Never judge a book by its title. "Awful in August" might be a more appropriate designation. Or "Prolix, Overbearing, and Just Damn Depressing in August," by William Faulkner. Bottom line: I read this in August, and highly disliked it in August. For many, many, many reasons. One of which I remember quite clearly:
It's one of those books I wish I could like, because some passages are truly gorgeous. Unfortunately, Joe Christmas failed to compel me and, furthermore, I found his characterization (especially considering his status as a biracial figure cast by a white Southern *gradualist* man) rather troubling.
(Granted, my initial opinion of the work was formed at age sixteen, so maybe if I gave it a second read I could give it a better and more insightful review.) ( )

I feel the same way about Faulkner as I do about Hemingway...I just don't get the appeal in prose style or content. ( )

The second to the last chapter almost ruined the book. The summary chapter concluding Hightower's character was confusing. Otherwise this book was well crafted, layered, and dense but still mostly readable. An intimate look at common folk in the pre-depression south. This was the first book by Faulkner I ever finished. More dense than Steinbeck and Hemingway but still easy to read. ( )

Hard to read, incredibly slow and boring. I sometimes wonder why some books become Classics and this is definitely one I wonder about. ( )

By far, the best I can remember reading. All the reasons I love the storytelling aspects of Faulkner: his characters, long winding, grammatically unhindered passages, darkness and light. There are numerous theological implications that fill the novel, though I missed them because I was so utterly engrossed in the characters. It is worth another re-read and a lengthier extrapolation of its themes. Though it seemed long (@ 500 pages it almost is) and I mistakenly lost sight of the goodness of the story by the end – rushing through it a little too fast as I was anxious to finish and begin my next novel. But that’s on me; that’s my fault and my weakness; this book had none. It is sheer brilliance. Lena Grove is a fascinating character, as is her Light in August. Bunch is annoying and sad. Hightower is admirable if heavily faulted and seemingly arrogant and frustrating because he possess the most opportunity to do good in this novel. Birch is just an imbecile and vagabond with no badness or goodness to mention. Christmas is unfortunate and sad, though I root for his salvation as a character. ( )