In the half-dozen books I've read this year are two of the "southern-Gothic" genre; 'To Kill A Mockingbird'(Harper Lee) and 'The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter'(Carson McCullers). 'Mockingbird' is among my favorite movies since I can remember but I just now got around to reading the book. 'Heart' was more intriguing because I'd not seen the movie and had no idea where it was headed. For reasons I can't explain my feeling is that I should read Faulkner's 'As I Lay Dying' to continue in this vein. Any suggestions?

Today, in keeping with my propensity of reading books by authors who committed suicide, I finished 'Fortunate Son' the autobiography of Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Published in 1991, I first became aware of 'Son' after reading about Puller's suicide in 1994. For over a decade I put off reading it but recently felt I shouldn't avoid it any longer. For a better understanding(and to receive the full effect of what is written) before anyone starts 'Fortunate Son' they need to read the biography of his father, 'Marine! The Life Of Chesty Puller'. I've probably read one or two dozen non-fiction books about the war in Vietnam. 'Fortunate Son' is by far the best and (at least for me, which is why I put off reading it) the most emotional.