Emily May's Reviews > Stoner
Stoner
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I know this book touched me deeply because I am mentally going through every person I know to figure out who I can recommend it to. Most of them, I think. It's that kind of book that-- while still telling its own individual story --contains so many universal themes. Life, death, love, family, failure, integrity. And it's exactly the right amount of sad; bittersweet, I would say.
It tells the life story of William Stoner, a man we are told in the very beginning of the book would be remembered by hardly anyone after his death, the marks he made during his lifetime being faint and few. But what this leads into is an extremely well-written story of a man who grew up on a farm, was sent to study agriculture by his father and, there, at the University of Missouri, fell madly in love with literature and teaching.
Stoner did very little to carve himself a place inside my heart. Maybe it was the simple, humble nature of him that asked for so little and gave so much. His passion for teaching was pure and endearing. If anything, I sometimes wanted him to fight for himself a bit more, but it was not in his gentle nature.
Along the way, he marries, has a child, gets into a conflict with a colleague and loses friends and students to two World Wars. His life is full of ups and downs, sometimes allowing him happiness, often not. Through it all, he finds a certain comfort in his books and his classes. His turning to literature during the hard times spoke to me personally.
Summarised like this, it seems like such an unremarkable life and, as the opening paragraphs tell us, it sort of was, but I guess what is so wonderful about this story is that it shows how even a fairly average, unremarkable life is so full of passion and love. Personally, I didn't want to put it down.
by
What did you expect?
I know this book touched me deeply because I am mentally going through every person I know to figure out who I can recommend it to. Most of them, I think. It's that kind of book that-- while still telling its own individual story --contains so many universal themes. Life, death, love, family, failure, integrity. And it's exactly the right amount of sad; bittersweet, I would say.
It tells the life story of William Stoner, a man we are told in the very beginning of the book would be remembered by hardly anyone after his death, the marks he made during his lifetime being faint and few. But what this leads into is an extremely well-written story of a man who grew up on a farm, was sent to study agriculture by his father and, there, at the University of Missouri, fell madly in love with literature and teaching.
Sometimes, immersed in his books, there would come to him the awareness of all that he did not know, of all that he had not read; and the serenity for which he labored was shattered as he realized the little time he had in life to read so much, to learn what he had to know.
Stoner did very little to carve himself a place inside my heart. Maybe it was the simple, humble nature of him that asked for so little and gave so much. His passion for teaching was pure and endearing. If anything, I sometimes wanted him to fight for himself a bit more, but it was not in his gentle nature.
In his forty-third year William Stoner learned what others, much younger, had learned before him: that the person one loves at first is not the person one loves at last, and that love is not an end but a process through which one person attempts to know another.
Along the way, he marries, has a child, gets into a conflict with a colleague and loses friends and students to two World Wars. His life is full of ups and downs, sometimes allowing him happiness, often not. Through it all, he finds a certain comfort in his books and his classes. His turning to literature during the hard times spoke to me personally.
Summarised like this, it seems like such an unremarkable life and, as the opening paragraphs tell us, it sort of was, but I guess what is so wonderful about this story is that it shows how even a fairly average, unremarkable life is so full of passion and love. Personally, I didn't want to put it down.
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Quotes Emily May Liked
“In his forty-third year William Stoner learned what others, much younger, had learned before him: that the person one loves at first is not the person one loves at last, and that love is not an end but a process through which one person attempts to know another.”
― Stoner
― Stoner
“Sometimes, immersed in his books, there would come to him the awareness of all that he did not know, of all that he had not read; and the serenity for which he labored was shattered as he realized the little time he had in life to read so much, to learn what he had to know.”
― Stoner
― Stoner
Reading Progress
November 9, 2021
– Shelved
January 29, 2022
–
Started Reading
February 2, 2022
–
Finished Reading
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My Little Forest
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rated it 4 stars
Feb 03, 2022 12:10AM
I can't disagree with anything you said. Stoner's character is so well crafted and natural that it almost felt as if I was reading a biography of a person named Stoner. I also couldn't put this story down and it also spoke to me the fact that he'd turn to literature whenever things got downhill for him. The writing style is impecable as well.
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My Little Forest wrote: "I can't disagree with anything you said. Stoner's character is so well crafted and natural that it almost felt as if I was reading a biography of a person named Stoner. I also couldn't put this sto..."
Williams's writing really had... something. I can't say what, but even when very little was happening, it was still compelling.
Williams's writing really had... something. I can't say what, but even when very little was happening, it was still compelling.
Beautiful review. I had a similar WOW reaction the first time I read Stoner and fell in love with it. It’s hard to describe what kind of novel it is and even harder to find friends I am willing to recommend it to. I just love it. I would also recommend Butcher’s Crossing by John Williams.
Leslie wrote: "Beautiful review. I had a similar WOW reaction the first time I read Stoner and fell in love with it. It’s hard to describe what kind of novel it is and even harder to find friends I am willing to ..."
Thank you, Leslie. I went and found myself a copy of Butcher's Crossing on ebay as soon as I finished Stoner :) I need more of Williams' writing.
Thank you, Leslie. I went and found myself a copy of Butcher's Crossing on ebay as soon as I finished Stoner :) I need more of Williams' writing.
I, too, found this quiet book deeply compelling. It somehow went beyond a “slice of life” - partly because it was an entire life, but there was something more. His quiet fortitude is hard to describe. I think it touched me so deeply because it will be the unsung life most of us live. Social media has changed things, but who knows who truly will be remembered for long after we die? Our legacies, most of us, will quietly live on until our loved ones also die. Stoner showed us that a quiet life, doing the things we are passionate about, though not glorious to the world at large, can be a comforting, satisfying experience if we let it.
Your review was lovely. For a book this wonderful, isn’t it funny that many of us struggle to know who to recommend it to?
Your review was lovely. For a book this wonderful, isn’t it funny that many of us struggle to know who to recommend it to?
I’m a bit shy about writing reviews and your review led me to comment. I realized I had written a tiny review as my comment, so I did post it. Thank you not only for your thoughtful review (here and always) but for a little nudge to do it, too. :)
One of my favorite books, a true masterpiece. In the author's view it is a book about how the love for literature can make everything else meaningless: Stoner dies a happy man because no matter how many failures and tragedies he faced in his life, he had literature to give his life a purpose.
Everyone I know who’s read this book responded to it with similar affection and praise, and yet this isn’t a book you hear about a whole lot. Guess I’ll have to discover its treasures for myself!
Brooke wrote: "Everyone I know who’s read this book responded to it with similar affection and praise, and yet this isn’t a book you hear about a whole lot. Guess I’ll have to discover its treasures for myself!"
I too have never heard anyone say they didn't like this book, but the premise didn't particularly grab me so I always put it off... definitely a big mistake!
I too have never heard anyone say they didn't like this book, but the premise didn't particularly grab me so I always put it off... definitely a big mistake!
My father (a retired English Professor) recommended this book to me. He told me when he first read it he thought it was one of his favorite books . I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed it.
Sometimes, immersed in his books, there would come to him the awareness of all that he did not know, of all that he had not read; and the serenity for which he labored was shattered as he realized the little time he had in life to read so much, to learn what he had to know. Every book lover can relate to this!
I read this book a long time ago and as a teacher and lover of books, it has stuck with me for a long time. Every time I hear about someone, especially a professor, accused of doing something wrong whether it's something to do with race or sex or whatever, I think of this book and I think how important it is to step back and not jump to conclusions that this person is automatically guilty.
Ana wrote: "I read this after reading your review. I loved it as much as you did, so thank you!"
I'm so glad you liked it! I still keep thinking about this one.
I'm so glad you liked it! I still keep thinking about this one.
Great review. With yours and other reviews, this seems like a book that has to be read with no distractions.
Thanks for your wonderful review. I finished this book yesterday.
I could not put it down, and I’m sure I’ll reread it soon. It has a melancholy feel, a universal sense that we are all just moving through time, hopefully doing the best we can. How poignant, to say so much in such sparse words.
A true talent.
I could not put it down, and I’m sure I’ll reread it soon. It has a melancholy feel, a universal sense that we are all just moving through time, hopefully doing the best we can. How poignant, to say so much in such sparse words.
A true talent.