Scan barcode
universal777's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
It's eerie how similar this was to experiencing the Covid pandemic.
jatin221b's review against another edition
Aa internet archive was down so i was not able to cater reading from another source
thelyingbitch's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lauramor's review against another edition
2.0
I have never read anything by Albert Camus before, and I think I made a poor decision in picking up "The Plague" before his most acclaimed work "The Stranger". I had a really hard time finishing this book, but since I paid $15 for it, I forced myself to finish it.
I didn't enjoy it at all, and its not because it has to do with epidemic and death; if anything that is what originally interested me. But all these characters lacked personality, they seemed to be the same person described over and over.
In essence this book holds a great storyline, but I feel it falls short of its purpose. Though I do believe it show with great accuracy how a town would react if a disease such as the plague spreads.
And OH MY GOD, if I read the word hitherto again I don't know what I'll do. I swear it was in this book about 50 times, and I think I'm being generous.
I didn't enjoy it at all, and its not because it has to do with epidemic and death; if anything that is what originally interested me. But all these characters lacked personality, they seemed to be the same person described over and over.
In essence this book holds a great storyline, but I feel it falls short of its purpose. Though I do believe it show with great accuracy how a town would react if a disease such as the plague spreads.
And OH MY GOD, if I read the word hitherto again I don't know what I'll do. I swear it was in this book about 50 times, and I think I'm being generous.
jbs7's review against another edition
5.0
“Without memories, without hope, they lived for the moment only. Indeed, the here and now had come to mean everything to them. For there is no denying that the plague had gradually killed off in all of us the faculty not of love only but even of friendship. Naturally enough, since love asks something of the future, and nothing was left us but a series of present moments.”
How did I reach age 70 and just now finished this amazing work of writing. I think I had always been a bit intimidated by Camus, thinking for some reason his literature might be too rich for me. Not at all. This book captures the hopes and fears in all of us and how chance can change everything in a flash.
The proximity of my reading this to the Covid outbreak is a bit eerie. Many parallels though fortunately not of as extreme a severity. Nonetheless the response of the populace, government etc early on was all too familiar from recent experience.
A must read.
How did I reach age 70 and just now finished this amazing work of writing. I think I had always been a bit intimidated by Camus, thinking for some reason his literature might be too rich for me. Not at all. This book captures the hopes and fears in all of us and how chance can change everything in a flash.
The proximity of my reading this to the Covid outbreak is a bit eerie. Many parallels though fortunately not of as extreme a severity. Nonetheless the response of the populace, government etc early on was all too familiar from recent experience.
A must read.
aabi_w's review against another edition
4.0
I was meant to log this ages ago but I didn't have my laptop :). I really liked this book, yet I think a lot of my enthusiasm to read this stemmed from the fact that I could relate to the situation of the "plague" immensely, given the circumstances of our dear COVID-19 pandemic. Camus is a legend for this; that's all I gotta say.
reallifebelle7's review against another edition
4.0
Having read this after COVID, I have a deeper understanding of the themes and emotions the characters endure.
rosenbrook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
2.0
Quite a disappointment for several reasons:
1)Camus’ writing is extraordinarily dry and difficult to get through. I ordinarily read books considered “dry”, esp. non-fiction. But like Tolkien, Camus will fill pages on one talking point without any change in perspective. He essentially says the same philosophical opinion for paragraphs and paragraphs, killing any sense of impact to his points.
2) Leading from 1, the fiction and philosophical parts of the book felt unbalanced. Other philosophically-oriented authors have managed to engage me with their ideas better, whereas it felt like Camus would switch genres between creative fiction and essay.
3) While the characters had detailed backstories and motivations, I didn’t feel like most of them were relevant/tied in well to the themes explored by the plague. So much of their development hinged on long philosophical diatribes that I never felt emotionally connected to them.
4) Camus tries to create suspense about who the narrator is by withholding his identity until the end, but this just makes the speech of the book awkward. It’s incredibly obvious from the very beginning who the narrator is. The reveal lacked any impact.
5) Lastly, despite taking place in Algeria, we never get to hear from the native Algerians’ perspective! All the PoV characters are either French or (seemingly) Spanish.
1)Camus’ writing is extraordinarily dry and difficult to get through. I ordinarily read books considered “dry”, esp. non-fiction. But like Tolkien, Camus will fill pages on one talking point without any change in perspective. He essentially says the same philosophical opinion for paragraphs and paragraphs, killing any sense of impact to his points.
2) Leading from 1, the fiction and philosophical parts of the book felt unbalanced. Other philosophically-oriented authors have managed to engage me with their ideas better, whereas it felt like Camus would switch genres between creative fiction and essay.
3) While the characters had detailed backstories and motivations, I didn’t feel like most of them were relevant/tied in well to the themes explored by the plague. So much of their development hinged on long philosophical diatribes that I never felt emotionally connected to them.
4) Camus tries to create suspense about who the narrator is by withholding his identity until the end, but this just makes the speech of the book awkward. It’s incredibly obvious from the very beginning who the narrator is. The reveal lacked any impact.
5) Lastly, despite taking place in Algeria, we never get to hear from the native Algerians’ perspective! All the PoV characters are either French or (seemingly) Spanish.