A review by klor
The Stranger by Albert Camus

dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I don't think Camus has ever predicted the nihilistic gen-z humor when he wrote this. Honestly, Mersault has made me nose exhale a bunch of time throughout the book though I get that this portrayal was to make people think and not amuse or endear them of him. 

That aside, the narrative was pretty slow at first then tied all of its ends together as the story unfolds in the second part of the story. Camus' words are descriptive and gorgeous and you feel like you're actually Mersault.
I do think it's interesting how reflective this trial seems to be of even the modern ones going on, of having spectators assume who you are and what you've done based on how they perceive your warmth or coldness in court. I love that the story ends ambiguously, freedom but also not, a thunderous applause to a story that started slow
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