Tackling Faulkner
Most Faulkner readers, even those of us who have made a career of studying, teaching and writing about Faulkner, can still recall our initial experiences of anxiety, bafflement and downright frustration upon first reading a Faulkner text. Believe me, when it comes to finding Faulkner difficult, we've all been there.

So, what can a longtime Faulkner reader say to persuade those who don't like or are intimidated by Faulkner that they're missing out on some great reading experiences, and what advice can one give them to make their entry into and negotiation of Faulkner's fictional world a little easier?

Here are a few suggestions I offer my students on reading Faulkner—which I've now been doing, with great enjoyment and benefit, for more than 40 years.