Reviews tagging 'Xenophobia'

El extranjero by José Ángel Valente, Albert Camus

22 reviews

toffishay's review against another edition

dark funny reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The characters are complicated and often not all that likable, but it is valuable to read this one in the context of other works by Camus. The novel is all about the absurdity of this Mersault's life and life in general. It all means nothing and all we have is our own time. I struggle to place it, but it gave me a similar sense as reading O Caledonia by Elspeth Barker and Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It could be something about the downtrodden main characters who are actors in their own stories, but fail to see the whole pictures and so are swept away, as we often are.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, Violence, and Blood

Minor: Sexual content and Xenophobia

cookie_khumalo's review against another edition

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Murder

Moderate: Xenophobia

hausofrhetorika's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No

Que a la mayoría de la gente le pase de noche el crimen de odio y la misoginia para admirarle la escritura a este vato... la verdad es que no me sorprende.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia, Racism, Hate crime, and Islamophobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, and Physical abuse

andreamichelle's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

martinher's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, Xenophobia, and Gun violence

flying_saucers's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Xenophobia

m4rtt4's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

One of the best unreliable narrators I've ever read! It gives you so much to think about when the writing is very objective and emotionless yet everything is still warped by Mr. Mersault's own perspective. There are so many layers that I couldn't possibly fathom everything despite this being my second time reading the book, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. Marie was my favourite character, I wouldn't mind reading a whole book from her perspective.

extra .25 stars for one of the most iconic opening lines ever :)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Death, and Confinement

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Colonisation and Sexual content

skudiklier's review against another edition

dark reflective tense 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? Yes

4.75

It took me about half the book to really get into it, but I ended up liking it. He's extremely autistic and relatable in some ways, though I also didn't find him very likable, but of course that's not the point. I liked where the book ended and the conclusion it came to, even if it was a frustrating and depressing read in many ways. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racism, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Sexual content

nyam's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Misogyny

Moderate: Xenophobia and Animal cruelty

mizuki347's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Xenophobia, Violence, Murder, and Hate crime