Light in August

By: William Faulkner

Narrated by: Will Patton

Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Audible is pleased to present Light in August, by Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner.

An Oprah's Book Club Selection regarded as one of Faulkner's greatest and most accessible novels, Light in August is a timeless and riveting story of determination, tragedy, and hope. In Faulkner's iconic Yoknapatawpha County, race, sex, and religion collide around three memorable characters searching desperately for human connection and their own identities.

Audie Award-winning narrator Will Patton lends his voice to Light in August. Patton has narrated works by Ernest Hemingway, Don DeLillo, Pat Conroy, Denis Johson, Larry McMurtry, and James Lee Burke, and brings to this performance a keen understanding of Faulkner, an authentic feel for the South, and a virtuoso narrator's touch.

As an added bonus, when you purchase our Audible Modern Vanguard production of William Faulkner's book, you'll also receive an exclusive Jim Atlas interview. This interview – where James Atlas interviews James Lee Burke about the life and work of William Faulkner – begins as soon as the audiobook ends.

Be sure to check out Faulkner's The Wild Palms as well.

This production is part of our Audible Modern Vanguard line, a collection of important works from groundbreaking authors.

©1954, 1976 William Faulkner (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Nominee - Best Classic Audiobook, 2011

"For all his concern with the South, Faulkner was actually seeking out the nature of man. Thus we must turn to him for that continuity of moral purpose which made for the greatness of our classics." (Ralph Ellison)

"It's impossible to overstate the difficulties facing Will Patton as he undertakes a reading of this Faulkner classic. It's not simply the matter of conveying early-twentieth-century Southern backwoods dialects. That, a skilled mimic with an exceptional ear like Patton masters easily. But this novel's demands are so much more arduous, requiring a narrator to plumb the depths of despair, hopelessness, faith, rage, and yearning that go on for page after page without letup." ( AudioFile)

Hardwork

I couldn't finish this book. My reads need to have a good storyline, move at a reasonable pace and have interesting character development. Light in August failed all three.

Memory Believes Before Knowing Remembers

If you could sum up Light in August in three words, what would they be?

Engaging Southern Story

What other book might you compare Light in August to and why?

the old testament

What does Will Patton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the right tone and everything else

Who was the most memorable character of Light in August and why?

Joe Christmas

Any additional comments?

This was a far better experience than I expected. I thought it would be too dense and difficult to be enjoyable. Perhaps I am just at a point in my life where I can appreciate a work of this quality and depth.
The read by Will Patton was simply amazing and confirms in my mind that he is the best.

Wonderful Narration

If you could sum up Light in August in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining, descriptive (of the time period, people and scenarios) and drama-filled (like an old fasioned-soap opera).
The narrator's voice and ability to go into the characters really made the book come alive for me. The story, written in 1932, set in the 1800's I believe, is written in older-style, poetic in areas and very wordy at times. I had to sometimes paraphrase in my mind the main points through the wordy parts of any such scene to keep focus of what was really being said. Though overall the story kept me listening for more. Kudos to Will Patton for a superb job with his intonations and inflections for the many interesting characters and storylines (there were multiple stories within stories that were within the main story itself). He kept me listening to that wonderful voice of his and I heard the entire 15+ hour book within 2.5 days during spare time. It was thought provoking to the time period and sometimes humorous as well. Overall a definite recommended read (or listen).

Good story but difficult at times to follow

I really enjoyed this book. I was disappointed to not know what became of some of the characters but I think that added to the authenticity of the story. At times it was a challenge to keep the characters straight but I definitely think this was worth reading.

A Quiet,complicated,Southern story, amazing prose & Perfect reader for

One of America’s great prose writers , it becomes even more apparent when listened to.
This Exceptional reader brings this alive.
2nd time listening ...highly recommend

Intriguing story; amazing narration

I was assigned this book when I was in college 25 years ago. It recently came back to mind, so I looked it up on Audible and was not disappointed.

The story is multifaceted and told in non-chronological order. The narrator tells the story with a slow, southern drawl that makes a listener feel like he (the narrator) is actually witnessing the story and simply telling us about it.

Since the story takes place in the 1930s in the South, themes of racism and economic hardship are dominate.

This book is considered to be Faulkner’s most complex work, and it’s not a light read. But if you’re prepared to pay close attention and listen through some of the “thicker” parts of the book, I highly recommend it. .

I DD NOT LIKE IT

What did you love best about Light in August?

NOTHING. I AM A BIG READER IN FACT I AVERAGE A BOOK A DAY AS I AM RETIRED AND I FOUND THIS BOOK RATHER BORING. ALL OF THE CHARACTERS, BAR NONE WERE DISFUNTIONAL. I KEPT LISTENING HOPING IT WOULD GET BETTER, BUT IT DID NOT.

Who was your favorite character and why?

NONE

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Will Patton?

IT WAS NOT HIS FAULT. I DON'T THINK ANY NARRATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER. I USALLY ENJOY MOST BOOKS ABOUT THE SOUTH.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

NO1! ONLY BORED ME

Any additional comments?

THINK I SAID ENOUGH NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT THIS BOOK.

Great writing, odd story

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The story, I loved William's writing, he can weave some beautiful imagery and I wanted the story to go on as it started which was with country visuals and emotional depth but it went in a strange violent direction. I listened to the entire story, hoping to go back to the girl, who in my mind was the most interesting. Instead, it followed a character who is a twisted, evil, woman hater, who I didn't care about and was looking forward to his death so that we could get onto something besides absent minded aggression and hatred.

I think the writer wanted us to have compassion because of the characters terrible childhood but it was a story of bad equals more bad with zero introspection. I found it depressing..

If you’ve listened to books by William Faulkner before, how does this one compare?

I may try another, he is a fabulous writer

Would you listen to another book narrated by Will Patton?

not especially

Do you think Light in August needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no, terribly violent story

Any additional comments?

I own that I am burned out on senseless violence

Powerful, painful, true

Would you listen to Light in August again? Why?

No this is powerful enough on the first reading to remember every detail

Which scene was your favorite?

When the main character is hiding out, rarely eating and going through a sort of purification process

Any additional comments?

This felt like a true flavor of the south that still exists today in the deepest, darkest parts of the southern soul lurking there in a scary way. Narrator's accent was dead on.

Brilliant

Amazing novel, no wonder Faulkner is such a highly respected writer of the highest caliber. I loved everything about this novel, great performance by Will Patton, a compelling and involving story, and the writing...OMG dense, complex, rich, potent, intellectually challenging. This book restored my faith in American writing.