I'm two-thirds of the way through this novel, and it's been wonderful thus far. I am particularly enthralled by the relationship between Stoner and Edith. Ultimately, of course, I find myself entering Stoner's mind and heart, almost as if I am experiencing everything this protagonist thinks, feels, and says. Powerful. As good as Steinbeck, as far as I'm concerned.
Such an awesome story, not about a classic hero in the normal sense of the word, but in my opinion, William is someone to look up to. A story about finding beauty and inspiration in a simple subject. Really losing yourself in something like literature is inspiring to say the least.
I strongly disagree. It's an example of how one's cowardice can have dreadful ripple effects on others. His daughter pays a terrible price for his refusal to confront his wife's madness.
@@syedahmed1387 That's true, that's true, there's some tragedy in the story too for sure. I don't think however that this man got introduced to any productive conflict resolving or problem solving skills in his childhood home, so cut him some slack too.
@@Onkruid this isn't a judgement on him as an individual as whole but more a rebuttal to the idea that he represents an ideal. Separately, whilst I agree with your point to some degree we are talking about a University professor here. Someone who should have been fully cognisant of the damage his wife was doing to their daughter and what it might lead to. Furthermore, he showed plenty of "fight" in his destructive conflict with Lomax (and the latter's favoured pupil). If he could distribute some of that hard nosed adherence to principles more evenly (i.e. expose Edith to some of this courage) then perhaps Grace would have had a better life and not made such destructive choices to exit the prison at home.
Just finished this and loved it, I feel like he was a series of mistakes and lack of backbone, should have left his wife (never gotten married really), been a better father and stood up to his wife and raised Grace better, and should’ve pursued a life with Driscoll.
100% I can't get over how he let his daughter pay the price for his cowardice in refusing to confront his wife. No love of literature will ever provide any sort of equilibrium for me to be comfortable with that.
I read this from your recommendation, I had never heard of this book before somehow! I absolutely loved it. Thank you for the rec, I often find your videos to find my next book as we seem to have very similar tastes. Curious if you’ve read “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”? I’m about half way in and although vastly different it’s another “life” story and I’m finding that these are probably my favorite stories to read.
@@rikdesmit his suffering was self imposed. The source of all of this suffering was a bewildering lack of an ability to do anything to upset his mentally ill wife, someone who he never really loved. Even at the tragic expense of his child's life and his own career.
There isn’t a film director out there talented enough to do this novel justice. In an age where degeneracy portrayal in movies seems the only shallow trend then this story would break the tedious mould that creates over hyped dramas.
I promise I'm not commenting to be 'that guy' but this was a DNF for me. I'm the type to fight through, even I don't like it, but I just couldn't here. I wanted so badly to like it but if nothing else, it has helped me identify books that I do enjoy and steer towards those 😅
Read it last year, nothing extraordinary in the novel…. Stoner and his life is so negative and sad that I saw it reflecting on me. Just glad I finished the book…
I liked the character but his lack of back bone was infuriating at times. His sad personal life and his daughter's misery is ultimately a function of his cowardice.
