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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
lyddie_niamh's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Incredibly thought provoking. I have never read anything like this. A gateway into absurdism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Racism
rtownend1's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Sexual violence, and Violence
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
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
lakeblackett's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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
2.5
Look, I get it. It’s a classic. Some of the writing was beautifully written and part two definitely hooked me. But… are we reading the same thing? I don’t understand the full hype. The main character was awful pretty awful person, surrounded by pretty awful people. I just didn’t find myself moved in the way everyone else seems to be after reading all these big star reviews?
3 stars however because it was an interesting read once finished and it was written in a way that made me forget it was even fiction. Maybe if I ever get around to a second reading of this as people keep shouting to do, I’ll be moved in some existential way and feel the same passion. But for now? No.
3 stars however because it was an interesting read once finished and it was written in a way that made me forget it was even fiction. Maybe if I ever get around to a second reading of this as people keep shouting to do, I’ll be moved in some existential way and feel the same passion. But for now? No.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, and Murder
ninatw's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Racism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
froon's review against another edition
3.0
the first half of this book is a slog… but the second half is spectacular! in “part one” all i could wonder about was how this book has such high praise, but once “part two” begins, camus’ wit and philosophical ponderings really shine. however, to me, that didn’t justify or lift up the previous section for me to give it a higher rating. the paratext (i.e., introduction and translator note) does a lot of the work to explain why they first half is like that, but it still didn’t resonate with me like the second half did.
overall, this was a relatively interesting book. you could even say it was, a bit, kafkaesque :)
overall, this was a relatively interesting book. you could even say it was, a bit, kafkaesque :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia