Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Have had this on my list for years. Looking forward to see what you think.

I've always been curious about this one. Am listening to it, so may be awhile till I finish. So far, am liking. It has such a feel of true literature, and a different era.

I hope that you enjoy this one as much as I did, DJ!

A very sad and beautiful book, Debs. Wrung my heart (if that's also an expression in English). I am curious what you think.

Yeah, I am enjoying...think it has an indescribable beauty. And yes to "wrung my heart!"

It's one of those, Debs!

Haha, I know...

On my TBR for some reason as I haven't known about it that long. Intrigued.

Had no idea this was a classic until reading a few reviews. Not very far into it yet, but must say, there is just something special about it!

Debbie "DJ" wrote: "Had no idea this was a classic until reading a few reviews. Not very far into it yet, but must say, there is just something special about it!"

I had no idea this existed until I kept noticing rave reviews in my newsfeed. Entirely justified. It immediately became my (joint) favourite book. It sounds as if the omens are good for you, too.

Same here Cecily! Have it on audio, and yes, the omens are good. What's really unusual is I can't even describe why I'm liking it so much. :)

I agree with that notion, Debs. You cannot really explain on a rational level what touches you so deeply about this book. But it does, at least me. Some people don't care about it at all and that is understandable too, I think.

Very true, we are all drawn to different books. I'm really happy to have connected with this one. Must re-read your review!

LOL. I haven't read this, but don't give up on "literature"!! There is good and bad in every genre. :)

I won't Cynthia. I really did start out loving it, but it went nowhere. Think after a party is described down to the celery and radishes they ate, I just can't go on. Probably lost half my friends with this review, but all I can do is be honest. Oh, and probably was not the best time to write, as am on prednisone...look out when I'm on that stuff!

Debbie "DJ" wrote: "I won't Cynthia. I really did start out loving it, but it went nowhere. Think after a party is described down to the celery and radishes they ate, I just can't go on. Probably lost half my friends ..."

EWWWWW Not prednisone!!! Poor thing! But you won't lose any friends, some of my friends hate my favorite books but I still keep them around. :)

I love a good honest review! :-) thanks for sharing your opinion bravely!

Yes, exactly what Cynthia said. And I loved the review, Debbie "DJ". You are not alone, I was appalled at his passivity and forced myself to finish it. But primarily I adore the honesty in this review. There are books with the big L I have appreciated to a 5 star level, Stoner has others ga-ga. Not I. The entire was off-putting, but especially his character.

Debbie "DJ" wrote: "Probably lost half my friends with this review, but all I can do is be honest."

I hope not! My own opinion is the polar opposite of yours, but I wouldn't defriend someone for an honest but opposite view.

Thanks, Debbie, for saving me from reading it. I was always a bit leary of it except for the high ratings. Off the list it will go!

Jenna wrote: "I love a good honest review! :-) thanks for sharing your opinion bravely!"

Jenna, thank you! I tried, I really did. :(

Cecily wrote: "Debbie "DJ" wrote: "Probably lost half my friends with this review, but all I can do is be honest."

I hope not! My own opinion is the polar opposite of yours, but I wouldn't defriend someone for a..."

Thanks Cecily! I know how much you loved this one, darn it, wish I shared your joy. Was kinda kidding about defriending, but there are some books, held so dear, it seems impossible to have a friend not like it.

Susan wrote: "If all of us liked the same books think how boring that would be. I haven't read it yet and I think I'll put it on the back burner after your review."

Hey Susan, Love your comment...very true! You know, I'm in the minority here.

Love it!

Randolph wrote: "To each her own I say. I gave Robert Musil's The Man without Qualities a scathing review once that nobody seems to agree with. I always have the feeling that somehow ..."

Haha! Good for you! I agree with your comments, and there were times I felt like I just didn't "get it." But yeah, not going to blame myself, everyone has different tastes.

Also, Audiobooks can make or break a book. I've listened to some that I know I would have liked more if I'd read them, and then I've LOVED some specifically because the narrator was awesome.

☮K²¹°ù±ð²Ô wrote: "Thanks, Debbie, for saving me from reading it. I was always a bit leary of it except for the high ratings. Off the list it will go!"

Hi Karen, It's just my opinion! I was totally drawn in by all the high reviews also...gave it my best shot!

You bet Cynthia! Have had the same experience with audiobooks. Don't think I would have liked either way, but to have a monotone voice on this one was double trouble for me!

I too wonder if it was a audio book Debbie. Sorry it didn't work out for you.

Could be Carol...really slow and monotone, to an already slow story.

Iris wrote: "Love it!"

Ha! Okay, I'll be waiting for that review. :)

Debbie , even though I gave this 4 stars , probably for the writing, I can understand where you are coming from . I have mixed feelings about Stoner because I feel as if he hurt his daughter and gave up his own happiness for some ideal of what he wanted to be . Big price to pay .

Debbie "DJ" wrote: "Iris wrote: "Love it!"

Ha! Okay, I'll be waiting for that review. :)"

LOL, I meant that I loved your review, not the book.
Haven't read it and judging by what you and others have to say about it, I'd bet this is not for me either since I am afraid that I have the attention span of a squirrel...:(

Still your review was delightful to read especially your explanation as to why you felt entitled to claim the book as "read". I totally concurred by the way.

In all seriousness, such a candid review is always appreciated :)

Thanks Iris, was definitely on a roll when I wrote! Candid might be an understatement. My attention span is more like a dog seeing a squirrel!

I loved your review, even though I had a very different reaction to Stoner. I often find negative reviews as enlightening as positive ones, especially when they're as fresh and honest as yours is. And I think it can be as important to share a book you can't finish when you can give as good reasons as you do as those you have. And the book doesn't change significantly-if you didn't like what you read, you probably would not like the rest of it either. There's no surprise ending that turns the book on its head!

I thought it was a brilliant book but I found it numbingly painful and just plain sad. I felt depressed for several days after reading it so I certainly wouldn't push it on anyone else. But I found the characterizations strong and I believed in Stoner even as I felt exasperated with him.

Of course, I was a literature major :-( so plead guilty on that count. And I do like (using the word loosely meaning, I guess, appreciate) books that explore points of view and lives so alien to my own. (I also like Melville and Joyce but I love Mr. Magoo-what have you got against him? lol)

Thanks again for a terrific, passionate review. I don't have to agree with someone to find their point of view valid, interesting, and even helpful!

But one caution. Literature is a big word for an even bigger collection of books. There are plenty of books that are literature that are far more light-hearted, optimistic, and lively than this one (or Melville or Joyce for that matter). I would urge you to keep your mind open that there may be books in addition to alcoholic's memoirs (which I also enjoy) that you may find interesting and fun or which gratify you in some way (The Lost Weekend and Days of Wine and Roses, for example, both are stories of alcoholics, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend either since neither has a happy ending!).

Anyway, thanks for the review.

OMG, this is by far my favorite Debbie DJ review ever!! Made me laugh so hard! It's so eff-ing honest! Oh how I dread and hesitate to write a 2- or 1-star review of a book that all my friends love. I don't want to disappoint them, I don't want them to know I'm dumb, I don't want to appear negative, blah blah blah. But what a crock it is to see only the glowing reviews when the truth is there are people hiding out who hated it. It gives us such a skewed report!

And if it's a classic you don't like, it's even worse. I almost didn't become an English major (which is where I belong) when I couldn't get through the puke-inducing Moby Dick. So don't think that all lit majors love all the classics; ain't true!

I would recoil from celery and radish reports too, so I'm going to skip this one. Our tastes are pretty similar, and I suspect I'd react to it in the same way.

Yeah, give me a few memoirs by boozers or druggies, too. That would be way more interesting! (ha, recommend any favorites that you don't think I've read? Drinking: A Love Story, I'm Dancing as Fast as I Can, and The Chronology of Water come to mind as some I've loved.)

And yes, absolutely cool to consider this book read. After all that torture, all those stupid party details you had to put up with? Yes, you get credit, period.

Again, thanks for making my day and giving me some laughs--AND for giving me info that will let me cross one off my bloated to-read list).

This thread keeps getting better and better!

Ellie, Thank you, thank you. I so know I'm in the minority. I really do love to read books that explore others point of view. Basically I like to try everything! (yes, poor Mr Magoo got caught in the crossfire)!

I get you on literature, just wasn't sure what other word to use. I love Wolff, Pessoa, and even Yokio. No doubt I will read more. This just felt to me like the kind of "literature?" I was forced to read in high school. It turned me off to books for a long time. Actually just started reading about three years ago, and OMG, developed a passion!

Funny you mention Days of Wine and Roses, I did read that a long time ago...yikes! But yes, I liked it. Promise to keep an open mind! Thanks again Ellie :)

:-D

Debbie wrote: "OMG, this is by far my favorite Debbie DJ review ever!! Made me laugh so hard! It's so eff-ing honest! Oh how I dread and hesitate to write a 2- or 1-star review of a book that all my friends love...."

How did I forget to reply! You have me laughing! Not one of those thoughts entered my head when I wrote this...obviously! lol! Haven't read "dancing as fast as I Can" will add! Also,I liked In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction, and Some Are Sicker Than Others.

Love it; we're in the mutual laugh society! I had Realm on my super-high-pri list; now have added Some Are Sicker to it also. Like it that it's fiction, lol. You know how I love my fiction!

Yup, that's why I chose it over another!

I haven't read Stoner, but your review of it cracks me up! Every single other Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ friend has given it five stars, so I appreciate your honest (and apparently singular) opinion.

Hey Beth, I know I'm the lone dissenter! When dinnerware became a hot topic that was just it. It might be because I listened to this, but even if the wording was brilliant I just don't care, ha! Would really be fun to see what you think if too get a chance to read:)

You are not the only one. I had to force myself to finish it. UGH!

Oh thank you Jeanette! Nice not to be the only one :)

Sabah, you rock! I love that we can totally disagree and laugh! You made my day...going to check out your review :)

I never saw this before, but YAAAAAAAAY! Everyone was reading and loving this and I'm all stupid and shallow and just kept thinking "but what a fug cover - I don't even want to read the blurb." I will remain on the wrong side of the fence for this one : )

Haha, me too Kelly! No longer lonely on wrong side of the fence :)

Yep, I’m done too. And I was a literature major. Can not read one more mind-numbing word. I don’t give a damn what happens to Stoner.