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Stoner to 160

I'm liking the book more as it goes along.  Stoner's marriage is a failure. His father dies in the field; Stoner returns for the funeral.  Stoner as a great father to Grace while Edith, his wife, struggles with her general depression.  Stoner coming into his own; getting along with students.  Then, stock market crash.  Edith's father--the successful banker--is bankrupt and has brought down many others with him. Suicide.  Edith goes to stay with her mother for months.  During those months, Stoner grows more into himself.  Becomes a better teacher; embarks on a new book--he grows into the person he is meant to be. Edith returns, changed also.  Fashionable hair, make-up, clothes. She's outgoing, smoking cigarettes. She dominates the conversation when students come to see Stoner, so much so that he stops inviting them.  Stoner realizes that this new Edith has declared war on him.

Battleground right now is Grace. Stoner has raised her, enjoys her company, and she enjoys his.  Edith hears Grace laughing in Stoner's office. She enters, says Grace mustn't disturb her father, and forces her out.  The wardrobe, selected by Stoner during Edith's indifference, is thrown out. Edith takes reluctant Grace shopping for more feminine clothes.  Edith makes Grace's desk more feminine. Edith clearly plans on stealing Grace from Stoner, all in the guise of kindness to Stoner and attention to Grace.  Remarkably good!

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