John Williams' Stoner is a quiet masterpiece following William Stoner, an English professor whose life is marked by failure, disappointment, and small moments of grace. Through Stoner's academic career, failed marriage, and love of literature, Williams creates a portrait of an ordinary life lived with dignity. The novel becomes both devastating and affirming, proving that obscure lives matter and that Williams wrote one of the great unsung American novels that found its audience decades after publication.

WHY WE PICKED IT: Because Williams wrote about an unremarkable life with such compassion and precision that it became remarkable. This rediscovered classic reminds us that not all heroes are heroic, that loving literature is enough, and that some books take decades to find their readers but are worth the wait.

DETAILS: • Author: John Williams • Publisher: New York Review of Books • Format: Paperback • Publication Date: June 20, 2006 • ISBN: 9781590171998 • Ships direct from distributor in 3–7 business days