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guts_'s review against another edition
5.0
Stoner is a truly beautiful work of literature. It honestly spoke to me in a way in which words cannot adequately convey. Following Stoner's life led me to contemplate my own and aroused a depth of emotion within me that only the best stories can do so effortlessly. I loved every page, couldn't recommend it enough.
zivi's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
missbuckets's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sungyena's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
booksbyleen's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
biagiomineo's review against another edition
reflective
sad
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
3.75
samble's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the cover states “the greatest novel you’ve never read” - i suppose only the former half is true now
brisingr's review against another edition
4.0
Stoner is a horrible book. Read it. It is horribly painful and horribly real and hit horribly close to home.
Let's meet William (Willy/Bill) Stoner: son of two farmers, boy of the land who is sent to university, in hope that studying chemistry and subjects related to land and how it can be improved, will also ease the lives of those in his family. But there, he finds out that his callous hands are made of holding a pen instead of a shovel and that his mind is more interested in literature than science. And so, he changes his specialization and starts studying what he truly loves, becoming in the end a dedicated teacher.
If you are a huge fan of action, I am sorry to say that this book is not for you, even if I'd recommend Stoner to everyone, because it's a wonderful book. It's honest and raw and manages to touch a string of the reader's heart. Maybe because Stoner is so normal, so like every single one of us, that we feel personally drawn towards his life, that we are so willing to read something that only shows us the everyday occurances in a teacher's life. Really, Stoner is every single one of us and I do believe every reader can identify themselves in at least one aspect of Stoner's life or personality.
Talking about the characters, I do feel strangely attached to Stoner, in a way that I am with not so many other characters in the books I've read. Maybe the fact that you're walking on Stoner's footsteps on a period of forty years ties you with him, but he's so likeable and nice that you just can't help yourself feeling pity and a touching, somewhat admiration towards him and his way of reacting to everything life throws at him. Because, to be honest, life isn't so nice with Stoner. One person here on goodreads actually put a photo in a review, where he'd changed the name of the book in "Life sucks and then you die". Well, isn't that kind of true to every single one of us? But it is really important on how we react to whatever bad things come our way, and Stoner's way of coping is by being resilient in his own little world and passionate about several things during his life. He is a great teacher, and while he's failing on other aspects of his life, this is the only constant good thing around him.
I don't know what to say exactly about the author's style, it's definetely one that catches your attention and I think it really fits the story and the slow-paced happenings and this type of book. I really enjoyed some dialogues and it had a lot of interesting details in it. But still, what hits you the worst, is definetely the reality of the words and of the events in the book.
It was an amazing book, but so, so sad. I am feeling right now sick in front of the prospect of living a life like Stoner's, because I look at it and I know I will never be able to accept it with the easiness of the main character. Probably that's what makes up most of the sadness and drama in this book: how easy Stoner accepts everything that comes upon him. And it's sad but in a morbid way, I loved seeing how weak he was in some situations and how he reacted and I have no words to explain how this book made me feel.
Just read it, I doubt someone will regret reading this book. 4/5 because I can't exactly sort out my feelings well right now and I am kind of really messed up because of this book and I just need time. Nonetheless, I really did enjoy this book.
Let's meet William (Willy/Bill) Stoner: son of two farmers, boy of the land who is sent to university, in hope that studying chemistry and subjects related to land and how it can be improved, will also ease the lives of those in his family. But there, he finds out that his callous hands are made of holding a pen instead of a shovel and that his mind is more interested in literature than science. And so, he changes his specialization and starts studying what he truly loves, becoming in the end a dedicated teacher.
If you are a huge fan of action, I am sorry to say that this book is not for you, even if I'd recommend Stoner to everyone, because it's a wonderful book. It's honest and raw and manages to touch a string of the reader's heart. Maybe because Stoner is so normal, so like every single one of us, that we feel personally drawn towards his life, that we are so willing to read something that only shows us the everyday occurances in a teacher's life. Really, Stoner is every single one of us and I do believe every reader can identify themselves in at least one aspect of Stoner's life or personality.
Talking about the characters, I do feel strangely attached to Stoner, in a way that I am with not so many other characters in the books I've read. Maybe the fact that you're walking on Stoner's footsteps on a period of forty years ties you with him, but he's so likeable and nice that you just can't help yourself feeling pity and a touching, somewhat admiration towards him and his way of reacting to everything life throws at him. Because, to be honest, life isn't so nice with Stoner. One person here on goodreads actually put a photo in a review, where he'd changed the name of the book in "Life sucks and then you die". Well, isn't that kind of true to every single one of us? But it is really important on how we react to whatever bad things come our way, and Stoner's way of coping is by being resilient in his own little world and passionate about several things during his life. He is a great teacher, and while he's failing on other aspects of his life, this is the only constant good thing around him.
Spoiler
He gets married and in the end, his wife turns out to be a somewhat 'enemy' in his life, the one there to ruin everything, although I think I could really emphasize with Edith, because at some point, living with someone who turns out being disappointing, you just want to take revenge for what you think has been done wrong to you. I feel like I can understand a part of her, though I do feel bad that they ended up living a miserable life, also dragging their daughter in the vicious and trouble cycle they were in.I don't know what to say exactly about the author's style, it's definetely one that catches your attention and I think it really fits the story and the slow-paced happenings and this type of book. I really enjoyed some dialogues and it had a lot of interesting details in it. But still, what hits you the worst, is definetely the reality of the words and of the events in the book.
It was an amazing book, but so, so sad. I am feeling right now sick in front of the prospect of living a life like Stoner's, because I look at it and I know I will never be able to accept it with the easiness of the main character. Probably that's what makes up most of the sadness and drama in this book: how easy Stoner accepts everything that comes upon him. And it's sad but in a morbid way, I loved seeing how weak he was in some situations and how he reacted and I have no words to explain how this book made me feel.
Just read it, I doubt someone will regret reading this book. 4/5 because I can't exactly sort out my feelings well right now and I am kind of really messed up because of this book and I just need time. Nonetheless, I really did enjoy this book.