Lie down in darkness

by

400 pages

English language

Published March 7, 1979 by Random House.

ISBN:
978-0-394-50659-3
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OCLC Number:
4933864

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3 stars (1 review)

The story is set out in the south. The Loftis family members are waiting for the coffin of their daughter Peyton. The novel goes back in time through flashbacks and recollections uncovering truths and events leading to Peyton's suicide. Lie Down In Darkness is a post-modernist novel, a post-war account of the human state, an age of alienation, decay and meaninglessness. Neither society nor family nor religion nor emancipation nor ethics are able to save Peyton from an inevitable death.

10 editions

reviewed Lie down in darkness by William Styron

Review of 'Lie down in darkness' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Here is a perfect example of a novel with no likable characters that still is a compelling read. Broken people get married, have a broken marriage and raise broken children is the story in a nutshell.

The last two chapters, the stream of consciousness and the black revival ones don't exactly fit or work, in my humble opinion. That's why I did not rate this higher. I understand why the stream of consciousness one was included but I don't really get the last chapter...

Subjects

  • Young women -- Fiction
  • Suicide victims -- Fiction
  • Virginia -- Fiction