ok, so i received the first of 4 books i ordered online from half.com for bookclub this year- as i lay dying, by faulkner. it came with cliff notes- of all things unexpected!!!!! i have never had need of cliff notes, so i found the format fascinating. character scetches, plot lines, scene setting information, info about faulkner (like the u in faulkner was added by mistake by a printer and he decided to keep it....) i did start to read the actual book, and have decided that it reminded me of thomas hardy in many ways- return of the native, or the mayor of casterbridge- so many tragic characters, so little time.....i have yet to figure out why so many libraries and schools banned this book- the cliff notes mentioned that one character is seeking an abortion- maybe that is the evil theme that led this book to be on banned lists- like reading about this wretched girl will inspire other girls to do the same......so far i have not embraced faulkner's style- at least not in the way that i am drawn to reread hardy- maybe it is because hardy's books take place in wessex and faulkner is merely in the hot and humid south.......