Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Stoner by John Williams

4 reviews

maresuju's review against another edition

TLDR; Mediocre white man in the 1920s who feels entitled to other people

<CW: marital rape>

I understand that this is supposed to be a representation of the monotony/mediocrity that life can be, but I almost feel like this was the opposite. The MC is selfish, refused to make decisions or take any action, and only acts out of his own immediate interests. He essentially forces his wife to marry him despite her making it clear that she has no romantic interest in him, and he rapes her regularly (the author makes it very clear that she’s either asleep or wake up and is tense/unmoving). And then he wonders why his life is shitty, why his wife hates him and keeps her daughter from him.

Truly he is a mediocre (at best) man who feels like he’s entitled to a job, friends, a wife, a family, everything just because he’s there, but puts no effort into any of his relationships. I really tried to stick it out, and made it almost 70% of the way through, but I was just so annoyed and angered by the MC that I couldn’t find a single reason to care about what happens. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Rape, War, Ableism, Death, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Minor: Racism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Pregnancy, and Sexual content

apthompson's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Death, War, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Cancer, Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent, Grief, and Medical content

samarakroeger's review

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

the marital r*pe scenes caught me off guard but I guess it was unfortunately par for the course in those days. 

William Stoner is an incredibly awkward and passive-aggressive protagonist. The book is sad, slow, and deeply melancholic as it follows his tiny little life at the University of Missouri during the Greatest Generation. I found him frustrating, but in a way that makes a compelling book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Ableism, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Rape

cherryredmarlene's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This was very slow and in depth about different aspect of the life of one character, but that’s EXACTLY what tickles my pickle so good for myself. I can however see how this could be boring for some.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and War

Moderate: Addiction