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emisbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i wasn't crazy about part 1 of this book. the writing style was very bland: "i did this. then i did that. then this happened." is how i can describe it. it was probably purposeful to reflect how monotonous life can get after a major death but it still made the first half quite unengaging.
i couldnt engage with mersault beyond the surface level traits of him being an outsider. what else was there to him? my favourite character was marie and she hardly had anything to her, she was just portrayed to be a very pleasant person and gave some life to the story
part 2 is far more compelling and entertaining. this book wasn't all that gripping until the last 2 chapters, which is a shame as it was getting good, then it was over. part 2 was where mersault finally felt compelling as a character and i began to emphathise and be affected by his emotions.
side note, i understand this book is a product of its time but the depiction of arab people as just "arabs" and nothing more felt a bit problematic? it felt as though camus used a whole group of people as blank slates to portray negative themes rather than actual individuals?
my 3.5 star rating mostly reflects my enjoyment of part 2, writing and the side characters. would reccommend as a quick, accessible classic. this book would have been better if the writing style and suspense used in part 2 was spread evenly across the whole story.
i couldnt engage with mersault beyond the surface level traits of him being an outsider. what else was there to him? my favourite character was marie and she hardly had anything to her, she was just portrayed to be a very pleasant person and gave some life to the story
part 2 is far more compelling and entertaining. this book wasn't all that gripping until the last 2 chapters, which is a shame as it was getting good, then it was over. part 2 was where mersault finally felt compelling as a character and i began to emphathise and be affected by his emotions.
side note, i understand this book is a product of its time but the depiction of arab people as just "arabs" and nothing more felt a bit problematic? it felt as though camus used a whole group of people as blank slates to portray negative themes rather than actual individuals?
my 3.5 star rating mostly reflects my enjoyment of part 2, writing and the side characters. would reccommend as a quick, accessible classic. this book would have been better if the writing style and suspense used in part 2 was spread evenly across the whole story.
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
words_and_cups's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
jennarebekah's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
hidelynch's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
gracehourigan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.0
this is kind of like what talking to any man in his 20s is like these days
Moderate: Murder
elvirareads's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
“And I felt something stirring up the whole room; for the first time I realized that I was guilty”
**
“ But after all, is he being accused of burying his mother or of killing a man?”
**
“ But after all, is he being accused of burying his mother or of killing a man?”
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Murder
hannahyorkey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-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
3.0
Graphic: Murder
lucius_gooseman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s good, it’s nihilism in pill form, with lots of detachment so you feel, as Meursault does, an outsider.
It’s one big, honking question mark. I’m going to think about this for days.
It’s one big, honking question mark. I’m going to think about this for days.
Minor: Animal cruelty and Murder
elys_exe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An interesting relation to philosophical absurdism, The Outsider dives into the ideas of existence and its lack of meaning, the freedom it therefore must provide.
The narrative explores grief and loss from a brutal perspective, not shying away from the main characters detached behaviour and the way he gets villainised, ostracised and misunderstood because of it. The character of Meursault is both simple, yet incredibly complex.
The writing itself is easily approachable, easy to read and flows nicely, but encourages the reader to explore deeper within the elements given, making up a story to not only read, but reread and digest anew with every line.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death of parent, and Murder
catandherbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder