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emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I somewhat questioned the seemingly unanimous praise of Stoner leading up to finally reading it. Largely due to the fact that classical prose doesn't usually work for me. But I must say, this book is deserving of all the acclaim it receives, and then some.
The mundane, mostly unremarkable life of William Stoner is in fact a remarkable exploration of the human condition. Simple as that, yet completely riveting, melancholic, and profound. And that is thanks to John Williams and his ability to write. I'm in awe of his skill in succinctly stringing words together to convey such nuanced emotions, idiosyncrasies, personalities, etc. I think Williams chose the perfect word at every point in this novel; not once could he have improved a sentence or a certain phrasing. He may be the best writer, at least on a purely techical level, that I've had the pleasure of reading. I took my time with this novel, trying to soak up every bit. Williams may be the best writer I've read, and I am extremely eager to read Butcher's Crossing and Augustus. If you have not read Stoner yet, do so. It's a masterpiece.
The mundane, mostly unremarkable life of William Stoner is in fact a remarkable exploration of the human condition. Simple as that, yet completely riveting, melancholic, and profound. And that is thanks to John Williams and his ability to write. I'm in awe of his skill in succinctly stringing words together to convey such nuanced emotions, idiosyncrasies, personalities, etc. I think Williams chose the perfect word at every point in this novel; not once could he have improved a sentence or a certain phrasing. He may be the best writer, at least on a purely techical level, that I've had the pleasure of reading. I took my time with this novel, trying to soak up every bit. Williams may be the best writer I've read, and I am extremely eager to read Butcher's Crossing and Augustus. If you have not read Stoner yet, do so. It's a masterpiece.
A kind of joy came upon him, as if borne in on a summer breeze. He dimly recalled that he had been thinking of failure -as if it mattered. It seemed to him now that such thoughts were mean, unworthy of what his life had been. Dim presences gathered at the edge of his consciousness; he could not see them, but he knew that they were there, gathering their forces toward a kind of palpability he could not see or hear. He was approaching them, he knew; but there was no need to hurry. He could ignore them if he wished; he had all the time there was.
There was a softness around him, and a languor crept upon his limbs. A sense of his own identity came upon him with a sudden force, and he felt the power of it. He was himself, and he knew what he had been.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content