Another amazing book by John Williams, who I first encountered reading his much-buzzed-about Stoner. Butcher's Crossing is an earlier book, and a bit rougher for it. It's best experienced knowing nothing about the plot—not even reading the back cover—so I won't discuss it at all, suffice to say that the final portion of the book is absolutely amazing. John Williams does introspection like no other author I've read (though I'll admit to not having read some of the touchstones of that mode, like Henry James).

Seriously, read Stoner and this book. ASAP.