Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

Stoner by John Williams

19 reviews

jupitervivienne's review against another edition

sad 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

I’m really not sure where I stand with this book. At times I hated it and didn’t want to continue, other times I felt it was very emotional and moving. I think I would have felt more impacted if the story was about Edith. Her character was so perplexing and heartbreaking and I was so curious about her inner world. The part of the book that briefly switched to her perspective was incredibly engaging. Overall, it’s an interesting exploration of the period and the life of an average man, but I don’t think it was for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Racism, Death, and War

Minor: Fatphobia and Alcoholism

stalfos's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Infidelity, Cancer, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Child abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, War, and Classism

lrosenzweig23's review against another edition

dark informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Rape, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abandonment, War, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Fatphobia, and Gaslighting

rinnavv's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Death

Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Terminal illness

jayisreading's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel and its quietly intense world. The novel follows the relatively mundane life of William Stoner, though Williams reveals how complicated things can get for his protagonist through a masterful demonstration of “show, don’t tell.” It was fascinating to see the ripple effects of Stoner’s choices in his personal life as well as professional, and how the two are not easily separable. Williams also presented a more accurate depiction of academia than I expected, particularly the intensity of departmental politics and the love/hate relationship that comes with being an academic.

The protagonist isn’t a likable character, in my opinion, though he isn’t the absolute worst either. If anything, Stoner is a very honest reflection of what it means to be human and contend with one’s imperfections (some more egregious than others). Relatedly, the other characters in this novel, particularly his wife, Edith, demonstrate similar levels of introspection on the complexities of being human.

Stoner is a bittersweet novel, leaning far more towards the bitter rather than sweet. It really helped set the novel up to capture an existential solitude that will potentially leave the reader thinking about their own life. I should note that this is by no means a perfect novel, and there were certainly moments when I raised my eyebrows (such as the early stages of the Stoners’ marriage), but overall, I found it to be a compelling read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, and Infidelity

Moderate: Emotional abuse, War, Rape, and Chronic illness

Minor: Alcoholism and Suicide

infectedarea's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting, Death, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, and Alcoholism

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

aniquegrace's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

4.25

somehow nothing happened it’s one of my favorite books of the year, moving and pensive 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Alcoholism

Minor: War

floatinthevoid's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

After reading about 60% of the book, I was very sure , this would be my new favorite. Until,

the cheating plot came in. God damn it immediately made me gone to a reading slump. Like I could endure cheating in fiction if it's not romanticized.

That part of the book is sooo annoying. I think John Williams is a very talented writer. He could write mundane things to be somethinh to have a very deep and long conversation. But if I had to sum up this book briefly, I'm just gonna say, this book is perfect for all of you who likes to suffer reading a depressing book. That's it. Oh, maybe some of you who study English Lit will also like this too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity

Moderate: War and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Alcoholism

raffia's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Infidelity

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and War