Not an author I have tackled, but from reading about him "As I Lay Dying" appears to be one of his more "accessible" books. Please let us know how you get on.
I am reading one of my favourite travel writers at the moment, William Least Heat Moon. As a young man in the 60's, he visited Faulkner, although he only got to speak to his son. He makes Faulkner sound fascinating.
By the way, I would recommend Moon's "Blue Highways" to anyone....its a book that I re-read every few years.