The Sound and the Fury (1929) marks Faulkner's initial foray into the stream-of-consciousness narrative style, which he masterfully uses in As I Lay Dying. Both novels delve into family dynamics and present in-depth psychological portraits. Critics often highlight the resemblances between Quentin Compson and Darl, as well as between the mentally challenged Benjy Compson and young Vardaman.

Faulkner's The Hamlet (1940) is the first book in a trilogy that traces the ascent of the "poor white" Snopes family.

Erskine Caldwell's novel Tobacco Road (1932) portrays a destitute family that endures severe hardships to survive. Caldwell's characters are notable for their lack of education and often primitive responses to situations.

George Washington Harris's Sut Lovingood stories, published in periodicals from 1843 to 1869 and compiled in Sut Lovingood's Yarns (1966), are comedic tall tales featuring an irrepressible narrator and outrageous adventures. Faulkner admitted to being a fan of these stories.

The Nigger of the "Narcissus" (1897), a novel by Joseph Conrad, depicts a perilous sea voyage centered around James Wait, a dying black sailor who garners the crew's attention. Many critics have observed parallels between this novel and As I Lay Dying.

C. Vann Woodward's significant historical study, Origins of the New South: 1877-1913 (1951), provides an in-depth look at Southern life and politics.

The Mind of the South (1941), authored by W. J. Cash, is a provocative examination of Southern race relations, class structures, religion, and ideologies. The book has received both acclaim and criticism.