I read this and I'll be curious what your take is when you finish reading it.
I finished the book. I don't know what I can tell you...
I enjoyed the sober prose style, and the fact that what did happen tended to do so quietly, under the surface (much like life I suppose).
I don't know what I thought of Stoner himself. Part of me thought him a fool for not leaving his wife when they were so obviously unsuited, and part of me thought he could have been a bit more involved with his daughter. That said, I admired his stoicism, and I'm sure any person, on reviewing one's life, would find things they would have done differently.
So, yes, a very human tale I suppose. Sorry that's all I have, I'm no literary critic (grade U at English Lit A Level, 1987).
I think that you and I had pretty much the same take on it. Here's my short Goodreads review:
"What do you with a quiet, elegant, starkly written book that you admire for its style but little else, and you know you'll never read again? Donate it to the local library for the next book sale. "