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Stoner
- A Novel
- Narrated by: Alfred Molina
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
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Stoner
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Summary
Waterstone's book of the year 2013
Colum McCann once called Stoner one of the great forgotten novels of the past century, but it seems it is forgotten no longer - in 2013 translations of Stoner began appearing on best-seller lists across Europe.
William Stoner enters the University of Missouri at 19 to study agriculture. A seminar on English literature changes his life, and he never returns to work on his father's farm. Stoner becomes a teacher. He marries the wrong woman. His life is quiet, and after his death his colleagues remember him rarely.
Yet with truthfulness, compassion and intense power, this novel uncovers a story of universal value. Stoner tells of the conflicts, defeats and victories of the human race that pass unrecorded by history and reclaims the significance of an individual life.
A listening experience like no other, itself a paean to the power of literature, it is a novel to be savoured.
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What listeners say about Stoner
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- AREL
- 14-11-19
Absolutely devastating - amazing.
Wow - this is a quietly super-powerful story. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this devastatingly understated story to anybody. Very well read. Superb all round.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- G. Hooper
- 22-05-18
What a Read, What a Read
I've read Stoner - and now I've listened to the audio book. Both experiences confirmed to me that Stoner surely ranks as one the greatest novels of the 20th century.
The thing that makes the story so exceptional is that it is built around a man who appears, well, so unexceptional, so ordinary. For Stoner is a modest, self-effacing, somewhat plodding university academic with, on the face of it, very little to interest anyone, even the reader.
But the author John William's carefully and slowly, evolves his central character so that inch-by-inch, page-by-page, one starts to gain an enormous affinity with this thoroughly decent, moral and, above all, good man, whose unfolding life of early hardships, a disastrous marriage, terrible persecution by a boss at work, a doomed love affair and finally alienation from his only child, should rightly see him crumple from the blows so cruelly inflicted upon him.
But William Stoner is above all things stoic - he bears it all - everything that life's slings and arrows can throw at him. And maybe that was what Williams was trying to tease out in his brilliant novel - that stoicism can help us, can sustain us through t the sheer bloody unfairness and wretchedness that life can throw up. And boy, does Williams do it well.
There are three books I will always recommend to anyone: Elizabeth Taylor's 'Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont', Larry McMurtry's 'Lonesome Dove' and, yes, John Williams' 'Stoner'. Read it, listen to it - it really doesn't matter which one you choose.
Oh, but as this is an audible review I should, for the record, state that Alfred Molina's narration is, as you would expect from a great actor, perfection itself.
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-06-19
mote of a companion that simple reading.
a poem to solitude, every word like a paintstroke. so much happens within one's soul.
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- Ann Huijing
- 16-01-22
What a good book!
A haunting story of a difficult life. I really enjoyed this book and will look out for more by John Williams
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- ZAHID BHATTI
- 16-05-20
A real story that is beautifully written
I was and I hope continued to be moved by this book. Written beautifully it tells a all of our stories in a real and authentic way.
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- Maricha
- 29-02-24
An ordinary life
Extraordinary. Well written. How our ordinary lives are extraordinary in its simplicity. An excellent book for our frantically busy lives. Unpretentious.
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- Busy of Devon
- 31-05-21
Superb in every way
Performed with exemplary skill by Al Molina (just the best!), John William’s writing has been the best discovery I’ve made for years. Stoner is a masterclass of characterisation, the opening chapters crafted with sparkling prose and skill and giving way to a character led plot which is subtle yet compelling. I found myself caring deeply about William Stoner and his fate as every other character bar one seems to collude against him and set obstacles in his path. Stoner as a character, along with Lomax, Walker and Edith, are fully believable yet unpredictable and will push and pull at you all the way through this poignant tale. I can’t wait to read more of Williams’s work. I wish I’d discovered him thirty years ago as Stoner will be a book I read many times.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Andrea Edan
- 01-02-18
One of the best surprises
Didn't really think this book was "my thing" when I got it and postponed reading it for a few weeks. However, once started, it was impossible to put down. A true classic about relationships and life's (unavoidable?) disappointments. Loved every minute of the excellent narration. Loved and hated the characters as the book progressed and was at times quite frustrated with etiquette of the time. Although the book was so well crafted that the end was inevitable, I was quite bereft when it ended. It worked very well with an English narration for the descriptive parts and with American narration for the dialogue.
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- Betsvigi9
- 07-03-18
Nothing much happens, but absolutely gripping
Really well read by Alfred Molina. The story of a man and his ultimately inconsequential life and death. I bought it on a whim and am so glad I did.
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- cyclingcarol
- 21-04-23
Brilliantly written.
I wonder why this gem is not more well known. Like Jane Austen, Williams brilliantly creates the tension and drama of an ordinary life.
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