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triciad's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If it weren't so short, I would have DNF'd after the first 30 pages. Didn't become remotely interesting until halfway through. I know it's a classic, but it's not for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Death of parent, and Murder
ashleymae_'s review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
An introductory text into absurdism and nihilism
It’s a classic absurdist and nihilist text, and it does not impress me the in the way that Waiting for Godot did in high school. Obviously the plot of L’étranger is more plausible. While the focus is on the protagonist’s morally devoid character, the happenings of the novel occur purely as a result of circumstances. The lack of character development may be explained by the perspective of Meursault who exhibits sociopathic behaviours. His thinking processes consider people as facts, they are relevant to him when they are in his vicinity, when they are absent they almost vanish from his conscience. Marie is beautiful, people conduct their business on the street, and the sun is oppressively hot. He lives hedonistically but accepts all which comes his way.
What interested me was the flaws of human justice processes that were raised, whereby the prosecutor drew a string of coincidental events into a flawless tapestry condemning Meursault to the guillotine. The idea that the defence lawyer and the prosecutor were into his soul rather than coming to a verdict purely on the basis of facts casts light on the complexities of human instinct and feeling that are often in direct opposition to logic and plain facts.
The murder scene was also interesting as the sensory overload Meursault experiences was reason enough to murder a stranger who he was not in direct conflict with, in fact the murdered man defended his sister from Raymond’s abuse. None of these details mattered in Meursault’s mind.
Overall, this English translation is sharp, effective and a solid introductory text into absurdist and nihilist philosophy. For this reason I imagine it is a required reading for Year 11 and 12 Extension English. As a French speaker, I wish to read the original French version because I believe it will be more enjoyable to me. I prefer the poetics of the French language and the feeling of proximity to the author through their native language.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, and Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder
giulidrago's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.0
"Dunque lei non ha alcuna speranza e vive con l'idea di morire del tutto?"
Ero convinta che sarei rimasta folgorata da questa lettura. Ritrovarmi così distaccata nei confronti di essa, così poco impressionata nei confronti del suo personaggio principale è al tempo stesso giustizia poetica e un crudele scherzo del destino, e mi amareggia alquanto.
Riconosco senza remore tutti i suoi pregi: scorre veloce, la prosa asciutta è gradevole, la storia nella teoria è interessante e offre notevoli spunti di riflessione, la sua brevità lo rende un libro piacevole da divorare in un pomeriggio. Non riesco ad articolare di preciso cosa non mi abbia convinto, ma sicuramente non riesco a liberarmi dalla sensazione di vacuità che mi ha trasmesso, e spero che una rilettura futura mi aiuti a comprendere meglio il libro nel suo complesso.
Ho vissuto l'apatia di Mersault come una malattia contagiosa, e nonostante un minuscolo grumo onnipresente di pietà e disgusto nei suoi confronti, ha predominato l'indifferenza verso l'uomo che, processato per omicidio, non solo non prova alcun rimorso verso di esso ma passa buona parte del tempo a cercare di convincere il lettore che lo stanno condannando solo perchè non ha pianto al funerale della madre.
Probabilmente il problema sono io.
Ero convinta che sarei rimasta folgorata da questa lettura. Ritrovarmi così distaccata nei confronti di essa, così poco impressionata nei confronti del suo personaggio principale è al tempo stesso giustizia poetica e un crudele scherzo del destino, e mi amareggia alquanto.
Riconosco senza remore tutti i suoi pregi: scorre veloce, la prosa asciutta è gradevole, la storia nella teoria è interessante e offre notevoli spunti di riflessione, la sua brevità lo rende un libro piacevole da divorare in un pomeriggio. Non riesco ad articolare di preciso cosa non mi abbia convinto, ma sicuramente non riesco a liberarmi dalla sensazione di vacuità che mi ha trasmesso, e spero che una rilettura futura mi aiuti a comprendere meglio il libro nel suo complesso.
Ho vissuto l'apatia di Mersault come una malattia contagiosa, e nonostante un minuscolo grumo onnipresente di pietà e disgusto nei suoi confronti, ha predominato l'indifferenza verso l'uomo che, processato per omicidio, non solo non prova alcun rimorso verso di esso ma passa buona parte del tempo a cercare di convincere il lettore che lo stanno condannando solo perchè non ha pianto al funerale della madre.
Probabilmente il problema sono io.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Racism, Murder, and Colonisation
aminkab's review against another edition
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
At first, it started boring and a little monotonous, but as I continued, the story gradually became interesting. I was even curious about what was going to happen to the characters as the plot developed. But the ending was a little upsetting and I still couldn't believe that he was going to die (I still hoped that he would get at least a less severe punishment)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder
hjb_128's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, and Injury/Injury detail
sofieishere's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Vomit
home_again's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The story begins fairly mundanely. You follow the main character Meursault through some of life's more important events, only to find him barely interested in these things. I found myself wondering if he was a mostly harmless psychopath or . . . something?
Because you are viewing events from Meursault's perspective, you have a tendency to be sympathetic to him. You know it really was the sun in his eyes that caused the problem. And yet, you also know that from the outside, he looks like a monster.
While I'm sure this book isn't for everyone, I found it interesting to read and think about the psychological aspects of the main character and society at large.
Because you are viewing events from Meursault's perspective, you have a tendency to be sympathetic to him. You know it really was the sun in his eyes that caused the problem. And yet, you also know that from the outside, he looks like a monster.
While I'm sure this book isn't for everyone, I found it interesting to read and think about the psychological aspects of the main character and society at large.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
aukohler'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Physical abuse and Murder
chloe_jade's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It greatly concerns me how many people I’ve witnessed say they relate heavily to Meursault when in actuality they are incredibly introspective, deep-feeling, anxious and empathetic souls. Meursault’s complete lack of remorse and detachment to grief, love, connection and empathy appeared to point to psychopathy more than anything else.
I say this because the alienation was from a perpetual state of apathetic indifference to absolutely everything, not a temporary state of mind in which many of us have experienced. It’s not that he merely objects societal norms, he has no emotional access to any sort of morals or purpose. It’s a glass wall between his psyche and the world that cannot be shattered.
Meursault is incapable at lying to anyone, including himself. Even when his life is on the line, everything is matter-of-fact and insignificant.
I thoroughly enjoyed the prose on the sensory overload. I was mystified as to how Marie remained attached and loyal to such an empty vessel of a man - there was no backstory on her but this was very apt since the narrator was Meursault himself and well… it doesn’t make any difference to him.
Absolutely adored the final few pages. The interpretations could be debated to no end I’m sure, it’s simpler to pair up with Camus’ essays on absurdism. If you don’t enjoy thinking philosophically, the entire novella will likely bore you to death.
I say this because the alienation was from a perpetual state of apathetic indifference to absolutely everything, not a temporary state of mind in which many of us have experienced. It’s not that he merely objects societal norms, he has no emotional access to any sort of morals or purpose. It’s a glass wall between his psyche and the world that cannot be shattered.
Meursault is incapable at lying to anyone, including himself. Even when his life is on the line, everything is matter-of-fact and insignificant.
I thoroughly enjoyed the prose on the sensory overload. I was mystified as to how Marie remained attached and loyal to such an empty vessel of a man - there was no backstory on her but this was very apt since the narrator was Meursault himself and well… it doesn’t make any difference to him.
Absolutely adored the final few pages. The interpretations could be debated to no end I’m sure, it’s simpler to pair up with Camus’ essays on absurdism. If you don’t enjoy thinking philosophically, the entire novella will likely bore you to death.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Medical content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
kubs's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Bro developed his frontal lobe pretty quick.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Schizophrenia/Psychosis