Vit Babenco's Reviews > Stoner

Stoner by John  Williams
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it was amazing

Career opportunities...
He saw the future in the institution to which he had committed himself and which he so imperfectly understood; he conceived himself changing in that future, but he saw the future itself as the instrument of change rather than its object.

William Stoner is a humble soldier of science, the one belonging to the majority of scholars. He is an outsider of life, honest and conscientious.
…he had gone through a kind of conversion, an epiphany of knowing something through words that could not be put in words…

When I think of William Stoner I imagine a scriptorium in a monastery and a monk copying the old musty vellums. The scriptor is long dead and gone but his manuscripts persist.
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Reading Progress

February 20, 2015 – Started Reading
February 20, 2015 – Shelved
February 22, 2015 – Finished Reading

Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)

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message 1: by Isidora (last edited Feb 22, 2015 09:45PM) (new) - added it

Isidora I'm reading Augustus by the same author now and it' very, very good. Looking forward to meet Stoner, hopes are high.


message 2: by Vit (new) - rated it 5 stars

Vit Babenco The novel has a photographic precision in portraying William Stoner’s sorrowful fate.


Cecily Short, but perfectly formed (your review). And "photographic precision" is the perfect term.


message 4: by Vit (new) - rated it 5 stars

Vit Babenco Thank you for your kind words. I've just tied to express my impression of the novel.


Cecily You succeeded.


Steve Book-lovers are attracted to this for good reason. It seems to come down to that appreciation for the written word that you so eloquently referred to in your closing paragraph.


Dirk Nice review, Vit. You should also read Augustus and Butchers Crossing by Williams, both extraordinary. The books are very different from each other, but all remarkably well written.


Jason Lovely, concise, and expressive review. I adore this book, the bleakness and the sparks of vitality, along with the love of the written word - it's lingers quietly, but firmly.


message 9: by Vit (new) - rated it 5 stars

Vit Babenco Thanks, everybody. Yes, the novel is very memorable – it literally lodges in memory.


message 10: by Fab (new) - rated it 5 stars

Fab “He is an outsider of life”, love that! Great review


message 11: by Ray (new) - rated it 5 stars

Ray Your last paragraph reminds of a lyric in Navigators, from the Pogues Rum Sodomy and the Lash album

Their mark on this land is still seen and still laid
The way for a commerce where vast fortunes were made
The supply of an Empire where the sun never set
Which is now deep in darkness, but the railway's there yet.


message 12: by Nancy (new) - added it

Nancy Oakes I love this book.


Lisa (NY) A true classic...it will persist.


David One of my all time favorites.


message 15: by Vit (new) - rated it 5 stars

Vit Babenco Despite its deep sadness the book is very captivating.


Goatboy Co-sign on Butcher's Crossing which is also a very wonderful book. Haven't read Augustus yet. John Williams has a magical and almost elegiac way with his writing. On one level very simple but on another level so very deep.


Cecily Goatboy wrote: "Co-sign on Butcher's Crossing which is also a very wonderful book. Haven't read Augustus yet..."

Butcher's Crossing is good, too, but Augustus is best of the lot, imo.


Richard (on hiatus) This was a lovely book ......... loved your review Vit :)


message 19: by Vit (new) - rated it 5 stars

Vit Babenco Thank you, all. I think I should read other books by John Williams too.


message 20: by Kim (new) - rated it 4 stars

Kim Schebler I’m so glad I saw this review and it’s comments. I loved Stoner, but never heard about his Butchers Crossing or Augustus. I’m excited to add them to my list after looking them up here. Thanks!


Juliana Toledo One of my favourite books ever!


message 22: by JimZ (new) - rated it 5 stars

JimZ It's interesting that Stoner faded into obscurity in the novel, and the novel itself faded into obscurity for a good long while. Luckily it is now considered a classic to which we all should be grateful.


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