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A review by theanitaalvarez
Stoner by John Williams
4.0
When the book begins, we get a very quick account of Stoner’s deeds: overall, he was pretty unremarkable. He was a university professor, but didn’t get past the “associate professor” status, his colleagues give an old book to the library of the University of Missouri, where he worked, and it’s said that most of his students won’t remember him. It does sound pretty depressing, and one cannot help but wonder if we really want to read the story of such a loser.
Quick answer: yes, we want.
William Stoner’s story is an ordinary one, but it is a life worth listening to.
He’s born in the late 19th century in a farm. As was common back then, he spent most of his childhood and adolescence helping his hardworking parents in the field. The Stoners aren’t the most communicative of parents, but they seem to want what’s best for their son. So, when they hear that at the University of Missouri, they’re teaching a program on Agriculture, they decide to send their son. Take into account that there’s problem with the soil of the farm, and they are told that in the University they know how to make plantations better. Sending William to University is a way to help everyone in the farm.
So, William goes to Uni. He takes his Agriculture courses and passes them with decent marks. But then, he discovers the awesomeness of Literature and falls in love with it(as another character in the novel says). Isn’t it the dream? Finding something you love and being good at it? Well, Stoner gets it and ends up changing his major.
Not only that, he decides to stay for a Masters’ Degree in Literature. And then World War I begins, so he’s forced to decide whether he wants to enlist. At that point, the University has basically become his home away from home, and he’s clearly anxious about leaving it. So he decides to stay, while his two best friend Dave Masters and Gordon Finch enlist. The first one dies, but the second returns to the University after the Armistice.
As a young professor, Stoner meets Edith, a young girl and the daughter of a wealthy family. He immediately idealizes her, as she’s the complete opposite of all he had known his entire life; she’s delicate and elegant against the roughness of his own parents. After a hasty courtship, they get married and this proves to be quite a mistake. Edith is cold towards her husband and seems to prefer that he wouldn’t touch her (this, and other facts stated about Edith’s relation with her father make me think that she was abused by her father. But that’s speculation on my part). The only moment when she doesn’t seem to think that his company is despicable is when she desires a baby (so they have lots of sex for a few weeks).
Stoner’s life is one of endurance. Whenever he seems to get a little solace of peace and love, it gets destroyed soon afterwards. One particular egregious example is his relation with his daughter, which is very close until Edith decides to kill it (adding to my theory of parental abuse in her own life). The same happens with his work in the University, which he adores. Wherever he tries to find meaning, he finds a wall that stops him.
Yes, Stoner’s life wasn’t very remarkable in the end. But as the novel finishes, you get the feeling that you’re almost losing a friend. The many failures and frustrations of Stoner’s life are displayed in front of your eyes and it’s very hard not to root for him as the novel goes on. His silence and endurance make him quite a strange hero for today’s world, but he’s a hero anyway.
Quick answer: yes, we want.
William Stoner’s story is an ordinary one, but it is a life worth listening to.
He’s born in the late 19th century in a farm. As was common back then, he spent most of his childhood and adolescence helping his hardworking parents in the field. The Stoners aren’t the most communicative of parents, but they seem to want what’s best for their son. So, when they hear that at the University of Missouri, they’re teaching a program on Agriculture, they decide to send their son. Take into account that there’s problem with the soil of the farm, and they are told that in the University they know how to make plantations better. Sending William to University is a way to help everyone in the farm.
So, William goes to Uni. He takes his Agriculture courses and passes them with decent marks. But then, he discovers the awesomeness of Literature and falls in love with it(as another character in the novel says). Isn’t it the dream? Finding something you love and being good at it? Well, Stoner gets it and ends up changing his major.
Not only that, he decides to stay for a Masters’ Degree in Literature. And then World War I begins, so he’s forced to decide whether he wants to enlist. At that point, the University has basically become his home away from home, and he’s clearly anxious about leaving it. So he decides to stay, while his two best friend Dave Masters and Gordon Finch enlist. The first one dies, but the second returns to the University after the Armistice.
As a young professor, Stoner meets Edith, a young girl and the daughter of a wealthy family. He immediately idealizes her, as she’s the complete opposite of all he had known his entire life; she’s delicate and elegant against the roughness of his own parents. After a hasty courtship, they get married and this proves to be quite a mistake. Edith is cold towards her husband and seems to prefer that he wouldn’t touch her (this, and other facts stated about Edith’s relation with her father make me think that she was abused by her father. But that’s speculation on my part). The only moment when she doesn’t seem to think that his company is despicable is when she desires a baby (so they have lots of sex for a few weeks).
Stoner’s life is one of endurance. Whenever he seems to get a little solace of peace and love, it gets destroyed soon afterwards. One particular egregious example is his relation with his daughter, which is very close until Edith decides to kill it (adding to my theory of parental abuse in her own life). The same happens with his work in the University, which he adores. Wherever he tries to find meaning, he finds a wall that stops him.
Yes, Stoner’s life wasn’t very remarkable in the end. But as the novel finishes, you get the feeling that you’re almost losing a friend. The many failures and frustrations of Stoner’s life are displayed in front of your eyes and it’s very hard not to root for him as the novel goes on. His silence and endurance make him quite a strange hero for today’s world, but he’s a hero anyway.