The Stranger by Albert Camus Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Stranger
Book Review: "And the trigger gave way...."
Summary: 5 Stars
Albert Camus' The Stranger is one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. This book is a stark, unflintching look at modern man living in an absurd world. The man character is the type of person Wilde had quoted: "Man knows the price of everything these days and the value of nothing." This is true for Mersault, our anti-hero who kills an arab for reasons that are not very clear. It is a book the questions our "morality", and realizes that it is only an abstraction. When the hero discovers the world is truly absurd, he lets whatever fate overcomes him in the sense of sweet surrender. A great novel, a must read for everyone!!!!Book Review: "I hope the dogs don't bark tonight"
Summary: 5 Stars
Camus' work is altogether phenomenal, but this book did something extra for me. The Cure even made a song about it. Meursault is one of the most intruiging characters i've ever come in contact with. The death of his mother, the love that his "girlfriend" Marie showed towards him, and his own crime never moved Meursault to express or acknowledge any remorse or loving. Camus wrote this in first person, so it was fabulous to be able to 'read through the eyes of this so-called madman. Meursault was persecuted for being misundertood and unremourseful, displaying the only "human" qualities he knew of/cared to express. Camus did a stunning, everlasting job with this character and novel.Book Review: "L'étranger", quite good as achool-reading!
Summary: 4 Stars
Meursault, a frenchman living in Algeria (poor guy) lives a normal life. His mother died (does it mather?), he started dating Marie (don't speak of love) and he helped his "friend" Raymond when some Arabs wanted to attack him. He is a complete stranger to others, you don't know what he feels. All you know: he hates hot and sunny places and doesn't understand what he can't smell, touch or eat. Then he kills and is sent to prison. There he finally understands lifes meaning, the absurdity, what it all ment. Is it too late?I was agreably surprised when I read this book. Usually, what we read in French Litterature is horrible (like Zola, Maupassant, ...) but this was quite nice, perhaps a little boring at times. The story is short and you read it very fast. The characters are quite sympatic, even if Meursault is a little strange.
It's really easy to analyse after you've understood how it works. I got the best marks when I analysed it at school. It's funny to read it after you've analysed it, because the story is much more deeper. It's a fine base for a philosophical debate on the absurdity of life and Camus has got some interessing ideas.
You should really read it in French like I did, it's a lot better and the traslation is sometimes weird.
If you're a teacher and want your class to read something more enjoyable than Zola, choose this book. Some can enjoy it (not me).
Book Review: "Poetry is that which gets lost in translation."
Summary: 3 Stars
My mediocre rating is for the translation - not for the novel (which is magnificent). Matthew Ward's humdrum translation makes me prize all the more the original, Stuart Gilbert, translation, which I grew up with and which became so indistinguishable from Camus' own voice. Ward is an American, which is somehow an explanation for his nondescript prose. Robert Frost, who penned the title of this review, was also an American, capable nonetheless of writing slendidly and evocatively. I know that Camus tried to flatten out his prose, but I cannot believe it's as flat as Ward's.Book Review: "The Stranger"
Summary: 5 Stars
When I initially read this book, I was entirely confused and a bit disturbed at what I had just read. As I began to research the book and analyze the book, I began to understand it. The concepts are quite bizarre... but in the end pleasantly intriguing. After first reading the book, I really didn't understand Meursault's character and how all the events enhance the reader's understanding of his character. This book was read for a paper and my teacher told me that Meursault was dynamic. However, I didn't fully understand how until later. During the beginning of the story, Meursault takes a passive role in his life. The events in his life don't seem to be happening to him.... just to someone else or something. At some point during the trial, Meursault discovers that the events are truely happening to him. At this point, he decides to take an active role in his life. He chooses not to sit on the sidelines any longer. He also want to make useful all the time he has left. He doesn't want to waste a moment worrying about God or something else (like when he spent the whole day watching the people from his window). He wants to pack as much into the time he has left and forget about all the past problems he's had. He relates to Maman in that he wants to start over, with no problems or expectations. His life to come will be much more productive than the life he lead earlier. In most reviews of this book, this book has almost been an example of what not to do. I, however, have found comfort in this book in that I think it is an example of what TO do. You should live life as if you are not going to be here tomorrow because you never know what's coming next. You never know when that sun's going to shine just right!