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mywaitisu's review against another edition
5.0
In all honestly, I don't think about many of the books I have read often, but this novel is consistently in my thoughts. I didn't think a book could impact me as much as (I perceive) Stoner has. Perhaps in five years time, this novel will lose its meaning to me, but I cannot and will never deny that this is a truly great novel. More subjectively, I believe it deserves its title as a "perfect novel".
This book is hard to sell to people; as John McGahern states in the introduction of the NYRB edition, Stoner is a "novel about work." Taking away all its complexity, one could say Stoner is a glorified biography of a rather ordinary university professor. However, John Williams paces the novel almost perfectly and there are no tricks within his writing; his writing is straight forward and you can almost clearly "see" where the story is going. This trait is no fault- the direct and "cold" writing adds to the beauty of Stoner. I don't mean to say William's writing is clinical- one of my favorite quotes is contained within this novel: "You must remember what you are and what you have chosen to become, and the significance of what you are doing. There are wars and defeats and victories of the human race that are not military and that are not recorded in the annals of history. Remember that while you're trying to decide what to do."
Stoner (the character) is no hero, and there are some scenarios where I wouldn't cheer for him, but Williams does a great job of making you care. Every small triumph in Stoner's life is cause for celebration.
I doubt it, but if anyone does check this novel out in part due to my review and end up disappointed, I truly read this novel at the right point in my life. I was so worried and uncertain about everything, and picking up Stoner helped me feel as though that burden was relieved a little bit. Its touched me deeply and at the time I'm writing this (6/4/24), the only reason I haven't reread this novel yet is because I haven't let myself forget it even a little bit; I often skim through pages, reminding myself of why I love this book so much.
This book is hard to sell to people; as John McGahern states in the introduction of the NYRB edition, Stoner is a "novel about work." Taking away all its complexity, one could say Stoner is a glorified biography of a rather ordinary university professor. However, John Williams paces the novel almost perfectly and there are no tricks within his writing; his writing is straight forward and you can almost clearly "see" where the story is going. This trait is no fault- the direct and "cold" writing adds to the beauty of Stoner. I don't mean to say William's writing is clinical- one of my favorite quotes is contained within this novel: "You must remember what you are and what you have chosen to become, and the significance of what you are doing. There are wars and defeats and victories of the human race that are not military and that are not recorded in the annals of history. Remember that while you're trying to decide what to do."
Stoner (the character) is no hero, and there are some scenarios where I wouldn't cheer for him, but Williams does a great job of making you care. Every small triumph in Stoner's life is cause for celebration.
I doubt it, but if anyone does check this novel out in part due to my review and end up disappointed, I truly read this novel at the right point in my life. I was so worried and uncertain about everything, and picking up Stoner helped me feel as though that burden was relieved a little bit. Its touched me deeply and at the time I'm writing this (6/4/24), the only reason I haven't reread this novel yet is because I haven't let myself forget it even a little bit; I often skim through pages, reminding myself of why I love this book so much.
navalier's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It’s a realistic depiction of life. He gets to experience things and live but Stoner is unremarkable and the everyday person. It’s seen how we miss out on things and settle for mediocrity out of inability, or even fear, to be more. Dispute his inadequacies, Stoner never once stops to question how his life is or if he could change it, he just keeps on going. Brilliant book.
potatoes24's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
Stoner is a beautiful story. John Williams creates a story about a literature professor, William Stoner, and makes it human. When I finished the first charter, the story hit me like a wave. Although the story may reflect a man who accomplished very little and who had an unfortunate life, John McGahern points out in the introduction that it’s a story about a man who did what he loved. This book is so incredibly human and I haven’t stop thinking about William Stoner since I started reading this book. I can not recommend it enough.
eireiridium's review against another edition
5.0
Depressingly brilliant. Superb storytelling. Deeply engrossing and maybe all too real a path that many find themselves on. No sugarcoating reality, brief spells of fancy and the bitter results of decisions and circumstances which character may well not permit one to make the effort to escape from.
Highly recommended read.
Highly recommended read.
hectorshouse50's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
pararevd'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? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
javinki_'s review against another edition
5.0
I bought my copy of 'Stoner' two years ago, from the Poundland which was a five-minute walk from where I lived at the time. It cost a pound. And it was more like a ten-minute walk - but admitting that would’ve cost me an extra five minutes in bed every morning, as uni was just up the road from it. The only other non-food things I remember buying from that Poundland are 1. a DVD of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and 2. a ‘Best Of Marti Pellow’ CD, both of which also took years to see the outside of their shrinkwrap. I still like looking at those shelves in every Poundland I go in, but to be honest... pickings be slim.
Some weeks ago now, I pulled out all the books which I’ve had for years but never read and compiled them on my windowsill, with the aim of finishing them all (or at least making a dent in them) this year. 'Stoner' wasn’t the first book I picked off this New Old shelf, but after the chaotic narratives of my last few reads (the murderous 'Strangers on a Train' by Patricia Highsmith and limply experimental 'Crimson' by Niviaq Korneliussen), there was something very attractive about its linearity / realism / ‘classic’ status. It didn’t look too long, either, which is always nice.
'Stoner' is a two-hundred-and-something page novel detailing the moments of quiet acceptance (acquiesence?) which make up the majority of William Stoner’s life, first as a poor student, then as a vaguely-better-off teacher/husband/father. It’s prose is pretty straight forward, but still quite beautiful - description seems to largely focus on in the colour and lighting of Stoner’s surroundings, and the consequence of this is that several brilliantly understated images stuck with me (Stoner’s daughter colouring in his study being my favourite), and these give shape and to all the grey moments which fill the narrative. Maybe this is what gives the book its magic: Stoner is constantly being affected by his environment. His life seems to happen to him… He’s almost a side character in his own story.
There’s shades of 'A Woman’s Room' and 'Revolutionary Road' throughout, but 'Stoner' consciously shirks the large, dramatic decisions of those two texts. Between Edith and Katherine and Lomax and Dave, there are more than enough opportunities for grand revelations and conflict, but the novel holds back at almost every instance, celebrating a life which is neither tragic or epic. Ethan Colburn once wrote, in a Letterboxd review of 'Inside Llewyn Davies', that “movies are made about people with immense talent, and occasionally comedies are made about people with no talent, but rarely are movies made about people with some talent”, and while I’d argue that books about mediocrity are far more common than their film equivalents, 'Stoner' is by far one of the most moving examples of an average literary life that I’ve come across.
At any given moment, Stoner appears to have no real ambition outside of just moving forward in life - and despite the many ‘disappointments’ of the book, I can’t help thinking that 'Stoner' is ultimately arguing that there are far worse ways to live.
Some weeks ago now, I pulled out all the books which I’ve had for years but never read and compiled them on my windowsill, with the aim of finishing them all (or at least making a dent in them) this year. 'Stoner' wasn’t the first book I picked off this New Old shelf, but after the chaotic narratives of my last few reads (the murderous 'Strangers on a Train' by Patricia Highsmith and limply experimental 'Crimson' by Niviaq Korneliussen), there was something very attractive about its linearity / realism / ‘classic’ status. It didn’t look too long, either, which is always nice.
'Stoner' is a two-hundred-and-something page novel detailing the moments of quiet acceptance (acquiesence?) which make up the majority of William Stoner’s life, first as a poor student, then as a vaguely-better-off teacher/husband/father. It’s prose is pretty straight forward, but still quite beautiful - description seems to largely focus on in the colour and lighting of Stoner’s surroundings, and the consequence of this is that several brilliantly understated images stuck with me (Stoner’s daughter colouring in his study being my favourite), and these give shape and to all the grey moments which fill the narrative. Maybe this is what gives the book its magic: Stoner is constantly being affected by his environment. His life seems to happen to him… He’s almost a side character in his own story.
There’s shades of 'A Woman’s Room' and 'Revolutionary Road' throughout, but 'Stoner' consciously shirks the large, dramatic decisions of those two texts. Between Edith and Katherine and Lomax and Dave, there are more than enough opportunities for grand revelations and conflict, but the novel holds back at almost every instance, celebrating a life which is neither tragic or epic. Ethan Colburn once wrote, in a Letterboxd review of 'Inside Llewyn Davies', that “movies are made about people with immense talent, and occasionally comedies are made about people with no talent, but rarely are movies made about people with some talent”, and while I’d argue that books about mediocrity are far more common than their film equivalents, 'Stoner' is by far one of the most moving examples of an average literary life that I’ve come across.
At any given moment, Stoner appears to have no real ambition outside of just moving forward in life - and despite the many ‘disappointments’ of the book, I can’t help thinking that 'Stoner' is ultimately arguing that there are far worse ways to live.
tygerosavas's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0