STONER by John Williams 

Great review. What I remember the most is his relationship with his daughter. The image of her learning to read as a little girl, on the floor in his home office, is so memorable and yet so sad when compared to how her life unfolds.

I have a copy of Stoner that has been languishing on my bookshelf for around ten years. Thanks to you and other book tubers, I came to read it last month. When I finished reading I felt as though I had lived another life. The ending was exquisite. Stoner will always remain with me. Thank you so much for bringing this novel to my attention.

I just finished this book last night. It's absolutely wonderful. One of the best I've ever read.

there is no much sympathy from the writer to his hero: Stoner is a clever and sensitive man with not much courage. Stoner is a coward: a weak man that does not dare to take any risk in his life. He finds a modest job with a modest salary in a modest, depressive, academic environment; he is not brave enough to confront his wife, his doughter, his mistress, his colleagues. He sacrifies his great love and ideal relationship to “stability” and “safety” of his misery position at home and university. Everything in his existence is rather a disappointment.

Just finished this book in a single day, and my heart absolutely melted for Stoner.

Sometimes when I read a book that I reaaaaaally identify with, I feel incredibly lonely afterwards. First of all, yes, I definitely identify with Stoner's underwhelming life, in which he chases the grail but does not find it. It's the kind of book that I feel sad afterward because I can trhust it into people's hands and hope that they will read it, but I know most people won't, and most who do won't "get it" the way I felt I did.

Just finished Stoner in two sittings, i couldn't stop reading. So beautiful and sad. Those characters stay with you, i found myself shouting at Lomax and Walker. This novel had me exasperated at times and then happy. Extraordinary novel. Great review, subscribed!

Just to add a little more to that point about the juxtaposition between the fathers’ funerals and the closeness to the land: when Williams describes Stoner’s father’s burial, he notes that Stoner’s father’s grave is covered with brown dirt, while at Edith’s father’s burial he makes note of synthetic green grass, highlighting the natural and artificial (and giving us as readers a few different things to grasp at to catch the distinction and that there is in fact a connection).

Such an insightful, in-depth review! Really enjoyed your observations. I’m always drawn to campus novels and Stoner is easily one of the greatest novels in that genre. Looking forward to your review of Butcher’s Crossing and thanks for the shout-out!

For all that love this book you’ve got to read “Hunger” by Knut Hamsun if you haven’t already. The only book that compares to “Stoner”. It’s just exquisite!!! Love to see a review done on that book here :)

A perfect review. I recently completed the book. The story and the writing are equal parts marvellous and magical.

I finished the book one hour ago, and i'm trying to fully understand the meaning of the book to the core. His life was so sad.. The saddest thing was him and kathryn breaking up, and the relationship with grace. But i'm glad because this character showed me to follow your beliefs no matter what. Thank you john williams, may you rest in peace.

your story about rediscovering literature in the middle of earning a stem degree is so relatable! i’m currently in medical school, to me the reason i am able to survive the rigorous hours and all the immense work is knowing that at the end of the day i can curl up in my room, reading a good book. great review!

Lifelong reader, I was struggling with severe book withdrawal. Enter Stoner and I could not put it down. The most important aspect of this novel for me is the dogged pursuit of what all readers of literature will recognize. Stoner continues his reading by sharing it with his students. And when he must stop teaching, he dies. I know that it doesn't happen quite like that, but in one year, he will not have any choice.

First of all I couldn't be more pleased that I found your channel. It is simply amazing. Now I know what I will be doing in the following days during my reading breaks ❤ Second of all I am so with you when it comes to annotating books! I've been trying to convince people that it is not only all right but almost absolutely necessary to mark, highlight, underline and write our own comments on the margins. It is our conversation with the text and it helps to understand it so beautifully. It is a unique experience. And last but not least Stoner in one of my favorite books of all time. I remember reading it for the first time a few years ago and being left speechless. I think I've read the last sentence like a hundred times. it is that moving. I agree with basically all you say about it. I think that is all I wanted say for now. Thank you for taking the time and putting effort into making your videos and simply brightening our days. I truly appreciate that ❤ Take care and see you in another video in just a few minutes :D

Nothing is more enjoyable and gratifying than watching your video before and after reading the book. Just completed the book so now watching your video(again) to solidify my reading experience. It’s my favourite. What are your views on Edith and Lomax as characters? I consider them to be a great pair of protagonists in Stoner’s life. Thanks

Great review. Thanks for your video. Agree that some moments of the book are just too beautiful to put into words. You've got an awesome bookshelf, telescope, typewriter set up there too, someday id like something like that. Looks cozy

Stoner doesn't seem anything like a stoic to me. He can be resolved however in something like or resembling the real world by reckoning with culture and cultural leaders. The book is a deft battering ram of contempt. A rant, a vent! One wonders how many modernist authors joined the trend over the years?! Perhaps it was just a fad, that is quietly receding? Could be. But then Dover, Delaware isn't exactly Dover, England: although the U.S. version is perhaps just as fundamentally cheerful? I'd be more than happy to find out.

This one just showed up in my "feed". Stoner is surely one of the five or six Best Books I Ever Read (!) -- right up there with Arabia Felix, The Ten Thousand Things, Moby Dick, Little, Big, etc. etc. I remember how about halfway through reading it, I'd get a little sense of dread when I picked it up. "Isn't this guy ever going to catch a break ?!?!" Anyhow, I've always thought Williams's award for Augustus was kind of an Elizabeth Taylor prize, you know, she got her Oscar for surviving all those hospitalizations. Williams got the award because "they" knew he had deserved it for Stoner. Another NYRB note: I wish they'd honored his wishes to forget Nothing But The Night. The novel's not much good, but the biographical notes, and the interview with his wife are well worth reading. Take Care!

This is the first time I watch your channel. Yours is such a generous review. With this I mean that you have covered so much in this great and beautiful and melancholic novel. I strongly believe that all this about a "regular life", is just the outsiders' and by this I mean society's issue. As if outsiders should be judging. Stoner had a rich inner world. Even the last line on the book so beautifully depicts his true love and immersion and surrender in the joy of his books. This is a great, indispensable novel that reminded me of the perils of the expectations of others. In this sense, Stoner was so brave.

I read this novel in Chinese, due to the translation i can't actually feel the exact temperature behind those words, but the story has grabbed my heart. I purchased the original English version of it , hope the language won't be the barrier of my reading experience. I've seen a lot of videos of yours and i can totally share the same excitement with you when it comes to reading.Thank you for your sharing!

James! Wharton! Dreiser! Lawrence! All cited in one review woohoo! Your discussion just further piqued my interest in reading Stoner. Looking forward to more literary discussions. Good luck with your channel! 📚

woah, you're a computer scientist? i get you, i feel the same way, after some years wrapping my head around science stuff, it was a life changer to discover the power storytelling has to convey what humanity and consciousness are.

I finished it for the first time this morning and was deeply moved by it. I knew a bit what to expect but still found it so powerful. A real gem of a book. Enjoyed your video on it as always!

I recently came across this book too and I was enthralled. Amazing read. Loving the channel!

Just finished this book… It blew me away…. I will never forget it… Could see Tom Hanks playing the older Stoner…

Wow! Your point number 2 is powerful. Love is indeed such a key to the entire novel.

such an excellent review, loved your observations. just finished stoner for the first time and its serene and delicate ending is yet to settle with me. can't wait to pick it up again when i'm in a later stage in life and reflect on its nuances since i can't really put into words how lovely and truly sincere it is yet.

One of my favorite books ever. So surprising to me that it is so little talked about .. A beautiful telling of a pure introvert’s life.

Awesome review as ever! You never betray my expectations! Thanks again!

I love Stoner - one of my favorite books! Have you read Butcher's Crossing? If so, can you review it? I just finished reading BC and it's glorious. Kind of reminds me of Moby Dick. The film Butcher's Crossing starring Nicholas Cage is scheduled to be released in the US on October 20th.

This is brilliant!

Odd but I'm also currently finishing a bachelor's in computer science haha, I finished Stoner towards the end of 2022. The notion that life's real beauty is not on the surface but in the in-between moments really resonated with me

You’ve earned a subscriber with this vid

Liam Neeson has a son who does book reviews?

Good review, good hair.

You mentioned a few campus novels. You named "The Halls of Academe". Who is the author? I can't seem to find it.

This will be my first book of 2020, thanks for your perspective. I love your room there *dream room*