be understood in the first pass.

True, but I think in many respects Quentin's chapter is more difficult and I agree with this guy. >>8785779

Of course there are large parts of Quentin's section that are 100% clear and read like a regular novel, but when he gets very introspective and the stream of consciousness kicks in it's very very recondite at times.

Just read it OP, you will do fine and you'll want to read it again after reading it once. The second reading is more enjoyable than the first.

>>8786469
**exactly when it happened ISN'T as important**