Customer Reviews

Absalom, Absalom! (MAXNotes Literature Guides)

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This fine interpretation should be used by any person who endeavors to understand the body of Faulkner's work. I daresay even old W.F. himself would have benefited from reading this text. I only wish I had had assistance like this when I was in school.

This guide to Absalom, Absalom by William Faulkner stands head and shoulders above other published study guides of the same book and compares favorably to the best of contemporary scholarship on this complex and peculiar giant of American literature. The precision and clarity of Johnson's writing is second only to her incisive yet empathy-tempered insights into the cultural origins and psychological dynamics of of William Faulkner's creative genius. It might well be said that Johnson herself is guided by a daemon driving her to educate, illuminate and uplift the masses of the great unread, so vast is her talent for explication and exegesis, so graceful her dance through the hermeneutic spiral. Buy this book and you will be lead into undreamed of realms of knowledge and wisdom by an actual PhD.

As an impartial audience, I MUST say that this book displays ABSOLUTE GENIUS! It's clear that Carol Johnson should receive the MacArthur Award. This book should be on display at the Library of Congress next to the Declaration of Independence.

I wrote this study guide ten years ago and, overall, I would say that books such as "Absalom, Absalom" are extremely difficult to read and should not be taught in high school or even in undergraduate school. Faulkner wrote a series that is easier to understand, humorous, and has his usual depth of spirit: "The Hamlet," "The Town" and "The Mansion." I think every time a teacher assigns "Absalom, Absalom" to anyone besides a graduate student majoring in English, you are doing Faulkner a disfavor (as well as the student). I suppose teachers assign "Absalom, Absalom" out of inertia - it's Modernism - it's always been taught - so let's keep teaching it . . .

Carol Siri Johnson is an expert and daring writer. She is the best writer I have ever read. Her book, whatever it's called, is so good that I cried when I read it. My teacher gave me an A+ for the whole year because of a book report I did about it. Carol is like the mother I have never had because I am an orphan. And oh, by the way, I love cows too.

i,i,i, think the book is very goooood, it was like a nice juicy steak and not like just like dry kibble..... Beause i am her stalker and alien!
-TiffanyTheDog.com