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A review by emisbooks
The Outsider by Albert Camus
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i wasn't crazy about part 1 of this book. the writing style was very bland: "i did this. then i did that. then this happened." is how i can describe it. it was probably purposeful to reflect how monotonous life can get after a major death but it still made the first half quite unengaging.
i couldnt engage with mersault beyond the surface level traits of him being an outsider. what else was there to him? my favourite character was marie and she hardly had anything to her, she was just portrayed to be a very pleasant person and gave some life to the story
part 2 is far more compelling and entertaining. this book wasn't all that gripping until the last 2 chapters, which is a shame as it was getting good, then it was over. part 2 was where mersault finally felt compelling as a character and i began to emphathise and be affected by his emotions.
side note, i understand this book is a product of its time but the depiction of arab people as just "arabs" and nothing more felt a bit problematic? it felt as though camus used a whole group of people as blank slates to portray negative themes rather than actual individuals?
my 3.5 star rating mostly reflects my enjoyment of part 2, writing and the side characters. would reccommend as a quick, accessible classic. this book would have been better if the writing style and suspense used in part 2 was spread evenly across the whole story.
i couldnt engage with mersault beyond the surface level traits of him being an outsider. what else was there to him? my favourite character was marie and she hardly had anything to her, she was just portrayed to be a very pleasant person and gave some life to the story
part 2 is far more compelling and entertaining. this book wasn't all that gripping until the last 2 chapters, which is a shame as it was getting good, then it was over. part 2 was where mersault finally felt compelling as a character and i began to emphathise and be affected by his emotions.
side note, i understand this book is a product of its time but the depiction of arab people as just "arabs" and nothing more felt a bit problematic? it felt as though camus used a whole group of people as blank slates to portray negative themes rather than actual individuals?
my 3.5 star rating mostly reflects my enjoyment of part 2, writing and the side characters. would reccommend as a quick, accessible classic. this book would have been better if the writing style and suspense used in part 2 was spread evenly across the whole story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Murder