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Stoner

A Novel

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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 Thought-Provoking Heartfelt
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Outstanding, wonderfully written, impeccable performance. An absolute classic, an all time great no doubt !

Beautiful

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Stoner would never have come close to entering my wish list but, thanks to the Daily Deals, I have just finished listening to what is now one of my favourite books of all time. Summarising the storyline would serve no useful purpose. It is more important to know that the writing, observation and characterisation are magnificent. All this is beautifully conveyed by Alfred Molina’s narration which surpasses any I have heard to date.

This is a must!

This is why I love the Daily Deals

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I could have stopped listening to this in the first hours. I even went back to the synopsis to see why i had purchased it. I wondered if I was perhaps not bright enough to understand the brilliance others had suggested it held. Then suddenly I was all in. I now feel a mix of privilege to have heard it and regret it’s over.

Wow. Just wow

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I need to read this again. once is not enough. for the first time I think I understand why we are here... the bitter sweet suffering and joy of life and death. this book has changed me.

profound examination of life & death

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I’ve loved this book for a very long time and the reader (Alfred Molino) manages to encapsulate the beautiful, understated Stoner really well. Listen and weep!

Stoner is a masterpiece and this reading serves it well

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