Hi, I'm Alana! I'm a booknerd who loves to have detailed discussions about literature. You can often find me snuggled up with a warm beverage and a book, practicing ballet, or knitting.
Excellent review of one of my favorite books of all time! I read this for the first time in 2021 and again last year. You described the exact reasons why I resonated with it so deeply, and I loved your quote selection. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Augustus. Stoner is still my favorite, but all three-Butcher’s Crossing, Augustus, and Stoner-showcase Williams’s range. Thank you for this!
I was prompted to read “Stoner” by my former teacher the author John McGahern. In writing the introduction to this NYRB edition his final writing for publication before his passing he explains how the book impacted him as a writer and as a person. Like John I too have been promoting this work to anyone who will listen since he converted me. Thanks for the reminder to reread soon !
I just want to say that I actually am a descendant from the Nabokov family, and Vladmir is the cousin of my grandpa, and I think that Lolita might be about pedophilia though literature is not always appropriate and it is a type of book intneded to give an uncomfortable feeling, hiwever literature is all about different feelings and emotions so please don't judge.
Super boring, in my opinion. I think the characters were created as women and in the end they were given men's names to make men look more “sensitive.” That's why women are empathizing more with the main characters. Men don't face problems like that. I also think that the author uses Jude to manipulate the readers' emotions. It's like, he only exists to have bad things happen to him and victimize himself over and over again.
William Faulkner said to read everything. Read to challenge yourself; read trash for joy. He is one of the greats. Actually, when I read him I realized no matter how much I wrote, read and how hard I worked, I'd never write like him. He was born that way. P.S.- My grandparents rented a 2 bedroom apt all their lives. Both survived WWII but my grandma had major PTSD and agoraphobia, so she didn't work despite having a retail certificate (it was a thing back then (before electric cash registers) to know how to count). I have never known two more peaceful, compassionate and loving people in my life. And most of all, I've never known two people who appreciated each other more than my grandparents did. Great review, Alana. It's on my TBR list.
I agree on the ballet comment!! Looking forward to your take on Drums of Autumn. It's one of my favorite! I currently on the 7th book. It's the longest I've ever taken to read any series but I'm having a great time.
You've convinced me to move this up on my priority list. If I don't get to it this year, then definitely next year! You're also the one who convinced me to buy it in the first place. 😁
Making my way through Rules currently. It continues to interest and draw me in. It's my first Towles novel. It seems I should've started with A Gentlemen.. despite, Towles, no doubt, is an excellent wordsmith. Do you mind sharing what about this book kept it from being a 5/5 read for you?
Is your last name Saldana? (Sorry, you probably get that all the time) Also, I never take ratings as definitive of a work's worth or quality. I look at them as fluid, so actually it makes sense to me that a rating could change, even drastically change. Also, your enthusiasm and detail in your review is refreshing. As to average lives I would say, the plant came before the flower, and if you take the flower from the soil, it won't last very long.
Hahaha I do get that all the time 🤣 Same! Ratings really are subjective. Sometimes I think about abandoning them but they do give me a gauge of how I may change with a book over time. Thank you! And I like that analogy.
When I recommend this book to people, they usually read a quick blurb about it and say it sounds boring. It kinda does, but man, I really loved it. I like your description of the tunnel vision while reading it. Great review and analysis!
I double majored in history and sociology as well. Can totally relate to needing a pause from thinking about books. Will def have to pick this one up as I love books that have layers.
I've only read this and Butcher's Crossing by Williams but they're both incredible and have made him one of my favorite authors. I have to get to Augustus one day
This.book. It won't leave me no matter how many years have passed since I've read it. I do think it helps to grasp it if you have quite a bit of life experience under you...at least that's my opinion. It is a quiet, devastating read. And yet, it's suffused with life and beauty. Imo, it has all the makings of what moves me most when I read. But even more than everything else I've listed, it's the kind of book I read(and there aren't many) where when I finish it, I actually feel gratitude that I was alive to read it. This is no small thing.
About being discontent or being happy (also from the same book): “Our entire society is based on discontent. People wanting more and more and more. Being constantly dissatisfied with their homes, their bodies, their décor, their clothes, everything - taking it for granted that that’s the whole point of life. Never to be satisfied. If you are perfectly happy with what you got, especially if what you got isn’t even all that spectacular then you’re dangerous. You’re breaking all the rules. You’re undermining the sacred economy. You’re challenging every assumption that society is built on.” ― Tana French, The Likeness
About Stoner being an observer, reminds me of this: “I had always felt that I was an observer, never a participant; that I was watching from behind a thick glass wall as people went about the business of living--and did it with such ease, with a skill that they took for granted and that I had never known.” ― Tana French, The Likeness
Alana, I was first attracted to Stoner from the name on the spine (hint of my misguided youth). I need to re-read it as you did. I identified with Stoner almost as an internal experience. The adverb I attached to my life was "almost", for many of the same reasons ("Make peace with mediocrity, you'll never amount to anything, anyway"). I'm giving away too much here. Moving on. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt out of place for any prolonged period of time. Jhuma Lahiri's, Interpreter of Maladies struck the same chord with me. As far as your review went, I couldn't have said it better myself. Well done.
I am too slow for this book and it was to packed. But after digesting it and reading/doing other things Stroner keeps on popping back up in my mind releasing a bit of good prose randomly throughout my life. haha
Great thoughts, Alana! Stoner is firmly placed in my favorites too. Your review helped me realize more of what I loved about it. Stoner, not just a guy and not just a book. So much more.
Alana talking about my favourite book, woohoo! I'm glad you gave it another chance in 2021, I usually reread it once a year. Never fails to get me out of a reading slump.
One of the things I like about Humbert's characterization is that his sociopathy feels realistic. I feel like I've met this guy before wearing a different skin and working different angles, but basically the same eyes.
I thought the name Villiam for the leader was well-chosen. Because to me, it sounds close to Villain. And it can have a double meaning, because Villain means enemy, but in the medieval times Villain was another word for peasant.
don't know how I found you but I'm so glad I did! I really enjoyed this video. I just read Eileen which was the first Moshvegh book I read. I didn't think I'd enjoy it because I don't necessarily like weird, uncomfortable books but I thought it was really good. I was scrolling through through your videos and saw your video on My Year of Rest and Relaxation, which I will check out as well-- along with your other vids.
Fire review 🔥 I know I'm gonna love it because these themes interest me contrary to negative reviews out there so yours is so validating and can't wait to read it!
People are really weird and rude on the internet! I listen to your reviews while I am working. You have a soothing voice and great taste in books so, I truly cannot relate to that commenter 🤣
People are SO rude LOL! The good thing is, I have tough skin and so when people come at me sideways, they got the right one because sometimes I'll snap back. 😂 Thank you so much, that is so nice!
I would like to put the Tao Te Ching on your radar. Brian Browne Walker translation is what I started with. In essence it is an eastern philosophical religion (for lack of a better term) that draws a correlation between nature and God. I put this out there because I feel like it speaks to how organized groups tend to form by losing a felt connection to God (or the Tao as it is called in this context). Im not a Taoist, this isnt about pushing an agenda, but I do think it might resonate with you. It isnt a doctrine to follow, but it does speak to the inherent virtue all humans contain within ourselves when we have access to our felt connection with a higher, deeper power. Your eye twitches when talking about misplaced power brought this to mind. Haha! When you get heated and pull your hair back I also expected you to take your earrings off and start throwing those knuckles. 😂
