"Say what?" --Me after our discussion about ATKM

So I feel like our discussion on Friday about All the King's Men really helped but I'm still confused on some things. Like I don't think we came up with a solid answer for who the main character is. I mean, is there a solid answer? Is there ever a solid answer in literature? It's all so ambiguis! Ahhhhh! I just wish these authors were still around so we could ask them what they were thinking when they wrote these brilliant novels. I mean, I would love to know what was going on in Robert Penn Warren's head while he wrote the book. There are so many different opinions on his book, but I want to know what he wanted us to feel. What are his opinions and what does he feel strongly about? I think we could dig through his work and maybe find a clue to that question but it would be so much easier to just ask the dude!
Anyway, I feel alot more passionate towards this novel. I remember when I first read it, I felt like my brain was on fire and that I never wanted to read another metaphoric passage again. I can remember my friend's mom asking, "So do you like it?"
My response, "Well I'm sure this is a really good book, but I'm just not getting it!" That's honestly how I felt throughout the whole book. I wish I had Mrs. Clinch by my side throughout the summer to point things out like she does during school (you know you did too) but I know I have to become more independent as a reader and start thinking of these kind of things on my own. That's where I think annotating plays such a big role in this. Honestly guys, I'm really greatful for the annotating because it's going to make reading in the long run a lot easier, at least for reading in school. And you know you love to look back and flip through the book and see all those marks and be like "Yeah, I did that". (You know you do it!!!!)
Anyways, I have come to the decision that I liked the novel, that's right, I did! I know it was long and got a little heavy at times, but in a sense, it was brilliant. I mean, I could have never of come up with all those metaphoric passages and the way he casually connecting Cass to Jack, or Jack to Gilbert (depending on where you stand on the issue, once again ambigious!) And it wasn't the most boring story either. Let's just agree that it was better than Winesburough (sorry Mrs. Clinch!)