Grace B > Recent Status Updates

At this point I’m absolutely mesmerized by this book. The writing is so spare and minimalistic, as though told by a midwestern farmer, and the things being described in this very straightforward, calm way are intense emotions, incredibly dramatic situations, cruelty, resentment, vengeance, and what it means to love, lose, and experience hurt. It is like nothing I’ve read. Brings new meaning to “modernism.”

This book is getting nuts. Digging into the politics of academia and literary formalism via an insolent, cheating grad student. I literally had no idea this was coming. What a wild ride.

Never mind, I have zero sympathy for Edith.

Chapter 7 on Stoner’s love of literature, the written word, and the English language was really glorious. This book does a beautiful job of illuminating the private ways that we are each so unique.

Edith is really stressing me out. Half the time I’m like, What’s wrong with her? And half the time I’m like, Oh, dear, I might be just like her.

I really, really like his writing.

Overwritten, unrealistic dialogue, preachy, weak literary devices (like making the people of the Cove more knowledgeable about scripture than the minister). Even with all that, I’m enjoying my re-read.

No longer sure if I’ll be able to finish this one. Not only do I find the “whimsy” annoying, but every single mention of the Catholic faith is condescending and cringeworthy.

I’ll finish it but the “whimsy” is a real turn-off for me.

This book is a riot! The pacing is perfection.

I’m feeling pretty put off by the “whimsy”.