As I Lay Dying

by William Faulkner
As I Lay Dying cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Literary Fiction
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Format • £9.49
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Paperback • £9.99–£15.99 Hardback • £22.00
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  • ID: 4668
  • Added: 2025-10-21
  • Updated: 2026-02-03
  • ISBN: 9780099479314
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 1996-01-01
  • Formats: 8
  • Reviews: 4

As I Lay Dying is a profound exploration of the human condition, narrated through the unique voices of the Bundren family. Each family member's perspective offers a fragmented yet intimate look into their collective grief and determination as they traverse the Mississippi landscape to bury their matriarch, Addie. The novel is renowned for its innovative narrative structure and deep psychological insights. /n/n Faulkner's masterpiece delves into themes of death, family, and the complexities of human relationships. The Bundrens' journey is not just physical but also emotional and spiritual, revealing the intricate layers of their characters and the bonds that both unite and divide them. The novel's stream-of-consciousness style and multiple narrators create a rich, multifaceted storytelling experience.

Reviews
Chris Gregory Books · Chris Gregory · 2020-11-28
excellent 4.20

The book is a blackly comic, bleak, and tragic work about a family coming apart at the seams due to their inability to communicate. The reviewer highlights the dark humor and tragic elements that make the book a unique and compelling read.

Chris Gregory describes 'As I Lay Dying' as a blackly comic and tragic work that delves into the disintegration of a family due to their inability to communicate. They appreciate the dark humor and tragic elements that Faulkner weaves into the narrative. The book's exploration of family dynamics and the struggles of communication is particularly compelling. Gregory highlights how the book's unique blend of humor and tragedy makes it a standout read. The reviewer found the book to be a profound and thought-provoking exploration of human relationships and the complexities of family life.

Quick quotes

    As I Lay Dying is a blackly comic, bleak and tragic work about a family coming apart at the seams because they can't communicate.

    Faulkner's exploration of family dynamics and communication struggles is particularly compelling.

    The book's unique blend of dark humor and tragedy makes it a standout read.

Shoshi's Book Blog · 2019-10-17
great 4.00

The novel is a perfect example of black comedy, blending humor and tragedy seamlessly. The characters' interactions and the family's journey are both hilarious and heartbreaking.

This book is a masterclass in black comedy. The humor is dark and often absurd, but it's balanced perfectly with moments of genuine sadness and tragedy. The characters are deeply flawed and their interactions are both hilarious and heartbreaking. The family's journey to bury their mother is fraught with obstacles and miscommunications, making it a compelling and emotional read. The novel's exploration of grief and human nature is both profound and thought-provoking.

Quick quotes

    The whole book is genuinely funny and terribly terribly sad; probably my ideal example of black comedy

    Different moments to make me gasp and laugh out loud in quick succession

    The characters are deeply flawed and their interactions are both hilarious and heartbreaking

Reader's High Tea · Reader's High Tea · 2018-04-14
great 4.00

The nine-day journey is filled with dark humor, tragedy, and weird happenings that address a wide range of emotions. The book's exploration of family dynamics and communication struggles is particularly compelling.

The reviewer highlights the dark humor and tragic elements that intertwine throughout the Bundren family's journey. They found the book to be a profound exploration of family dynamics and the struggles of communication. The nine-day journey is filled with unexpected events and emotional depth, making it a compelling read. The reviewer appreciates how Faulkner weaves together these elements to create a rich and thought-provoking narrative. The book's ability to address a wide range of emotions and themes resonated strongly with them.

Quick quotes

    The nine-day travel is not as smooth as they thought, sprinkled with dark humour, tragedy, and weird happenings that address a wide range of emotions.

    Faulkner's exploration of family dynamics and communication struggles is particularly compelling.

    The book's ability to weave together dark humor and tragedy makes it a standout read.

Nut Free Nerd · Nut Free Nerd · 2016-10-27
brilliant 4.50

The writing style is challenging but rewarding, and it has converted the reviewer into a devoted Faulkner fan. The unique narrative structure and deep character insights are particularly praised.

This reviewer found 'As I Lay Dying' to be a transformative reading experience. They appreciated the challenging yet rewarding writing style, which offers deep insights into the characters' minds. The unique narrative structure, with multiple perspectives, was particularly engaging. Despite the initial difficulty, the book's richness and depth made it a worthwhile read, turning the reviewer into a devoted fan of Faulkner's work. The exploration of themes like family, death, and communication resonated strongly with them.

Quick quotes

    As I Lay Dying has officially converted me into a devoted Faulkner fan.

    His writing style is challenging but rewarding, and I'm already looking forward to reading more of his work.

    The unique narrative structure and deep character insights make this book a standout.

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