There’s nothing particularly interesting about the plot or the main character. He’s just a man. He’s born, you see his life from a long distance, and then he dies.
I cannot say I admired or hated William Stoner. I don’t think you’re supposed to. Instead, I felt sad, melancholic and sometimes happy for this man. Having been able to feel that delicate mix of emotions for someone who never lived was a sobering experience. You start seeing yourself as another person who lives his life through bad and good moments. And all that makes a life. A good life.