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Stoner

A Novel

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Stoner

By: John Williams
Narrated by: Alfred Molina
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About this listen

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.

©2016 John Williams (P)2016 Random House AudioBooks Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring Tear-jerking Thought-Provoking
All stars
Most relevant
It kept me enthralled throughout the entire read. Amazing story that’ll stay with me for a while I think.

Incredible

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Two points of many 1. the author let's you see inside heads and know why they act the way they do 2. Is his (our) life a failure because of his (our) flaws or a success because he (we) did the best he (we) could? Extra: I was amazed at several final reconciliations: wife, daughter, Finch, Lomax and the value of his own life. The narration was unobtrusive and highly professional.

Super story, super written

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An immediate favourite.
I found myself wrapped with at times an uncomfortable anguished suspense as I meandered through this man’s unassuming life. An intensity of emotion I could have expected of a thriller or action book.
Truly brilliant.

Brilliant

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Loved every second of this fantastic novel. Wonderful narration really complements the text and brings plenty of life into the characters.
A must listen

Not what I expected!

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Stunned to have gotten into my late 60s without having heard of and read this book before. It's as good or better than The Great Gatsby (an obvious comparison for a number of reasons) and equal to anything I have ever read in my life. Alfred Mollina's narration is similarly, right up there with the best I have ever heard an audiobook.

A monumental work, far-too-unknown

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