Stoner by John Williams | Is This The Perfect Novel?

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Жыл бұрын

Stoner by John Williams is a modern classic often described as the perfect novel. It's an unassuming story about the life of an ordinary man. But is this really the perfect novel?
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Пікірлер: 21

@mjp407 19 сағат бұрын

I read this book in 2021 and I absolutely loved it; I also have no idea what on earth the "perfect" novel or even "Great American Novel" could even mean. I've read the Great Gatsby multiple times and I have no clue how it ended up earning that title. So while I loved this book and definitely would like to reread it someday, I also don't really care about whether or not to categorize it as perfect. I would agree that it would be interesting to see his wife's point of view regarding their marriage, but I would also offer that my interpretation about him being so "chill" about so many things in his life was just that he didn't have the courage/tools necessary to make big changes, or just simply felt that certain things weren't possible to change or worth the energy. At least that's how I saw him as a character.

@binglamb2176 Жыл бұрын

I binged John Williams last winter reading all three of his novels. Stoner is exceptional and when you close the last page, you realize what a great piece of literature you have just read. It's deceptively enlightening, enjoyable, and heartbreaking at the same time if that is possible. The relationship with his wife really struck home as it unfortunately paralled the experience of my own marriage disaster. That was a period in my life I would just as soon forget but the depiction of Stoner's marriage in the novel felt very relateable, being both mentally and emotionally destructive based on my own expereince. This book resonated with me in ways I didn't really expect. I still find myself thinking about Stoner months later. His other books, Butcher's Crossing and Augustus, are also very well done although they didn't have quite the impact on me that Stoner did.

@NerdyNurseReads Жыл бұрын

First, I’m sorry for your divorce. I’ve been there. It’s tough but ultimately leads to better times. Second, I must read his other books just for comparison!

@WellTraveledBooks Жыл бұрын

This books has been on my TBR for a while. I hear so many good things about it and it intrigues me so much! I love your beautiful NYRB edition!

@NerdyNurseReads Жыл бұрын

Give it a read! Then let me know how you like. (And thank you!! I love NYRB editions 💜)

@BookTubewithAmy Жыл бұрын

I've had this on my shelves for years and you've really made me excited to pick it up.

@NerdyNurseReads Жыл бұрын

Please let me know your thoughts once you read it!

@kiranreader Жыл бұрын

loved hearing your thoughts on this!! i've only heard such glowing things but your perspective has really piqued my interest in the book

@NerdyNurseReads Жыл бұрын

It really is a wonderfully written book. It’s very quiet and unassuming. I saw someone describe it as a Hopper painting in novel form. But the POV is limited and there’s more to any relationship they one person’s perspective. The whole time I wanted to understand why his wife was the way she was.

@CN-xd7ot 10 ай бұрын

I need to add that there are other novels in third person like Stoner, such as Herman Hesse’s ‘Beneath the Wheel’ where the protagonist is mainly defined by an omniscient narrator. But this genre is of an earlier time, such as late 19th century up to the 1920s.

@habib8290 2 ай бұрын

WELL . I love how you did describe the novel and your perspective was interesting actually .. for most men i believe what made this novel to be considered as the perfect novel is all about that kind of how the protagonist is so shill about every thing ..its that easy men tends to be more simple ..more stoner by the peace they get from doing what they love doing and matters their life .its the realistic life the author showed in the novel is actually what matters … I believe people genially try to go back to this kind of slow life you know away from all this traffic and all this busy and crowded life we have nowadays hat why it can considered perfect

@NerdyNurseReads 2 ай бұрын

I must admit over the last year or so I’ve been longing to go back to a more simple time. Maybe not in all things but it would be nice to slow down a bit. Life seems to be on hyper speed now. Maybe I need to channel my inner Stoner.

@habib8290 25 күн бұрын

Yeah can't agree more .. well these time as you said on a hyper speed level.. it's hard to find a peaceful place to settle all the things in mind .. you see people do need some self pĺace a simple place with no hard feelings no pressure. No expectations .just a place to clear you mind and to restart it you know ... try to go an adventure to some place without any plans just grab your bag and go .. some place with nature .. mountains etc .. i believe it'll help

@nicoles5852 3 ай бұрын

I'm reading this at the moment. I'm really enjoying it. It's sad too.

@NerdyNurseReads 3 ай бұрын

It's sad and frustrating - it's simply wonderful!

@MarcelleLeiturasPreguicosas Жыл бұрын

this book is so good!

@NerdyNurseReads Жыл бұрын

It’s deceptively good. It a quiet excellence but I need to know more about his wife!!

@timmccarty8111 7 ай бұрын

Excellent book, but no book is perfect. Regarding Stoner: Chill could be aother word for stoicism. Regarding the marriage; Edith was raised with little emotional instruction. She was cold and ungiving. Some people are just that way. He tried to break through this but could not. Regarding the war: Kudos to anyone who decides not to fight against people he has no beef with. If everyone did that war would be a rarity. Thanks for your analysis.

@NerdyNurseReads 7 ай бұрын

I agree, no book is perfect which is why I loved finding that article that declares Stoner as the perfect novel. It's truly excellent and I think of it often but perfect? no, there is no perfect novel.

@CN-xd7ot 10 ай бұрын

I agree that Stoner could have been more true if it had presented the wife’s point of view. She is almost an object in the story, something for Stoner to react to. The story also lacks realism in Stoner’s breadth of emotions, which are generally flat and noncommittal.. The novel’s depiction of sex between husband and wife is also untrue in that there is no description of their bodies together; it needn’t be graphic to describe touching and the taste, feel, scent and even sound of each others skin and lips and tongues. Characterization in general is not Williams’ strong suit. His dialogue is unreal and in most cases not dialogue at all. It’s more a speech with the other person saying a few word in faux reaction to break up the polemic. This means that characters never fully emerge. There are also repeated words in the course of two pages, and there are awkward sentences. Williams’ strong point is his slow and steady drumbeat, a consistent rhythm, and his gradual portraiture of of his main character. The slowness and steadiness gradually seeps Stoner’s essence into the reader, like a chill seeping down one’s back in an icy fog. Don’t look for the lyricism or the genius metaphors of John Updike, who was his peer, but Williams’ writing is easy to read, and maybe that’s the trade-off.

@NerdyNurseReads 10 ай бұрын

There's something special about the simplicity of Stoner. But I don't understand those who call it "the perfect novel" mostly bc I don't really know what that means. It's not flawless so is it the perfect novel?