Stoner is such a sad and moving story. In this character driven novel, we follow William Stoner throughout his life – from growing up on a farm, to going away to university, to marriage, to fatherhood, and more. The author tells a story, one of man who lived the best he knew how…a man who found solace in books and learning. 

At times, I felt so sorry for Stoner; at other times, I got irritated with him. His wife simultaneous made me angry whilst also feeling pity for her because of her upbringing/context. I felt so sorry for their poor daughter. 

My friend and I buddy read this and we had a lot of good discussion of this book, probing the depths of these characters – what we thought, what the author may have been trying to convey, how we felt. This book is a quiet novel yes; but one that has the ability to generate a lot of discussion. 

I thought the author wrote the story well. I can’t say I absolutely loved it, but I thought it was well done and some of the writing was absolutely beautiful.

Here's a quote from the book:
“It was winter, and a low damp midwestern mist floated over the campus. Even at midmorning the thin branches of the dogwood trees glistened with hoarfrost, and the black vines that trailed up the great columns before Jesse Hall were rimmed with iridescent crystals that winked against the grayness.” (p. 17)