A review by brynnaalterio
The Plague by Albert Camus

dark reflective sad slow-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? No

3.0

Overall, the book is very slow paced and feels as if it is dragged on and on with the in depth descriptions and slow moving plot. The book felt very slow at the beginning, then sped up when they named what was happening the plague, but then slow once again when in isolation. But while this was very difficult to keep reading because of this, in hindsight, it makes sense why the book was paced like this. Just like the pandemic that rampaged through Oran, it came on very quickly and then lingered, slowly dragging out. By pacing the story this way, Camus showcases the drawnoutness of the plague and how once it was over, everyone will forget about it and go back to their pre-plague lives. Camus also does an amazing job world building and creating so many characters with in depth descriptions. From the main character Rieux to even the cat spitting man who caught Tarrou's interest. This book also reminded me about the current situation of the world with COVID-19. Camus described how the people only began longing for those they love who they haven't seen in a while due to being forced into isolation. That's the same with what's happening with the world now. There are many connections one can make to this book. Overall, while slow, it was a good read if you can push through it. 
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