Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from an arm injury; on a short review-writing break)'s Reviews > Stoner
Stoner
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Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from an arm injury; on a short review-writing break)'s review
bookshelves: favorites, 2023-favorite-reads
Feb 09, 2023
bookshelves: favorites, 2023-favorite-reads
Have you ever read a book that leaves you so overwhelmed you don't have words to explain why or how? For me, it's this one!
"He had wanted the singleness and the still connective passion of marriage; he had had that, too, and he had not known what to do with it, and it had died. He had wanted love; and he had had love, and had relinquished it, had let it go into the chaos of potentiality."
A simple story of a man from humble origins who pursues a career in academics. This is the story of the life of William Stoner - his early life, his days as a student, his love for English Literature, his marriage and family and his career as an English professor- a life lived with quiet dignity, with its share of ups and downs, regrets, disappointments and small triumphs. It could be anybody's story."Unremarkable" is a word one might use when when talking about William Stoner and in fact, the beginning of the novel stresses that point but then, why does his story feel so significant?
I read Stoner by John Edward Williams slowly over a week. It will take much longer than that to frame my thoughts or maybe I'd prefer to just keep thinking about this book for as long as I can.
"And he had wanted to be a teacher, and he had become one; yet he knew, he had always known, that for most of his life he had been an indifferent one."
In short, all I can say right now is that this is a beautifully penned, insightful and thought-provoking novel that I regret not having read earlier in life. This simple, quiet story affected me on a deeply personal level. Thank you to everyone who recommended this book to me.
"He had conceived wisdom, and at the end of the long years he had found ignorance. And what else? he thought. What else?"
"He had wanted the singleness and the still connective passion of marriage; he had had that, too, and he had not known what to do with it, and it had died. He had wanted love; and he had had love, and had relinquished it, had let it go into the chaos of potentiality."
A simple story of a man from humble origins who pursues a career in academics. This is the story of the life of William Stoner - his early life, his days as a student, his love for English Literature, his marriage and family and his career as an English professor- a life lived with quiet dignity, with its share of ups and downs, regrets, disappointments and small triumphs. It could be anybody's story."Unremarkable" is a word one might use when when talking about William Stoner and in fact, the beginning of the novel stresses that point but then, why does his story feel so significant?
I read Stoner by John Edward Williams slowly over a week. It will take much longer than that to frame my thoughts or maybe I'd prefer to just keep thinking about this book for as long as I can.
"And he had wanted to be a teacher, and he had become one; yet he knew, he had always known, that for most of his life he had been an indifferent one."
In short, all I can say right now is that this is a beautifully penned, insightful and thought-provoking novel that I regret not having read earlier in life. This simple, quiet story affected me on a deeply personal level. Thank you to everyone who recommended this book to me.
"He had conceived wisdom, and at the end of the long years he had found ignorance. And what else? he thought. What else?"
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Reading Progress
February 1, 2023
–
Started Reading
February 9, 2023
– Shelved
February 9, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 62 (62 new)
message 1:
by
Tonya
(new)
Feb 09, 2023 07:55AM
Can't wait to read the rest of your thoughts on this book, sounds like it had a strong impact! <3
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I'm happy seeing all those stars, Sujoya!
Tonya wrote: "Can't wait to read the rest of your thoughts on this book, sounds like it had a strong impact! <3"
It is a wonderful story, Tonya! 😊If you like quiet character-driven stories, this is a book you should read.
It is a wonderful story, Tonya! 😊If you like quiet character-driven stories, this is a book you should read.
Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) wrote: "Fantastic review Sujoya, sounds like a thought provoking book."
The fact is that it is a very simple story. I hadn’t imagined that I would feel this way.
The fact is that it is a very simple story. I hadn’t imagined that I would feel this way.
Bob (aka Bobby Lee) wrote: "I'm happy seeing all those stars, Sujoya!"
Well-deserved stars, Bob! What an amazing read!
Well-deserved stars, Bob! What an amazing read!
Sujoya, I loved your beautiful review of one my favorite books ever. Your review highlighted how this touched so many of us. Thank you.
One of the best books I've ever read!!! Try butchers crossing by Williams it's pretty fantastic too.
Short but interesting review, Sujoya! I had added this to my agenda last year after seeing some truly compelling reviews for it. Glad you enjoyed it too. ♥
Allison wrote: "Amazing review, Sujoya! I’m so glad this ended up being such a winner for you! 💕"
Thank you, Allison!🧡 Truly, a winner!
Thank you, Allison!🧡 Truly, a winner!
Lorna wrote: "Sujoya, I loved your beautiful review of one my favorite books ever. Your review highlighted how this touched so many of us. Thank you."
Thank you for your kind words, Lorna!😊 I hadn't expected to be so affected by this story.
Thank you for your kind words, Lorna!😊 I hadn't expected to be so affected by this story.
message 18:
by
Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
(last edited Feb 10, 2023 05:45AM)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Jesse wrote: "One of the best books I've ever read!!! Try butchers crossing by Williams it's pretty fantastic too."
I agree! Thank you for the recommendation, Jesse! Adding it to my TBR right now!😊
I agree! Thank you for the recommendation, Jesse! Adding it to my TBR right now!😊
Marilyn wrote: "Stellar review for a great book, Sujoya!💕"
Thank you! 🧡It is truly a great book, Marilyn! I regret not having read it earlier!
Thank you! 🧡It is truly a great book, Marilyn! I regret not having read it earlier!
Rosh wrote: "Short but interesting review, Sujoya! I had added this to my agenda last year after seeing some truly compelling reviews for it. Glad you enjoyed it too. ♥"
Not quite a proper review but thank you, Rosh! 🧡 I hope this book speaks to you as it it did to me.
Not quite a proper review but thank you, Rosh! 🧡 I hope this book speaks to you as it it did to me.
Wonderful Sujoya. I read his "Butcher's Crossing" and really liked it & am looking forward to this one.
I'm so glad you loved it, Sujoya! Sounds like you have a book hangover from this one. I love that feeling.
Amina wrote: "Beautiful review, Sujoya! Adding to my list!"
Thank you kindly, Amina!😊 I hope you also like it!
Thank you kindly, Amina!😊 I hope you also like it!
Southern Lady Reads wrote: "Thats exactly how I felt after reading Dark Matter! Great review! 🖤"
Thank you! 😊
Thank you! 😊
message 38:
by
Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile (recovering from
(last edited Feb 11, 2023 06:12PM)
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Jasmine wrote: "Lovely review, Sujoya! This sounds wonderful. I’ll have to buy a copy."
Thank you, Jasmine!😊 This is a stunning piece of literature!
Thank you, Jasmine!😊 This is a stunning piece of literature!
Catherine wrote: "I’m glad this was such a strong read for you, Sujoya! Impactful and excellent review! 👏💕"
Thank you kindly, Catherine!🧡 I'm surprised by how meaningful this simple story proved to be.
Thank you kindly, Catherine!🧡 I'm surprised by how meaningful this simple story proved to be.
Ian M. Pyatt wrote: "Wonderful Sujoya. I read his "Butcher's Crossing" and really liked it & am looking forward to this one."
Thank you, Ian! :) I've added Butchers Crossing to my TBR too!
Thank you, Ian! :) I've added Butchers Crossing to my TBR too!
Carol wrote: "Wonderful review, Sujoya 💗💗!!!! So glad you loved it so much."
Thank you so much, Carol!💗 It is indeed a special book!
Thank you so much, Carol!💗 It is indeed a special book!
Nancy wrote: "I'm so glad you loved it, Sujoya! Sounds like you have a book hangover from this one. I love that feeling."
Thank you, Nancy!😊 This simple story simply overwhelmed me.
Thank you, Nancy!😊 This simple story simply overwhelmed me.
Sneha Pathak wrote: "Lovely post, Sujoya. This one's on my list :)"
Thank you kindly, Sneha!😊 I hope you like this one as much as I did!
Thank you kindly, Sneha!😊 I hope you like this one as much as I did!
Every time I see another 5 star review of this book I know I have to get it off my shelf. Thanks for your wonderful thoughts
Candi wrote: "You've said all you need to say about this remarkable piece of literature, Sujoya!!"
This is truly a gem, Candi!😊
This is truly a gem, Candi!😊