Reviews - Stoner | The StoryGraph

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9k reviews for:

Stoner

John Williams

4.35 AVERAGE

ashmullikin's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I found this book to be a very odd mix of inspiring and depressing. Stoner was able to do what he loved his whole life, but at what cost?

The people he was around he allowed to quietly trample all over him. And it honestly ruined his enjoyment in the small quiet things he loved, even his actual books. The times where he was strong and stood up for himself was when he found the most joy and realization. When he had the affair, when he first met Edith, when he stood up to the other professor. I think it’s a sad look into how you can let life pass you by without putting yourself out there. Those tiny points of joy is honestly what made me devour the book pretty quickly. Searching for those happy moments and wanting more for Stoner.

It’s really interesting reading sections of a late in life interview with Williams and how he thinks Stoner is an almost happy story and he is an inspiring person. I wonder if it’s honestly because there’s a lot of theory that Stoner is unconsciously based on many aspects of Williams’ life and he is refusing to see the sadness in his own life intermingling with the story.

Overall, the writing is amazing and it’s a very easy story to read quickly. The themes are emotional and hard to deal with, but for me I was left with the want to stand up for myself even more and do what I enjoy, but not to the detriment of all else in my life.