Review: Stoner

Stoner by John Edward Williams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Having just now finished John Edward Williams’ Stoner, I’m almost at a loss as to what to say about it. The novel may be the most pleasant kick in the teeth you’re ever likely to get.

William Stoner may be the saddest character in American literature. In any other story, such a passive character might elicit anger or apathy, but somehow I couldn’t stop wanting to know more about Stoner, about his struggles, about how he was going to be th...