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daltonreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
low rating because it felt like a chore to read and not in a good way.
also, i was probably just personally disappointed because i hoped that by giving camus a second chance after reading 'the fall' i might suddenly fall in love with his prose but i still can't get behind long, dreary descriptions which have no energy behind them. my aphantasia might also be to blame, as i generally have an issue with books like this that spend pages describing how a scene looks or the seasons changing.
(this probably isn't a problem for most people, however, and i definitely wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it if they were interested. we all know best what we do and don't like)
maybe it was the wrong book to choose since it was his first unpublished novel, but i don't think i'll try again for a good while, or unless i'm gifted one of his books for free
also, i was probably just personally disappointed because i hoped that by giving camus a second chance after reading 'the fall' i might suddenly fall in love with his prose but i still can't get behind long, dreary descriptions which have no energy behind them. my aphantasia might also be to blame, as i generally have an issue with books like this that spend pages describing how a scene looks or the seasons changing.
(this probably isn't a problem for most people, however, and i definitely wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it if they were interested. we all know best what we do and don't like)
maybe it was the wrong book to choose since it was his first unpublished novel, but i don't think i'll try again for a good while, or unless i'm gifted one of his books for free
tomc19's review against another edition
3.0
Primo romanzo che leggo di Camus e, sebbene l'ispirazione a Dostoevskij sia indubbia, reputo che si tratta di un libro non elaborato, considerando la sua storia editoriale passato in secondo piano dall'ambizione di scrivere Lo Straniero.
cailtin's review against another edition
3.75
ok lowkey ate but idk why it took me forever to get through its so short
zxcvbnmackie's review against another edition
2.0
The story focuses on the character named Patrice Mersault, a young man who isn't happy with his life, nor the direction he thinks it is going. He is introduced to a rich bloke called Zagreus who cannot fully reap the fruits of his wealth due to the limitions from an accident that has left him wheelchair-bound.
Mersault and Zagreus become acquainted through Marthe (Mersault's girlfriend) and Zagreus explains that happiness can found in wealth and all that it has to offer. What's the logical conclusion in Mersault's mind? Yep, killing Zagerus and stealing his fortune.
Shortly after killing Zagreus, Mersault becomes ill. An almost Raskolnikov-esque series of events unfold. He travels to a few different places aiming to find somewhere to comfortably settle down and find happiness, pursuing a kind of retirement from his previous unhappy life.
This was challenging to read, however, I found it to be a philosophical tale, imbedded with a touch of irony. I kept in mind that this was Camus's first proper venture into writing a novel back in 1936. One which he never completed or thought would be published. The existence of this book is simply down to Camus's wife, Francine, who found the pages after he died and elected to have the book finalised and published. I found it to be decent for Camus's first novel attempt, but others may enjoy this story more than I did.
Mersault and Zagreus become acquainted through Marthe (Mersault's girlfriend) and Zagreus explains that happiness can found in wealth and all that it has to offer. What's the logical conclusion in Mersault's mind? Yep, killing Zagerus and stealing his fortune.
Shortly after killing Zagreus, Mersault becomes ill. An almost Raskolnikov-esque series of events unfold. He travels to a few different places aiming to find somewhere to comfortably settle down and find happiness, pursuing a kind of retirement from his previous unhappy life.
This was challenging to read, however, I found it to be a philosophical tale, imbedded with a touch of irony. I kept in mind that this was Camus's first proper venture into writing a novel back in 1936. One which he never completed or thought would be published. The existence of this book is simply down to Camus's wife, Francine, who found the pages after he died and elected to have the book finalised and published. I found it to be decent for Camus's first novel attempt, but others may enjoy this story more than I did.
beetrees's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5