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bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Review of Stoner
By: John Williams
Stoner is a novel about William Stoner Missouri farmer, who goes to school for agricultural studies, but finds himself falling in love with literature and teaching. Stoner goes through life experiencing two World Wars, a wife who hates him, rivalries at the school, and having an affair with a student.
My feelings for this are complicated as it has elegant proses that novel compelling to read that stirred strong emotions but left me sad at the end. Though, a sad isn’t a bad feeling, and it is set in one of my favorite time periods at a college. It is slow moving as we see William Stoner’s life play out as Williams focuses more on building his characters rather than making this a crazy plot driven story. He immerses you in Stoner’s mind and learn who he is as a person and what he cares about. It wakes you up to reality of life and how its not some epic adventure and shit happens. You won’t get along with everyone. William Stoner is a frustrating character with his passive nature as he barely fights for the things that are taken from him. It is one of the traits that his daughter, Grace, inherited from him. For father and daughter, they develop this mentality that it doesn’t matter when things go wrong, or their own happiness is taken from them. Stoner’s first mistake was marrying Edith Bostwick, who clearly had some issues that she needed to cope with. I got the impression she didn’t trust men starting with her father and took out her anger on Stoner. He had insisted they get married, preventing her from escaping to Europe with her aunt as he promises they’ll go one day, but life happens. His presence seems to smother her as she snaps at him for trying to help her preferring he not be around. Stoner isn’t a villain, just oblivious to who Edith is and how she feels as he rushed into marriage. Edith isn’t a great mother, and when she decides she wants to "Mother" Grace, she realizes the girl has bonded with Willy and decides she needs to keep Grace away from him. She turns Grace into her little doll and trying to force a life on her daughter that she doesn’t want. At the college, Stoner finds this place his sanctuary, but that is taken from him too by Hollis Lomax and Charles Walker. I couldn’t stand Hollis Lomax, the professor that takes Stoner’s mentor’s place, and Charles Walker, a student with a bad attitude. Both characters are arrogant and selfish using their disabilities to get away with shit. Both are crippled and I have a theory both had experienced mockery from others, and just became enraged at the world making them feel entitled, because the world owes them something. I felt sorry for both at first until they show their true colors. Stoner does stand up for himself a little when it comes to Lomax, but I wish he had fought harder to protect Grace, either way I think he would have lost. His relationship with Katherine Driscoll is sweet and tender, despite its immoral implications. There are probably more people like Stoner, who are passive spectators in life and aren’t brave enough to fight to hold on to what they love. I wanted a happier ending for Stoner, but life doesn’t always end happy. Your choices make a difference in if you have a reason to be content or unsatisfied with your life.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Bullying, War, and Death
sadiaa's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, War, Bullying, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity
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