I am a John Williams fan because of you😂 Stoner was a fantastic read, it’s one of my top reads of 2023. I can’t wait to read Butcher’s Crossing. I love your review of it, and as usual, it has made me push it up my TBR queue😊
I need to read this. Stoner is my favorite book i've read in 2024 . I would love to see a video of recommendations of books for folks who loved Stoner. I've searched the Tubes and can't find any videos like that.
I read Augustus last month and it was fantastic. Butcher's Crossing is the last Williams I have left among his three main novels. I am excited to read it.
I've been waiting for this review ;-). How are you, stranger! I've only read Augustus--loved it! I've been curious about reading more from Williams but haven't yet. Knowing your love of Greco-Roman history, I think Augustus will be your favorite!
I still need to read Augustus; I've loved Stoner and Butcher's Crossing. He has a very elegant style that really toes the line between being too prosaic or purple. In Stoner you have this character desperate to keep his shelter from being corrupted, and here you have a character going out and losing his romantic notions, and his innocence. They are very different novels, but I do think they are touching on similar ideas from different perspectives and journeys. There's a really interesting article by his wife out there after his passing, about what he was like and his writing. It's very interesting if you can find it.
Loved this review. Glad to have found your channel! What did you make of Francine's character? I loved the writing and how visceral it was, as you said. But I felt some of the characterization was lacking in service of the commentary he was making, if that makes sense. Now I really want to read Augustus! Stoner is a 5 star for me.
Thank you!! I felt neutral about Francine. You? I can see that - the characters are pretty static in this one, except Andrews to an extent. Yes I really want to read Augustus as well and Stoner is fantastic. LOOOOL! I should read his novella just because it is so bad 🤣
Just finished this yesterday and my god it was immaculate. Had no choice but to read it after finishing Stoner and now I’m buying Augustus. John Williams is goated
I'd not heard of this book or even this author. The quotes you gave were lovely. I'll have this on my radar now. As always, thanks for the in depth discussion. I watch a lot of Booktube channels. There are different styles I enjoy. But this type of long form will always be my favorite.
I read Butcher's Crossing last year. Good read. I think it's "about" more than Stoner, but I think Stoner was a technically better book. John Williams was such a great writer. :)
I can really relate to your story about your changing body and the perception of yourself. I am in my late 20's and have transformed my body through exercise and weight lifting. It's damn weird looking in the mirror and seeing what seems like someone elses body. I remember reading that part of the book and stopping to take it in thinking "damn that hits harder than it should given my relatively soft life."
Haha right?! It’s a really strange feeling because in your head you still “see” the old way you used to look and you’re trying to reconcile it with what you’re actually seeing. It’s a mind trip sometimes!
@@alanaestelle2076 Haha yeah "Mind trip" is exactly right! It can even be difficult at times to feel proud of all the hard work when it feels like it isn't exactly you. It'll get better over time though I suppose the longer we "look like this" lol. Anyway great job on the review eager to see more!
Yes, Dances with Wolves was excellent, altho if I'm allowed one criticism I didn't so much like the costuming, in particular the uniforms which I thought distracted from the raw primitivism of the story. As for the over-hunting of them, frankly, I don't know what to think beyond it's history and it's unfortunate and of course we should learn from it. On the subject of identity, I can't really add anything. To be perfectly honest, I still don't know exactly who I am or what I am supposed to look like. Thank you for the review. As usual, I enjoyed it.
Oh yea that’s what I want to read the book - I know the movie did take some historical liberties. yes, agreed, it’s sad but history is history - we put things on their historical context, learn from it and keep it moving, otherwise we get so stuck on the past that we can’t move forward. Hahaha! I think we can all relate to that. Thank you!
I am a John Williams fan because of you😂 Stoner was a fantastic read, it’s one of my top reads of 2023. I can’t wait to read Butcher’s Crossing. I love your review of it, and as usual, it has made me push it up my TBR queue😊
I’m so proud 🥹🤣🙌🏼. yaaaaas can’t wait for you to read this one and thank you!
I need to read this. Stoner is my favorite book i've read in 2024 . I would love to see a video of recommendations of books for folks who loved Stoner. I've searched the Tubes and can't find any videos like that.
Ooooh that's a good idea!
I read Augustus last month and it was fantastic. Butcher's Crossing is the last Williams I have left among his three main novels. I am excited to read it.
ooooh glad to hear you enjoyed Augustus! I hope you love Butcher’s Crossing!
I've been waiting for this review ;-). How are you, stranger! I've only read Augustus--loved it! I've been curious about reading more from Williams but haven't yet. Knowing your love of Greco-Roman history, I think Augustus will be your favorite!
Gene! I’m alive 🤣 hanging in there. Hope you’re doing well! I’m really looking forward to Augustus
I still need to read Augustus; I've loved Stoner and Butcher's Crossing. He has a very elegant style that really toes the line between being too prosaic or purple. In Stoner you have this character desperate to keep his shelter from being corrupted, and here you have a character going out and losing his romantic notions, and his innocence. They are very different novels, but I do think they are touching on similar ideas from different perspectives and journeys.
There's a really interesting article by his wife out there after his passing, about what he was like and his writing. It's very interesting if you can find it.
He does have an elegant writing style - not contrived at all! Ooooh that a good point! 👀
I may see if I can hint that down!
Loved this review. Glad to have found your channel! What did you make of Francine's character? I loved the writing and how visceral it was, as you said. But I felt some of the characterization was lacking in service of the commentary he was making, if that makes sense. Now I really want to read Augustus! Stoner is a 5 star for me.
Oh and I read his novella from when he was like 20 years old and yeah, it's pretty bad haha.
Thank you!! I felt neutral about Francine. You? I can see that - the characters are pretty static in this one, except Andrews to an extent. Yes I really want to read Augustus as well and Stoner is fantastic. LOOOOL! I should read his novella just because it is so bad 🤣
I'm here for the string of existential novel reviews--I'm still looking forward to reading Stoner since when you first recommended it😛
Haha YAS 🤣🙌🏼 maybe I’m low-key having an existential crisis and projecting through my book selections 🤣
Just finished this yesterday and my god it was immaculate. Had no choice but to read it after finishing Stoner and now I’m buying Augustus. John Williams is goated
Isn’t it?! Just a stunning piece of fiction. And I agree, Williams is the GOAT!
I'd not heard of this book or even this author. The quotes you gave were lovely. I'll have this on my radar now. As always, thanks for the in depth discussion. I watch a lot of Booktube channels. There are different styles I enjoy. But this type of long form will always be my favorite.
John Williams is such a gifted writer! And thank you so much!
I read Butcher's Crossing last year. Good read. I think it's "about" more than Stoner, but I think Stoner was a technically better book. John Williams was such a great writer. :)
Yes agreed! Stone is technically the better book, but both are good in their own ways.
I can really relate to your story about your changing body and the perception of yourself. I am in my late 20's and have transformed my body through exercise and weight lifting. It's damn weird looking in the mirror and seeing what seems like someone elses body. I remember reading that part of the book and stopping to take it in thinking "damn that hits harder than it should given my relatively soft life."
Haha right?! It’s a really strange feeling because in your head you still “see” the old way you used to look and you’re trying to reconcile it with what you’re actually seeing. It’s a mind trip sometimes!
@@alanaestelle2076 Haha yeah "Mind trip" is exactly right! It can even be difficult at times to feel proud of all the hard work when it feels like it isn't exactly you. It'll get better over time though I suppose the longer we "look like this" lol. Anyway great job on the review eager to see more!
@@Simir328 haha very true! And thank you!
I've always confused bison & buffalo. I also thought... bison were extinct. Whadda ya want from me? I live in Chicago!
Hahah!!! Nope! I think at one point they were tech finally considered extinct but they have been able to bring numbers back.
Yes, Dances with Wolves was excellent, altho if I'm allowed one criticism I didn't so much like the costuming, in particular the uniforms which I thought distracted from the raw primitivism of the story. As for the over-hunting of them, frankly, I don't know what to think beyond it's history and it's unfortunate and of course we should learn from it. On the subject of identity, I can't really add anything. To be perfectly honest, I still don't know exactly who I am or what I am supposed to look like. Thank you for the review. As usual, I enjoyed it.
Oh yea that’s what I want to read the book - I know the movie did take some historical liberties. yes, agreed, it’s sad but history is history - we put things on their historical context, learn from it and keep it moving, otherwise we get so stuck on the past that we can’t move forward.
Hahaha! I think we can all relate to that.
Thank you!
It's on my list. All 3 of his books are being hyped too much right now so I'm waiting. 😂
Hyped for good reason! 🤣🙌🏼
He has four books but his debut novel gets barely any recognition. The author basically "disowned" that particular novel. 😊
On my list now. Thanks!
YAAAS! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Just finished Stoner. It was meh fantastic
it really is fantastic!
Have you read the man who cried I am and, if so, any thoughts?
Haven't heard of that book.
@@alanaestelle2076 I just realized it was by a different John (A.) Williams lol
@@etagged lol!’
Wow , this is a beautiful woman!