John Williams: Stoner, Augustus, Butcher's Crossing, etc. | Book Reviews

[@jamestmcadams]

Great job! I have a Ph.D. in Literature and have been wandering the halls for two years asking for a colleague to help me learn more about John Williams. You destroyed them all all:)

[@whatpageareyouon]

Missed you!

[@travelthroughstories]

Glad to have been missed! It's been a busy couple of months, but I'm hoping to post more regularly now.

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

It's great to see you back, I've been missing your reviews! I read Stoner a couple of years ago (when everyone else was reading it), but somehow never thought to look for Williams's other books. These sound fascinating, what interesting studies of humankind. Thanks for these reviews, I'll be ordering Butcher's Crossing and Augustus in my next NYRB haul.

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you! Stoner is great and deserves the kind of cult following that it received, and I hope that the others receive the same treatment. I'll be interested to know what you think of them!

[@sundotjolangot9937]

Like I've mentioned in other comments, Augustus is my favorite novel, bar none. I first read it in 2013 and have come back to it in parts or in its entirety ever since. I've read Stoner, and it is every bit as tender and sublime as you mentioned. Butcher's Crossing is next on my to-read list. I think what made me hold back is that, on the surface, it's a Western, which is a genre I've not had much background knowledge on, save for what others say. This was a great watch. Subscribed!

[@DarkRuins]

god i absolutely love this kind of content, where the author's entire catalogue is shown. i much prefer this to individual reviews, because it brings in other elements and a true comparative analysis of the art in its full form. well done, as always. i read Stoner many years ago and saw myself in him, and in some ways it nearly broke me. its a portrait in mediocracy and celebrating being average, while having a strange neutral but sad take on it. either way, was a memorable read.

[@travelthroughstories]

I'll need to do more videos like this then! There aren't a ton of authors whose entire catalogue I've read, but I try to do it as much as possible with authors that I really like. Great thoughts on Stoner -- completely agree that it's a "portrait of mediocracy"!

[@Richard.HistoryLit]

I didn't read Stoner as a celebration of anything, except changed values over time. And being asked to feel angry and contemptuous about something to really live that, is not my idea of celebration.

[@jonbrouwer4300]

Butcher's Crossing is my favorite novel! What a great discussion you've put together here. There's many scenes in the story that have stuck with me, but the ending is practically biblical. The industrialization of America as a fire burning its holocaust across an entire continent. Just riveting.

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you! Agreed that the ending of BC is incredible -- I can see why it's your favorite novel!

[@sswillly]

Mine too 🎉

[@yvespiderssmells9956]

Excellent reviews. I recently finished Ovid's Metamorphoses and the final book made me crave literature about Julius Caesar and Augustus. Looks like I need to pick up William's Augustus.

[@bookmark_kl]

Excellent. after watching your video I started Augutus on audible. I had read Stoner last year and enjoyed it thoroughly.

[@ReadingRunning]

Great video! I read Butcher's Crossing last year and really enjoyed it. Looking forward to reading William's other novels

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you! Glad to see other fans of BC -- his other novels are absolutely worth checking out as well.

[@derekgreen7319]

Im glad to hear someone talk about his other books. He is my favorite author but not just because of stoner.

[@Laura_574]

Wonderful video, thank you! I’ve read Stoner, Butcher’s crossing and Augustus. They are all five stars for me and I am thinking to re-read them next winter. It is difficult to pick up a favourite. I listened Stoner on audio and read the other two on paperback copy.

[@Sherlika_Gregori]

I discovered your channel yesterday. Funny that I was telling a friend last week that not much is discussed about Williams’ books on KZbin. And your content is incredibly good, so I have subscribed.

[@ameliareads589]

I love all of John Williams' books, but Augustus is my favourite. More people should read it and it deserves even more attention than Stoner gets. It is one of my favourite books of all time.

[@valpergalit]

Glad you’re back! Excellent video as always. I wasn’t too impressed by STONER when I read it, probably because it was so overhyped online. Good to know I’m not the only one who thinks its reputation has ironically become a detriment.

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you! It is VERY hyped. I do think that parts of it live up to the hype, but it's one of those books that is omnipresent in online bookish communities and has become a kind of rite of passage, which is often pretty annoying.

[@jonbrouwer4300]

@valpergalit I've not yet read Stoner, but I'd highly recommend his other novel Butcher's crossing

[@ellismanning3163]

Great stuff lad, lovely to listen to ya again

[@travelthroughstories]

Appreciate it! Thanks for your patience

[@jonrutherford6852]

I've read Butcher's Crossing twice and fully agree with your positive appraisal. Stoner seemed to me quite a bit inferior, more sentimental and even clichéd. Glad you posted this review of Williams's books. Thanks.

[@Johanna_reads]

Excellent analysis! I certainly agree that all three books are masterpieces. Although there were some similar themes, I almost wouldn't believe the same author wrote all three, particularly with the contrast between Augustus and Stoner. I haven't read all of The Man Who Wrote the Perfect Novel, but I did read the sections on Butcher's Crossing and was surprised to read how harsh the reviews were for that one. I loved the landscape imagery as well as the way Williams showcased horrific aspects of humanity through touches of absurdity and futility. Excellent points about the endings of all three books. The themes resonated so powerfully at each conclusion. Thank you, Sean!

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you, Johanna!! Definitely agree that I wouldn't have thought that Stoner and Augustus were written by the same person, and that that is one of the pleasures of reading all of his books. I'm looking forward to going back and watching your reviews in full now! Seeing your praise of Augustus and Stoner earlier this year helped me decide to go back and give his other books a read.

[@Johanna_reads]

@@travelthroughstories I'm so honored to hear that! I did a video on Stoner and Augustus. I never did a dedicated review of Butcher's Crossing, but your analysis here adds much more to that book's discussion than anything I would've said. Cheers!

[@BookishTexan]

That was great! Thank you for making this. I still haven’t read Williams. I maybe the last BookTube to do so.

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you! Haha - it sure feels like everyone on booktube has read him by this point... I think you'd really like both Butcher's Crossing and Augustus, as the way they engage with history/historiography is particularly interesting.

[@prove_it000]

I miss your content! please come back!

[@tedlewis392]

I've only read STONER but consider it simply one of the greatest books ever written. Can't wait to dive into the others!

[@travelthroughstories]

I hope you do soon! Stoner is wonderful.

[@angelacraw2907]

Sounds like a great video. I'll be back when I have read Stoner.

[@Echoesoflostlibraries]

Interesting as always Sean, never had much interest in Williams but now I feel like I at least have a decent understanding of what his authorship produced. Good to see you back after a well earned Summer break!

[@travelthroughstories]

Thanks, Echo! Williams certainly has a reputation which precedes him now, and that put me off returning to his books for a long time. I think you'd appreciate the formal and stylistic elements of Augustus though. Thanks for watching -- it's good to be back!

[@leonismint]

Loved stoner when i read it years ago, tried butchers crossing shortly after and although i finished and had no major issues with it it paled in comparison to his other work and i felt like there were other books in the same vein as butchers crossing that were, to my tastes, quite frankly better. Great video

[@humanfirst11]

please send the better recommendations our way!!

[@leonismint]

@@humanfirst11 with varying degrees of similarity between them I'd say blood meridian, warlock, the heavenly table by donald ray pollock, and the ass saw the angel by nick cave. They don't all hit the same beats but as i mentioned before to my tastes, these books are better investments of my time. Having said that maybe I should reread butchers crossing, it's been years and I never read augustus

[@travelthroughstories]

Interesting! Butcher's Crossing really did it for me. It's definitely less expansive than the other "Westerns" that do something similar, but the focus on the buffalo hunt and how that destroys any sense of innocence is, I think, pretty nicely done. Thanks for watching!

[@leonismint]

@@travelthroughstories I can definitely see that. The sections of the book that took place out in the harsh wilderness, if I remember right the snow was outright oppressive at times and it left this impression of being at the whim of the elements. Nice juxtaposition from the scenes I remembered in the bar. As I'm writing this I'm almost convincing myself to reread it haha

[@satviksinha6453]

I just finished reading Nothing but the Night, and although I love John William's articulation of the mind space of the protagonists, be it in this one or in Stoner, I think, this was a very half-baked story. I mean, the climax is gratifying but there hasn't been any strong medical definition that can be associated with his behaviour or his reactions to the triggers that bring back his memories. If I would have found John Williams through this book, I am sure I would not have continued reading him further. That is totally my view point, though.

[@marinellamaccagni6951]

I love john williams. I have to read augustus but I agree with you regarding to butcher's crossing. It's better than stoner. Awesome review by the way.

[@travelthroughstories]

Thank you!

[@jamestmcadams]

The death scene might be better then the Ivan Ilych one that everyone considers #1. And there's a scene in the middle when he has a ghostly (tons of ghost shit going on here) feeling of going into the snow that reminds me of The Magic Mountain.....it's so great! And poor Grace--the night he stays up while she drinks:)

[@jessefenix]

I’m not much of a reader but I just decided to buy Big Swiss, I can’t wait to read it.

[@travelthroughstories]

Nice! I hope you enjoy!

[@cnew4342]

Stoner recommends to his students, two novels which he says are all any student should need to read & understand. Does anyone remember the names & novelists that he recommends?

[@lock67ca]

Interestingly, Library of America didn't include Nothing But the Night in their volume, even though they could have easily released his complete works. But, if the author himself didn't think much of it and all but disowned it....

[@FastlaneSto]

I love Nothing But The Night. It's a fantastic read

[@michaelrhodes4712]

A series of subjective scraps and fragments fit together forming an historical collage....

[@JohnWilliams-xe4zi]

Thank you for this

[@AmalijaKomar]

Well, you gave me a good tip for Gormengast so I read Stoner and Augustus. Stoner is the most understandable to readers. Can guess that it's name might have some symbolic value. Augustus is not a work of hate, then opposite. That is a good thing. Feel something of a kinda fairy-tale concept.

[@abhinvra]

For me Steinbeck's prose is genius in simplicity, and wonder if Williams' might'nt be of the same kind.

[@travelthroughstories]

That's a pretty good comparison -- Steinbeck's prose is gorgeous.

[@nikkivenable73]

I think I’m the only woman reader who doesn’t care if an author can’t or chooses not to write about women at all or marginally.

[@peterolbrisch8970]

That's interesting.

[@strawberryorange3755]

I don't care either as long as the book is good.

[@nikkivenable73]

@@strawberryorange3755 exactly!

[@SupremeUnit]

Valid, if an author feels like they can't represent or write from a woman's perspective properly, I'd rather them focus on their other strengths.

[@marthacanady9441]

No you’re not . I agree with you.

[@thegenesis0]

new video woopwoop!

[@travelthroughstories]

Thanks for your patience!

[@MeitingLiu-p5j]

I thought I was the only one to consider Stoner his "worst" book!!! Border Crossings is my favourite. I also like Augustus, but as I have no knowledge of Roman Empire, I don't care for characters in it as compared to characters in his other books.

[@tituspullo294]

Having read his 3 major works, while they're all very good I do think Butcher's Crossing is clearly the weakest of the 3. Augustus is probably my favorite, but rereading Stoner only makes it better I think.

[@lavendela9403]

Thank you

[@gs547]

I find his language in Stoner boring and descriptions sparse. I had to put it down. I borrowed it from the library and still have 2 weeks to finish. I tried restarting Poisonwood Bible, which does not have the problems I encountered in Stoner, but I put that down again. I have Independence Day in my pile to read, but I opened Satanic Verses, which is really, really interesting and different. It is much more expansive and original than Stoner.

[@Richard.HistoryLit]

It appears the love of literature is a form of belief or at least involves a form of belief.

[@nataliemoon1512]

on the side. Books can be reflective and and really help us know how to be more informed. The current day there is a book that talks about how in 2018 it was only women reporters speaking up about how media had been whitewashing how one of the most popular men in the world, P0p e Francis , gave promotions to priests who silenced kids abused by priests and since 2018 is pretty recent, it seems like the idea of empathy and understanding how society neglects the protection children to protect the men in power is still very much an issue. Reading could be for enjoyment and sometimes it shows how are society really is when we think it is becoming more empathetic.

[@candide1065]

what

[@louiserichardson8305]

Promo SM ☀️