IBG Tuesday Meetup - Stoner, by John Williams

A great time was had by all in our discussion of Bliss, by Peter Carey. Highlights of the evening include:
'Dysfunctional, the whole lot of them' - Janet
'Hell is a matter of perception' - Lydia
'Other than the fact she'd blow her brother for drugs, I thought she was quite the likable character' - Sheila
'It's all just such a CLICHÉ' - Mark
'It was like a bad Gabriel Garcia Marquez' - Marina

As you can tell, everyone loved it!

We then all put forth our nominations for next month: Sheila nominated 'Introduction to Stoner' by John McGahern, William nominated 'Stoner' by John Williams, Mark (being obsessed with fame) nominated Bling Ring, and Janet and I jumped in with A Long Long Way and A Tale for the Time Being. Needless to say, Stoner + Introduction won!

Here's what the book is about:

"William Stoner enters the University of Missouri at nineteen 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 reading experience like no other, itself a paean to the power of literature, it is a novel to be savoured."

Hailed as 'the greatest classic you've never read,' ('a bit of a Schrodinger's Cat, isn't that?' - Sheila), this book should lead to a great discussion.

Note: Speaking of, Sheila is particular keen on the Introduction to the book, so do give it a whirl if you are so inclined.

Second Note: We currently have our location listed as Four Sisters but it may change to The Canonbury. We'll update you if it changes, but plan for this for now!

Cheers, and see you all soon!
Sharona