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rgallo's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
yssa_epub's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could even explain the ways this book touched me. It’s a simple and straight forward book, the kind of story that follows someone’s life and doesn’t care to add frills - because sometimes life has none.
I am so fond of the character Stoner, and there were moments I found myself screaming for him to be stronger and to stand up for himself. But in the end it was his gentle awkwardness that made me love him. I loved this book so much.
I am so fond of the character Stoner, and there were moments I found myself screaming for him to be stronger and to stand up for himself. But in the end it was his gentle awkwardness that made me love him. I loved this book so much.
travelling_through_pages_'s review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
natet88's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
This was one of the most perfect novels I have ever encountered. I was rapt and completely caught up in it.
saltydough's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
garrettmami's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
doreni_01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
agiali's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent read where every sentence and word felt important. While the writing is mundane, it served a purpose, and lines were written to punch you in the gut despite being written in the 60s.
Stoner is just a simple literary classic following the life of William Stoner. Stoner grew up on his parents' farm and when he originally goes to school for agriculture, he ends up falling in love with English literature and decides to pursue that instead. You see him throughout his life getting his PhD, falling in love, getting married, going to teach his own courses, and many other life changes.
I'm not a classics girl by any means, but this year I've researched a few that I would love to try and the New York Review Books Classics (NYRB) collection has such fascinating titles that aren't your average and very popular classics. John Williams has only written three novels, Stoner being his middle child and most popular, but you best bet I will be reading his other two. I adored this novel and this has to be what classic literature gals and pals feel when they read their classics. It makes me want to frolic at a university in a cardigan like "Ah, yes! I am just as cool and mysterious as you scholars." (I am not)
Stoner is just a simple literary classic following the life of William Stoner. Stoner grew up on his parents' farm and when he originally goes to school for agriculture, he ends up falling in love with English literature and decides to pursue that instead. You see him throughout his life getting his PhD, falling in love, getting married, going to teach his own courses, and many other life changes.
I'm not a classics girl by any means, but this year I've researched a few that I would love to try and the New York Review Books Classics (NYRB) collection has such fascinating titles that aren't your average and very popular classics. John Williams has only written three novels, Stoner being his middle child and most popular, but you best bet I will be reading his other two. I adored this novel and this has to be what classic literature gals and pals feel when they read their classics. It makes me want to frolic at a university in a cardigan like "Ah, yes! I am just as cool and mysterious as you scholars." (I am not)
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
A fictional biography of an English literature professor who tried.
My Take
I have to agree with Steve Almond's assessment of Stoner. Williams does treat his characters with brutal honesty, and it's a story that is so incredibly depressing. A life that is not so much lived as endured. It is a life that is a series of disappointments, that makes one question why one must live at all. Except for one brief period of actual joy in his life before it's torn from him by an enemy.
Williams does write beautifully, if depressingly:
I do commend Stoner for the stance he takes on Walker, and I can't believe Lomax was allowed to get away with this...I'm astonished. And, even more depressed. I do love the steps Stoner finally takes to readjust his schedule.
Stoner is a decent man who deserved so much better. And the best he received is in Williams' writing of him.
Williams' depiction of the time period and the intra-departmental politics was very well done. It certainly brought home to me how very lucky we are to be living now with the relaxed manners of today and our acceptance of mental health---although I'm not sure it would have done any good if Williams had set Stoner in today. Perhaps it might have allowed for a change in Will and Edith's circumstances, perhaps greater education would have saved them both.
Yes, if you are a writer or simply appreciate excellent writing, I do recommend Stoner. However, be aware that it's so incredibly depressing that it may be difficult to read. God knows it took me five weeks to get through this...and mostly because I'm stubborn and wanted to understand why, suddenly, Stoner was being promoted everywhere as such a good read.
The Story
It's a life like most. An unexpected opportunity results in a switch of Will Stoner's aim in life, and he becomes a teacher of English literature at the university in Columbia.
War breaks out and the inevitable indecisions arise with life proceeding along. It's after the war that Will meets Edith in an awkward courtship which leads to an horrific marriage. And on down, down, and down.
The Characters
The son of an impoverished farmer and his wife, William Stoner is sent off to University with hopes of what Will can learn at the College of Agriculture. Jim Foote is his mother's cousin and has a farm where Will works for his room and board. Edith Elaine Bostwick is the daughter of a well-to-do family in St. Louis with an interest in the arts. Emma Darley is Edith's aunt. Horace and Mrs. Bostwick are Edith's parents. Grace is Will and Edith's daughter, committing a slow suicide. Ed Frye is the man Grace marries.
Professor Archer Sloane arranges for Will to teach at the school, and war creates its own demands. David Masters and Gordon Finch are schoolmates and acting instructors in the department with whom he becomes friendly. Caroline Wingate is the girl whom Finch marries. Josiah Claremont is the dean of Arts and Sciences. Hollis Lomax and Jim Holland are a couple of the professors; Rutherford is dean of the Graduate College. Professor Joel Erhardt arrives later to the department. Dr. Jamison works for the University.
Katherine Driscoll audits the class in which Walker is the fool; she is an instructor in the English department while she writes her dissertation. Charles Walker is a pet student of Lomax's. I do wish we had eventually learned the why of it.
The Cover
The cover is grim with its mustardy yellow background and Will Stoner, hands in the pockets of his ill-fitting suit, contemplating his life.
The title is the man about whom we'll read, Stoner.
My Take
I have to agree with Steve Almond's assessment of Stoner. Williams does treat his characters with brutal honesty, and it's a story that is so incredibly depressing. A life that is not so much lived as endured. It is a life that is a series of disappointments, that makes one question why one must live at all. Except for one brief period of actual joy in his life before it's torn from him by an enemy.
Williams does write beautifully, if depressingly:
"Her needlepoint was delicate and useless, she painted misty landscapes of thin water-color washes, and she played the piano with a forceless but precise hand…"
I do commend Stoner for the stance he takes on Walker, and I can't believe Lomax was allowed to get away with this...I'm astonished. And, even more depressed. I do love the steps Stoner finally takes to readjust his schedule.
He realized it was the first time [in five years] anyone had spoken his name since he had come there.
Stoner is a decent man who deserved so much better. And the best he received is in Williams' writing of him.
Williams' depiction of the time period and the intra-departmental politics was very well done. It certainly brought home to me how very lucky we are to be living now with the relaxed manners of today and our acceptance of mental health---although I'm not sure it would have done any good if Williams had set Stoner in today. Perhaps it might have allowed for a change in Will and Edith's circumstances, perhaps greater education would have saved them both.
Yes, if you are a writer or simply appreciate excellent writing, I do recommend Stoner. However, be aware that it's so incredibly depressing that it may be difficult to read. God knows it took me five weeks to get through this...and mostly because I'm stubborn and wanted to understand why, suddenly, Stoner was being promoted everywhere as such a good read.
The Story
It's a life like most. An unexpected opportunity results in a switch of Will Stoner's aim in life, and he becomes a teacher of English literature at the university in Columbia.
War breaks out and the inevitable indecisions arise with life proceeding along. It's after the war that Will meets Edith in an awkward courtship which leads to an horrific marriage. And on down, down, and down.
The Characters
The son of an impoverished farmer and his wife, William Stoner is sent off to University with hopes of what Will can learn at the College of Agriculture. Jim Foote is his mother's cousin and has a farm where Will works for his room and board. Edith Elaine Bostwick is the daughter of a well-to-do family in St. Louis with an interest in the arts. Emma Darley is Edith's aunt. Horace and Mrs. Bostwick are Edith's parents. Grace is Will and Edith's daughter, committing a slow suicide. Ed Frye is the man Grace marries.
Professor Archer Sloane arranges for Will to teach at the school, and war creates its own demands. David Masters and Gordon Finch are schoolmates and acting instructors in the department with whom he becomes friendly. Caroline Wingate is the girl whom Finch marries. Josiah Claremont is the dean of Arts and Sciences. Hollis Lomax and Jim Holland are a couple of the professors; Rutherford is dean of the Graduate College. Professor Joel Erhardt arrives later to the department. Dr. Jamison works for the University.
Katherine Driscoll audits the class in which Walker is the fool; she is an instructor in the English department while she writes her dissertation. Charles Walker is a pet student of Lomax's. I do wish we had eventually learned the why of it.
The Cover
The cover is grim with its mustardy yellow background and Will Stoner, hands in the pockets of his ill-fitting suit, contemplating his life.
The title is the man about whom we'll read, Stoner.