Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Ο ξένος by Albert Camus

12 reviews

tirosen's review against another edition

challenging dark fast-paced

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

4.75

NOTE: It's recommended to read The Myth of Sisyphus before diving into this book. Though it may appear as a straightforward book - a man kills another man - towards the end all the philosophical baggage may overwhelm you, as it did for me. If you already have a strong understanding of Absurdism, then go ahead and dive into this dark yet profound world Camus has created.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Murder

Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

happyknitter2020's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Such a tragic little book. If only they had understand that he had autism he could have been supported. 

An isolated man's life...his mother dies, a girl wants to marry him within days, his neighbour abusing his dog, his friend beung abusive, violent and exploiting women & them the pressure of it all building in his head, his lack of understanding & the intens  sun, the heat...led him to shoot a gun & kill a man he had never met before on a beach. 

No wonder he didn't understand why...

Some of the sentences in the following chapters are stunning. The way his mind manages being in Prison, the Court proceedings & the sentence passed...utterly tragic, will stay with me for a long time.

Glad I have found Camus, will read more of his books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

litoreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, and Toxic friendship

_bailey_reads_'s review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

1.0

This was truly the worst book I’ve ever read. Not only was the main character completely insufferable but all the other characters were equally as awful. The idea of the main character being an “ordinary man” is disturbing. Nothing about him is ordinary in my book. The only thing I liked about the book was it’s overall creepy and dark tone. Otherwise I thought it was pointless, there is no development or growth. It was dull and borderline unreadable. 

Maybe I just completely missed the mark but I’m 99.9% certain the main character is a psychopath and truly has no emotions. He has no redeeming qualities. Allowing Raymond to do what he did is literally exhibit A. 
Also Marie is a complete idiot.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, and Toxic friendship

freckled_frog_boi's review against another edition

asshole till death rip

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

kers_tin's review against another edition

dark reflective sad 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? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, and Classism

melchior's review against another edition

funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Blood, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

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, Gun violence, Death of parent, and Murder

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

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

_bxllxe_'s review against another edition

dark reflective fast-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? It's complicated

4.0

An excellent intro to Absurdism. Looking forward to reading The Plague!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, and Murder

Minor: Death of parent and Toxic friendship

softgirlari's review against another edition

dark 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail