The Stranger, a novel by Albert Camus, is a philosophical take on the key ideas of twentieth century, including absurdism, determinism, nihilism, naturalism, and stoicism. All these -isms may get a little confusing, but you will understand the novel without understanding a word about philosophy. Divided into two parts, the novel explores the before and after parts of the life of the protagonist, Meursault. The reader will immediately see the unconventionality of the novel when he/she sees Meursault's noncommittal reaction to his mother's death. He is aware of the loss of a loved one, but not actually affected by it, almost bored by the proceedings of the funeral just smoking and sitting the entire time. However, everybody around him seems to enjoy his company, especially his girlfriend, Marie, who is set on a marriage few days into their romance. Meursault's life and ultimate downfall can be credited to his friend Raymond Sintes, so intent on taking revenge on his own Moorish girlfriend that he hurts everyone in his life.There are elements dispersed in the novel for it to be a great movie such as courtroom proceedings, a dismal heated surrounding, subtle violence, and even murder. But there is a small disadvantage to reading this novel: the incredibly slow pace. Because the main character Meursault is so emotionless, it is hard to find anything pleasant while reading. The good elements are spread out far apart, such that the reader is left with a wistful want of an interesting event to occur. Provided enough patience and respect, you can enjoy this novel but the mature context can throw you off.
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-Reviewed by S.M., grade 12.
3 comments:
Maman died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know. In those seven words (or eleven, in the original French) Camus instantly defines his character and his story. Meursault, an emotionally detached, apathetic character, drifts through his life aimlessly. Even at his mother's funeral, he smokes and drinks coffee in front of her coffin. During the narrative, Meursault declines to comment on his feelings and reactions and instead talks about what's happening all around him. He doesn't like the sun while he's walking with his mother's coffin. Bad things happen in the sun. One of the only emotions he ever experiences is being bothered by the sun and the heat.
What can I say about Camus' masterpiece that hasn't been said already? It's a striking storytelling style; flat, emotionless, and leaving the reader completely in the dark as to why our protagonist is doing most of what he does. It's almost as if the person whose head we're inhabiting for the duration of the novel is a complete stranger to us. If you really want a book that makes you feel alone in the world, The Stranger is perfect for you. And after reading it in both languages, the feeling is strong enough to remain constant. And if you're not looking for a dark, strange story, then read it anyway. It's an amazing experience.
Reviewed by Adrian G., Grade 12
Grandview Library
The Stranger book is written by Albert Camus who was a philosopher. This book is about life’s absurdity that nothing matters in life. Meursault is living alone, and his mother is alone in home in another city. She died, and Meursault had not reaction to her death. He was saying that everyone will die one day. He felt empty toward everything in the world. He was close to Marie Cardona. He killed a man when they went to the beach because the sun was bothering him. He got arrested, and the only person who visited him was Marie. He was indifferent towards his life, and it did not matter to him what his future will be.
I enjoyed reading this book because it showed a different viewpoint towards the world. People who like philosophical thinking may be interested in reading this book. This book is written in first person. Many characters are introduced throughout the book with different perspectives. Some of the characters; such as, Thomas Perez, had reaction to the events taking place around them, and some of the characters were absolutely indifferent towards everything. I did not agree with all the claims made in the book because in my opinion, everything is not absurd, and when people set goals, they make their lives meaningful. The ending of the book was interesting, and it involved irony.
Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 12
Grandview Library
The Stranger by Albert Camus is one of the most popular philosophical novels of all time, following the story of a man named Meursault, a French-Algerian man living in Algiers. The story begins at Meursault's mother's funeral, where Meursault seems to have an apathetic attitude, not really caring at all that his mother has died. This unconcerned attitude presents itself to be Meursault's tragic flaw, as it is his indifference that leads to his downfall. Read to find out what happens!
Because of the coronavirus, I've been doing nothing but reading so I decided to revisit one of my favorites, The Stranger, the novel that captured my heart from the very first time I read it. I truly believe that Camus is a literary and philosophical genius and this is his must-read work. If you are a fan of French literature, you will automatically enjoy this, and if you love stories with twists and turns and an ending you wouldn't expect, this is the book for you. So much love for this book and I highly recommend this to all readers.
Reviewed by M.S., Grade 11
Montrose Library
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