Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Man Who Wrote the Perfect Novel: John Williams, Stoner, and the Writing Life
Man Who Wrote the Perfect Novel: John Williams, Stoner, and the Writing Life | Charles J Shields
7 posts | 2 read | 7 to read
When Stoner was published in 1965, the novel sold only a couple of thousand copies before disappearing with hardly a trace. Yet John Williams's quietly powerful tale of a Midwestern college professor, William Stoner, whose life becomes a parable of solitude and anguish eventually found an admiring audience in America and especially in Europe. The New York Times called Stoner "a perfect novel," and a host of writers and critics, including Colum McCann, Julian Barnes, Bret Easton Ellis, Ian McEwan, Emma Straub, Ruth Rendell, C. P. Snow, and Irving Howe, praised its artistry. The New Yorker deemed it "a masterly portrait of a truly virtuous and dedicated man."The Man Who Wrote the Perfect Novel traces the life of Stoner's author, John Williams. Acclaimed biographer Charles J. Shields follows the whole arc of Williams's life, which in many ways paralleled that of his titular character, from their shared working-class backgrounds to their undistinguished careers in the halls of academia. Shields vividly recounts Williams's development as an author, whose other works include the novels Butcher's Crossing and Augustus (for the latter, Williams shared the 1972 National Book Award). Shields also reveals the astonishing afterlife of Stoner, which garnered new fans with each American reissue, and then became a bestseller all over Europe after Dutch publisher Lebowski brought out a translation in 2013. Since then, Stoner has been published in twenty-one countries and has sold over a million copies.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Beckys_Books
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this book, plus I learned that John William, author of one of my favorite books, was pretty much an asshole. He went through marriages about as frequently as some people buy cars. He pretty much did what he wanted when he wanted to do it, never mind he had three kids he didn't see that much. Knowing this though doesn't take away from my appreciation of Stoner. Debating whether to read his other two novels.

MommyWantsToReadHerBook I started Stoner on Kindle but couldn't really see where it was going - worth persevering, then, if it's one of your favourite novels? 5y
Beckys_Books @MommyWantsToReadHerBook its more of a character driven slow burn kind of book, but I truly love it! 5y
MommyWantsToReadHerBook @Beckys_Books thanks, I'll give it another try! 5y
71 likes3 comments
blurb
Beckys_Books
post image

Friday eve plans - Toasted Coconut Caramel Sundae and a good book.

Sweettartlaura 😮😋❤️ 5y
Jee_HookedOnBookz That looks so good!! 5y
66 likes3 comments
quote
Beckys_Books
post image

Apparently John Williams's (author of Stoner) grandfather cautioned him "Don't read so much. You'll make your brain tired."

What a foolish thing to tell a child.

MayJasper Perhaps the grandfather could not read 5y
TrishB My optician told me to read less and wear less eyeliner....I‘ve opted for glasses instead! 5y
59 likes2 comments
blurb
Beckys_Books
post image

These are my latest purchases that I'm going to make myself finish before buying another book or borrowing anything from the library.

Starting with the tagged book because Stoner is an all time favorite and I want to know more about its author. I'm just afraid I will have a few items from John Williams's backlist to add to my #tbr list.

sammisho I just read Stoner this year. I can't believe it is npt more pf a fan favorite. 5y
74 likes1 comment
blurb
Liberty
post image

Afternoon reading, most likely followed by another reading of Stoner.📚❤️📚

102 likes5 stack adds
review
AlexGeorge
post image
Pickpick

This biography of the author of STONER is also a compelling portrait of the writer‘s life - the highs and the lows (and what lows!) of publication - or not. Plus ça change... anyway, it‘s out in October, and it‘s fascinating.

blurb
AlexGeorge
post image

Williams‘s masterpiece, STONER, was set in Columbia, Missouri, where I live. Began this last night. So far it‘s excellent. (And if you haven‘t read STONER, then you totally should.)

15 likes1 stack add