Mosquitoes

A diverse group of artists, intellectuals, and socialites gather in 1920s New Orleans for a four-day yacht excursion hosted by a wealthy arts patron. The narrative centers on Gordon, a focused sculptor, and follows the interactions between passengers aboard the Nausikaa as they navigate both Lake Pontchartrain and their complicated relationships. The story unfolds over six distinct sections - a prologue introducing the characters, four day-by-day accounts of the voyage, and an epilogue that returns to New Orleans. The novel tracks the hour-by-hour developments of the journey, capturing conversations, tensions, and shifting dynamics among the passengers. As Faulkner's second novel, published in 1927, Mosquitoes draws from his experiences in New Orleans' artistic community. The text uses satire to examine the nature of art, creativity, and the often strained relationships between artists, patrons, and those who orbit their world.

Readers view Mosquitoes as one of Faulkner's lesser works, with many noting its experimental nature feels unfocused and pretentious. The satire of New Orleans artistic society comes across as mean-spirited according to multiple reviewers. Readers praise: - Sharp dialogue and memorable character descriptions - Historical snapshot of 1920s New Orleans culture - Early glimpses of Faulkner's later writing style Common criticisms: - Difficult to follow multiple narrative threads - Characters feel like caricatures rather than real people - Plot meanders without clear purpose - Too much philosophical musing Ratings: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (40+ ratings) "Reads like a practice novel for his later masterpieces," notes one Goodreads reviewer. Another calls it "a fascinating mess - worth reading to see Faulkner developing but not satisfying on its own terms."

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The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald The story follows a young socialite couple in New York City as they drift through parties and struggle with their artistic aspirations while their marriage deteriorates.

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Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf The novel traces a single day in London as characters from different social circles intersect while preparing for a party.

Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald The rise and fall of a psychiatrist and his wealthy patient-turned-wife unfolds among the expatriate community on the French Riviera.

🌟 "Mosquitoes" (1927) was only Faulkner's second novel, written when he was living in New Orleans and working as a small-time journalist. 🎨 The character of Patricia Robyn was inspired by Helen Baird, a woman Faulkner was in love with and unsuccessfully proposed to during his time in New Orleans. 🛥️ The yacht journey depicted in the novel was based on a real excursion Faulkner took with New Orleans artists and writers, though his own trip lasted only two days. 📚 Despite being less commercially successful than his later works, this novel contains early versions of techniques he would perfect later, including stream-of-consciousness narration and multiple viewpoints. 🎭 The book's title "Mosquitoes" serves as a metaphor for the buzzing, irritating nature of the pretentious artistic conversations and social interactions among the characters.