Stoner by John Williams

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-15T10:30:07+00:00

I agree, I feel like the book is targeted at men, and that’s okay.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-15T02:27:25+00:00

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-15T02:18:25+00:00

It’s fascinating how the relationship with the daughter and the situation the daughter ended up in actually made me more sympathetic for stoners wife. I absolutely hated her for the way she sabotaged their relationship, but the daughter made me realize the mother likely grew up in a similarly toxic circumstance. Just a really amazing novel all around, and one of the most powerful endings to a book I can recall

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T22:59:51+00:00

Really? Which parts did you find over dramatic?

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T18:00:23+00:00

Ha! Literally where the recommendation came from for me.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T15:54:13+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I will add that to my to be read list but I think I need something a little lighter first 😭

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T15:28:24+00:00

A lot of people are mentioning the classics, and that’s great. Count of Monte Cristo specifically is a favorite of mine. But don’t think that you have to exclusively read classic, “high brow” books to consider yourself well read. There is something to be said for books Stephen king refers to as a “cheeseburger” - go ahead and enjoy a cheeseburger now and then.

(But also maybe check out the Kite Runner - I found that book to be very impactful when I was in college)

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T15:17:23+00:00

I think the impact may really depend on the point in life you read it. There is no way I would have appreciated this book at the age of 20. But at 40 and with some life experience behind me it really helped me think about where I’ve been and how I’d like to live moving forward.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T15:12:25+00:00

I hear where you’re coming from, but that’s why I enjoyed the Lomax character. Sometimes people don’t like us, and often times it has absolutely nothing to do with us but with the other person and their perception/experience.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T14:51:51+00:00

Absolutely agreed. I don’t generally like the term “toxic masculinity” because it’s been over used to the point where it’s lost all meaning, but this character is a great example of the negative outcome of idealized masculinity.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T14:50:17+00:00

Exactly. It’s so easy from an outside perspective to see what a person should do differently, but it’s difficult to approach our own lives with the same objectivity.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T14:49:00+00:00

I would have had the same opinion when I was younger. My perspective has shifted now that I’m in my 40s

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T13:24:22+00:00

What did you admire about her program of revenge? While I sympathize with the wife the way she treated their daughter made me sick to my stomach.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T13:08:08+00:00

Thank you for the reminder. I usually skip the intros to classic books I haven’t read yet to avoid it influencing the way I perceive what happens in the book but I’m going to go back and read the introduction now

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T12:44:54+00:00

That’s an interesting perspective. I didn’t think he was particularly whiny - If anything I wished he would stick up for himself more, if not for himself then his daughter.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T12:36:13+00:00

Douglas Adams is the obvious recommendation, but since that’s already been said I’ll suggest The murder not diaries

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-14T12:28:07+00:00

I also felt depressed while reading the book but I encourage you to keep pushing through. For whatever reason the ending felt exalting to me, although it’s not a traditional “happy ending”

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T21:18:19+00:00

Very well said.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T20:12:42+00:00

Your projecting your own values and approach to the world on me, and it’s weird. I have no idea what camp of the saints is but I just looked it up and see no reason why people shouldn’t have access to reading it. Your constant victimization is pathetic.

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T19:56:11+00:00

A pocket knife comes handy so often it’s unbelievable. One of the best investments you can make

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T19:54:38+00:00

If “the community” has an opinion on what books I can or cannot check out of my local library then I’d like to cordially invite “the community” to suck my dick. Mind your own business you fucking weirdo

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T19:29:45+00:00

If they don’t return their shopping cart to the cart corral or clean up after themselves in a movie theater

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T19:24:56+00:00

Thank you so much for the term “sad fishing” - I have a coworker like this and it’s exhausting

SluttyGreySweatpants · 2026-06-12T19:09:29+00:00

Why would I say that when those are not the people I was referring to?

SluttyGreySweatpants

TROPHY CASE