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Dolors's Reviews > Stoner
Stoner
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This might be for me the best book of the year.
Sublimely told and with such a subtle narrative which flows easily displaying the life of an ordinary man during an extraordinary time in America. This might be the story of a whole becoming country or only the unheroic account of a simple existence.
But its simplicity is what makes it unearthly beautiful, nostalgic and moving.
Early 1900's, Missouri, although Stoner comes from a modest family of farmers his father sends him to the state university to study agronomy. But he falls in love with English literature instead and thanks to a particular professor he becomes a teacher himself, growing estranged from his family in the process.
We follow his life through 40 years of teaching, of crushed illusions and bitter disappointments about his failure of a marriage to the wrong woman, of rare fleeting blissful moments in a rather bleak existence in solitude, of a life dedicated to teaching where he finds his only solace.
I found that as the years passed by, the voice in the novel gained in strength and that Stoner became the person he was always supposed to be. His seemingly detached account of the years between the two great world wars, his increasing estrangement first from his family and later from his own wife and daughter, his struggle for an idealistic conception of what university teachers should be like... all these issues cause great suffering to this man, who, without doing much in his life or maybe doing more than most, bears a stoic testimony of a past time which created the basis of what we are now.
I closed the last pages of the book with my eyes completely blurred and with such constrained emotion in my chest that it was almost painful.
A masterpiece not appreciated as it would deserve, maybe because this book reads like real life instead of a best-seller-hero-with a-happy-ending story.
Can't say how good this novel is, just pick it up and read it.
Sublimely told and with such a subtle narrative which flows easily displaying the life of an ordinary man during an extraordinary time in America. This might be the story of a whole becoming country or only the unheroic account of a simple existence.
But its simplicity is what makes it unearthly beautiful, nostalgic and moving.
Early 1900's, Missouri, although Stoner comes from a modest family of farmers his father sends him to the state university to study agronomy. But he falls in love with English literature instead and thanks to a particular professor he becomes a teacher himself, growing estranged from his family in the process.
We follow his life through 40 years of teaching, of crushed illusions and bitter disappointments about his failure of a marriage to the wrong woman, of rare fleeting blissful moments in a rather bleak existence in solitude, of a life dedicated to teaching where he finds his only solace.
I found that as the years passed by, the voice in the novel gained in strength and that Stoner became the person he was always supposed to be. His seemingly detached account of the years between the two great world wars, his increasing estrangement first from his family and later from his own wife and daughter, his struggle for an idealistic conception of what university teachers should be like... all these issues cause great suffering to this man, who, without doing much in his life or maybe doing more than most, bears a stoic testimony of a past time which created the basis of what we are now.
I closed the last pages of the book with my eyes completely blurred and with such constrained emotion in my chest that it was almost painful.
A masterpiece not appreciated as it would deserve, maybe because this book reads like real life instead of a best-seller-hero-with a-happy-ending story.
Can't say how good this novel is, just pick it up and read it.
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March 19, 2013
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Tej
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rated it 4 stars
Sep 24, 2013 08:59AM
On your indirect recommendation, this one goes directly into my urgent tbr bunch... :)
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Yes! Glad this connected with you, Dolors. Superb review.
Beautiful review as ever, Dolors. I requested this on NG recently. If I'm rejected I'll buy the Kindle version. Good to get a heads up from you on this one.
@Tej: So glad you added this one, Tej. I will be eternally indebted to indirect recommendations...@ Brian: Yes Brian! Such quiet heartbreak in apparently simple prose did more than connect with me, it set something that I was unaware of being locked inside me free.
@ Samadrita: I hope you get it Samadrita, this is an extraordinary novel and I can't imagine anyone better than you to capture the intensity of feelings one can get from a deceptively simple novel.
It is amazing how books can estrange us from our families and our community. The love of literature and wisdom can be a double-edged blessing. Yet, your reviews are full-frontal blessings. Thanks so much.
Steve Sckenda wrote: "It is amazing how books can estrange us from our families and our community. The love of literature and wisdom can be a double-edged blessing. Yet, your reviews are full-frontal blessings. Thanks s..."Give me books and Steve's comments anytime and I shall die a happy woman, a sweet smile dancing on my lips and my crowded soul singing out load the blessings of friendship and literature.
I liked that you compared it to real life, Dolors. That occurred to me too though I didn't want to imply in my review that there could be any autobiographical elements in this book. But the chaotic, unexplained nature of the trials that beset William Stoner are certainly found in real life, although I'd hope that most people's lives wouldn't contain quite such a variety. Isn't it interesting too that Williams called Stoner William?
Fionnuala wrote: "I liked that you compared it to real life, Dolors. That occurred to me too though I didn't want to imply in my review that there could be any autobiographical elements in this book. But the chaotic..."Good points that I had totally overlooked Fionnuala, thanks for bringing them up. There were certainly some striking parallels between "Stoner Williams"'s modest life and its creator, specially in his earlier years, so who knows...
I just added this book and I'm on a tour, visiting my GR friends' amazing reviews. And what a better way to end this day than with a Dolors review? The enthusiasm that lies behind the beautiful and soothing words you chose to describe this book convinced me completely. :)
olé personatge l'Stoner!!!!!! D'aquells que no s'obliden per la tendresa que desperten! El mateix sentiment que amb el Pereira del Tabucchi. Es fan estimar.
Florencia wrote: "I just added this book and I'm on a tour, visiting my GR friends' amazing reviews. And what a better way to end this day than with a Dolors review? The enthusiasm that lies behind the beautiful and..."Florencia, I just realized I missed your comment back in August when I must have been traveling on the road. Feeling ecstatic because you added "Stoner" to your to-buy list! This is a book I am sure will resonate with your sensitive taste. Will be expecting your impressions with bated breath.
Cristina wrote: "olé personatge l'Stoner!!!!!! D'aquells que no s'obliden per la tendresa que desperten! El mateix sentiment que amb el Pereira del Tabucchi. Es fan estimar."Exacte! Les últimes pà gines són un tribut a la vida, la dignitat i l'amor a la literatura. Que guay que t'hagi agradat Cris! :)
sÃ!!!!!! l'última frase quan li cau el llibre :* quin final... me l'he cruspit en tres dies, no podia parar de llegir..
nena! Segueixo pensant en Stoner i la crÃtica o directament reflex del món dels profes universitaris. En aquest sentit m'ha recordar a Desgrà cia del Coetzee i a l'animal moribund del Roth.
Cristina wrote: "nena! Segueixo pensant en Stoner i la crÃtica o directament reflex del món dels profes universitaris. En aquest sentit m'ha recordar a Desgrà cia del Coetzee i a l'animal moribund del Roth."Bingo! Però l'Stoner impregna la crÃtica de tendresa i no de cinisme, la seva mirada és distant i potser resignada, però ell continua caminant sol i acceptant la grisa realitat amb més que dignitat. Els protagonistas del Coetzee i del Roth són transmissors de l'abús, l'Stoner és testimoni i vÃctima del mateix.
Great review! You've convinced me to pick it up from the library tomorrow:)
Rowena wrote: "Great review! You've convinced me to pick it up from the library tomorrow:)"Ecstatic to hear that Rowena, I hope you find Stoner's account of his life as moving as I did. Have the merriest of Christmases and many thanks for stopping by! :)
Thank you, Dolors! Your reviews have never steered me wrong yet. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas too:)
Uauuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...és veritat!!!!! Quin matÃs!!!!!! De l'animal moribund no me'n recordo tant però sÃ, més cÃnic (me'n recordo més de l'adaptació de la pel·li de la Coixet) i de Desgrà cia que la tinc més al cap, sÃ, també, com si ells, els profes universitaris viejos se situessin per damunt del bé i del mal...potser el de Desgrà cia seria més un entremig entre els del Roth i el Williams? Ho dic perquè em ve al cap, per una banda, l'escena quan es tira a la dona aquella que cuida els gossos, a qui primer desprecia i després mira (en això s'assemblaria més als personatges del Roth), però, per l'altra, en canvi, quan té lloc l'assalt a la granja ell se sent molt malament, jo crec que se n'adona de la vida real a Sud-à frica en aquest moment, de la horrible violència, i no mentre està dins la bombolla del món universitari (sempre tot gira entorn a ell, egocentrisme mà xim també el Coetzee). Potser és cert que se'n va a viure amb la filla fugint perquè és un covard però crec també que demostra la seva tendresa i part humana quan insisteix en denunciar el que ha passat i és ella la que diu que no, la que es resigna (!!!!), que encara és més greu perquè et fa veure que la generació més jove es resigna també a aquest estat de les coses. I l'escena del començament a Desgrà cia, quan es lia amb l'alumna, no sé, jo no el veig cÃnic... i entenc al tio! Els dos són adults i com es descriu tot, no sé, plenament consentit, crec jo...per això dic que el situaria entre l'un i l'altre... i en els dos casos els personatges són prepotents, arrogants i, d'alguna manera, masclistes. Sobre l'Stoner... és que te n'enamores i ja està ...a mi em va deixar estirada a terra l'escena amb la filla, quan li diu que està embarassada i la seva reacció :* i en canvi, puuuuum, torna a ser ella qui diu que tindrà a la criatura (!!!!), també les reaccions en el món laboral :*... i les escenes amb l'amant :*... el que no entenc és perquè dius que és vÃctima. Tampoc lo de la dignitat. L'únic que li retrec a l'Stoner és que si s'estimava a l'amant, que segons sembla és aixÃ, per què no deixava a la seva dona, quan es veu que és clarament infeliç amb ella? Perquè és covard també. Tant el personatge del Roth, el del Coetzee i el del Williams comparteixen aquesta passió cap a la literatura, cap a la professió en sÃ, per d'alguna manera viure el millor possible. I està guay perquè llegint-les les tres et fas una idea del món a la universitat americana/ sud-africana, que estic convençuda que deu ser aixÃ. (less)
Cristina wrote: "Uauuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...és veritat!!!!! Quin matÃs!!!!!! De l'animal moribund no me'n recordo tant però sÃ, més cÃnic (me'n recordo més de l'adaptació de la pel·li de la Coixet) i de Desgrà cia que la t..."Ei Cris, quin bon comentari, m'encanta relacionar novel.les i personatges i aquà m'has tirat un ham d'aquests que són irresistibles de picar! ;P
Amb Coetzee, que també el tinc més fresc que el Roth, el lector ja es fa a la idea que el protagonista de Desgrà cia és un anti-heroi, un misogin i un egocèntric orgullós i altiu. Tot i que les relacions que manté són "consentides", l'home s'aprofita de la seva posició de professor (com el Roth) per impressionar una jove estudiant que està clarament desorientada. També recordo com es troba amb una prostituta i la manera freda i racional amb la què descriu els seus encontres setmanals. El fet a més que estigui "obsessionat" amb el poeta Byron, un llibertà empedernit i avocat a una vida de plaers carnals, també indica quines són les motivacions reals del personatge. Penso que el Coetzee crea aquest personatge que és simbòlic de la societat hipòcrita i benestant i que el porta a l'escorxador d'un món que es regeix per altres standà rds; la violència, una història amb un passat molt injust, d'abús racial i polÃtico-econòmic i que es personifica en el personate de la filla, que s'autoimmola i paga el preu pels crims col.lectius comesos a l'Àfrica durant segles i segles.
Stoner juga en una altra categoria. Per mi, l'Stoner és una vÃctima d'una societat conservadora, on el poder i l'ambició són els autèntics valors que regeixen dins i fora de la universitat. I des del meu punt de vista, ell aguanta estoicament les pressions i injustÃcies que veu a la universitat i ho fa amb molta dignitat. Estic d'acord però que és molt trist que deixi escapar l'amor de la seva vida perquè té por, per ell i per ella també, però al mateix temps penso que és una reacció inconsistent però molt humana i que al final reflectix la realitat de la nostra condició.
No sé, podrÃem parlar-ne durant hores...què tal al pròxim café! :)))
Per cert nena, que passis un bon nadal...
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, m'ha encantat!!! Apunto lo del Byron i ja he entès lo de vÃctima i dignitat. I lo de la prostituta se m'havia oblidat!!!! Seguim comentant en persona (però m'hauré de fer un esquema!!!) Bon nadal *take it easy* ;P
"its simplicity is what makes it unearthly beautiful, nostalgic and moving."Yes - and I'm sure your choice of "unearthly" is no accident.
Cecily wrote: ""its simplicity is what makes it unearthly beautiful, nostalgic and moving."Yes - and I'm sure your choice of "unearthly" is no accident."
You bet, Cecily. Glad to see you're still touring Stoner's story through the reviews of common GR friends. Your enthusiasm for this novel has wetted my appetite to re-read it soon!
Yes, touring my friends' reviews - and relishing it. There are so many excellent, thoughtful, insightful and eloquent reviewers here.
Thank you Dolors for this great review :)
Shayan wrote: "Thank you Dolors for this great review :)"Thanks to you for your generous comment! :)
Sorry I missed your excellent review the first time around!I've just read so many super reviews of this book that I have succumbed and ordered it!
Lynne wrote: "Sorry I missed your excellent review the first time around!I've just read so many super reviews of this book that I have succumbed and ordered it!"
I will be waiting for your reaction with bated breath, Lynne. Some of our common GR friends didn't respond as enthusiastically as I did to this book, so I will leave you space to make up your mind about it! ;P
Dolors, I remember reading Steve's review last year and I just thought it was another book to add. Last year was not a good year for me!Since then my insatiable appetite for books has returned and, well, I need this book. All I can compare it to is a good fix!
Had I read this review earlier, I wouldn't have waited so long to read the book. Not only did I see many of my impressions mirrored so easily in your review, but I found solace in your relating it to real life. Many have labelled it eccentric and unusual but then is it not how every individual life is? Sure, each life differs in its moments of ups and downs and how they are coped with. But, when looking back in its entirety, much of it looks the same. It was a treat to find this review after reading the book, Dolors. :)
Himanshu wrote: "Had I read this review earlier, I wouldn't have waited so long to read the book. Not only did I see many of my impressions mirrored so easily in your review, but I found solace in your relating it ..."Thanks so much for your heartfelt comment, Himanshu. I am ecstatic that you met Stoner, this greyish character that has summoned all sort of controversial reactions among our GR Friends, and that you empathized with his humane virtues and flaws. This is the sort of quiet book that stirs a whirlwind of emotions in the reader, a mirror that reflects our own dilemmas, fears and dreams, a book that has much to offer, indeed. Glad you connected both with it, my dear friend. And thanks for reading and your never-faltering kind words.
Dolors,This has to be one of the most wonderful books that I have ever read. I cannot recall when a book has ever had this effect on me.
I read it on holiday in Ireland last week and have actually reread it.
Looking at your review again just now, you seem to have mirrored my own thoughts but you have a better way of putting it!
Thanks to GRs I have read this book as otherwise I would have missed this super reading opportunity.
I'm still thinking about it!
But then I read another wonderful book Silk! Different but my!
Lynne wrote: "Dolors,This has to be one of the most wonderful books that I have ever read. I cannot recall when a book has ever had this effect on me.
I read it on holiday in Ireland last week and have actual..."
Oh Lynne! You can't imagine how happy your feedback makes me. I am ecstatic to hear Stoner's book resonated with you. I loved everything about the mundane journey of this man's life, it sounded real, believable and overwhelmingly moving.
"Silk" is a wistful tale that also provides great food for thought about the transcendental aspects of life that humans tend to overlook until we lose them, so it's great to hear you also met Baricco's subtle prose!
Thanks for coming back to share your impressions here, beaming with satisfaction thanks to your comment!:)
Sabah wrote: "Thank you, Dolors, for peeling back his layers and revealing the brilliant beauty of a mindset hidden so deeply behind a calm accepting facade. He is a man who instils in myself the forbearance to ..."Dear Sabah, I just read your review and relived the sheer force of this small gem of a book. I am deeply grateful for the kindness that overflows your comment, but I believe my musings didn't even come to a proper review, I mostly remember turning the last page of this novel and writing the above in a sort of benumbed, drunken state. Williams' prose produces this effect on me, for it produced a similar reaction (maybe not so emotional) in Butcher's Crossing . I am keeping his last book Augustus like a treasure, waiting for the right time to come and savor it as I am sure it deserves.
Oh well, please take me again, all over Stoner's life and give me a Dolors' lens to view his journey. I might, perhaps, fall in love with him, all the more and collect even those inconsequential details that I missed in my reading, to embellish my sky of memories that is likely to spring up every time I would, henceforth, think of this book. Sublime and tranquillizing penning, dear D. I am glad I read this novel for it gave me the uncensored unabashedness to breathe your review without barricades. Thank you.
Seemita wrote: "Oh well, please take me again, all over Stoner's life and give me a Dolors' lens to view his journey. I might, perhaps, fall in love with him, all the more and collect even those inconsequential de..."Seemita wrote: "Oh well, please take me again, all over Stoner's life and give me a Dolors' lens to view his journey. I might, perhaps, fall in love with him, all the more and collect even those inconsequential de..."
This comment led me to read your review, which I think is the best critique I have ever read of this book. Excellence in execution, content and concept without sacrificing emotion. Your words have it all, dear Seemita. Please, do not ever stop writing and thanks for paying attention to this meagre oldie, which I penned aeons ago and under the influence of the last pages of this book, which left me drained and wanting at once. You capture that dichotomy with grace and insight in your review and add a very visual image to make the point that I will always associate to this memorable character from now on. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I can't believe I didn't read this before. Wonderful review, Dolors! :)
Anuradha wrote: "I can't believe I didn't read this before. Wonderful review, Dolors! :)"Thanks for hunting down this review, Anaradha. Glad you liked this story as much as I did! :)
Those last two paragraphs just define, mirror, echo my emotions too. After a long time I was reminded of heart within me,as it ached at the weight of these 300 pages and the lifetime poured out within them.
rahul wrote: "Those last two paragraphs just define, mirror, echo my emotions too. After a long time I was reminded of heart within me,as it ached at the weight of these 300 pages and the lifetime poured out wit..."Thanks so much for unburying this oldie, Rahul. I am ecstatic to see that Stoner had a similar life-altering effect on you as it had on me. Williams is certainly a fantastic writer! :)
Wonderful review Dolors!! Going to read this book soon.
Shine wrote: "Wonderful review Dolors!! Going to read this book soon."So glad to hear so, Shine! I will be eagerly awaiting for your response to this beloved book of mine.
Loved your thoughts on Stone, Dolors. It's been on my to-read list for ages but I never seem to get to it. Now you gave me the push that I needed. Thanks for reminding me. L.
Lizzy wrote: "Loved your thoughts on Stone, Dolors. It's been on my to-read list for ages but I never seem to get to it. Now you gave me the push that I needed. Thanks for reminding me. L."Thanks a bunch for your lovely comment, Lizzy, I have little doubt that you'll write the perfect review when you finally get to this special book, which I think might be right up your alley.
Great review. I just finished this wonderful book, and I really like how you compare Stoners progression to that of our nations. From country farms to a more Cosmopolitan existence brought about by education but never being able to fully realize it's goals and the greatness it can obtain.
Justin wrote: "Great review. I just finished this wonderful book, and I really like how you compare Stoners progression to that of our nations. From country farms to a more Cosmopolitan existence brought about by..."Thanks for your comment, Justin. I am glad you enjoyed my thoughts on this novel. I have read everything John Williams wrote and I loved all his works with no exception. He is a masterful writer and a connoisseur of the human nature.
How could or would a reader turn away from this book after reading your review? I don’t know. I will get it this week. Moving review.
Paltia wrote: "How could or would a reader turn away from this book after reading your review? I don’t know. I will get it this week. Moving review."Thanks a bunch! This is one of the best books I have read in the last years. I hope you'll bask in it as much as I did...
A beautiful review, Dolors. This is truly one of my favorite books.
Lorna wrote: "A beautiful review, Dolors. This is truly one of my favorite books."I am glad you liked it, Lorna. I have read Williams' three novels and I found all of them to be truly masterpieces. A pity he wasn't a more prolific writer, but I do heartily recommend you to pursue his other two works if you haven't read them yet.
