Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Stranger by Albert Camus

21 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

hannajor's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

4.5

Camus is an absurdist. This is a short-form introduction (especially the last few chapters) into the meaningless and meaningfulness of life. It may be something that I read again, at a later point in my own life. The writing is good, and touches on emotional detachment well, while still being engaging. It's a classic for a reason, and it presents rather lofty philosophical ideas in a very digestible and interesting way. I would recommend this book. It doesn't take long to read and is thought provoking. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Sexual content

sagelikesscats's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

4.0

Maybe a lot of people find the protagonist insufferable, but I didn’t really mind that he was nihilistic, maybe we that he didn’t care that the things he did had a negative affect on others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, and Confinement

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Sexual content

Minor: Racism

fernash's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Animal cruelty

Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Infidelity

Minor: Sexual content

books_because_why_not's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

This book was so-so for me. I thought the main character was very hard to understand the reasoning behind their actions or to even just relate to them. I did thing that the book had good pacing and was not a overbearingly long read. I think I just don't understand absurdism to like this book that much. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, and Death

Minor: Death of parent

fresh_guy's review against another edition

dark funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Sexual content

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

jesi_nickname's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

2.0

We’ll written but very, very bleak.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Animal cruelty

tungstenmouse's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-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

4.0

 During part 1, I wondered why people see this book as so important. Part 2 answered that question and really made me think. I was prepared to give this 3 stars or less but the second half as well as the perspectives from the translator and the scholars in notes at the end of the book really helped bring up my rating. This was definitely worth the listen for the ideas it presents.

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Vomit, Sexism, Racism, Police brutality, Infidelity, 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