The Stranger by Albert Camus Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Stranger
Book Review: A MODEL OF A PERFECT CYBERMAN
Summary: 5 Stars
Often, the content of our emotions are not as pristine pure as they may seem. Any honest attempt at self-introspection would show the degree to which our feelings are contaminated by the conventional wisdom of our age, by our desperate endeavours to be a part of it all and still leave a niche for ourselves. In this dilemma, one has to lose his chastity of emotions- there is no other way out. Camus does not make a didactic mess of his character and his protagonist heartedly demonstrates callousness without any soul-wrenching confessions to assuage his conscience. Camus must be congratulated for sending his message unambiguously. As long as there is an accompanying self-analysis and a search for a truth greater than the sum of our existence everything is okay.Book Review: A Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
To the people who gave this book 1 star, I must say that none of you have the faintest idea of the true meaning of the book. Most people claimed it was depressing and lacked emotion. Well news flash, a book isn't good just because it makes you feel happy, and the converse is true as well. The main character lacks emotion for a reason, that is the key to Camus' theme. In his final moments of life, Mersault realizes why his mother became engaged in the twilight of her years. It's because she realizes that she cannot be phased by death. It is predestined that life will come to an end for every human being, and we must learn to shed the false hope that we will live forever. Only than can we truly be free.Book Review: A Must-Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Over the course of my teenage years (and I'm sure the years of most kids my age), two books have fully redefined and reinforced the way I look on life. The first is Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye," of course, and the second is this book, Camus' "L'etranger." I dunno - some people absolutely hate it, some find it strangely funny, some just don't get it - but for some reason or another, it just hit home with me.Book Review: A Novel that Illustrates a Different Way of Thinking
Summary: 5 Stars
+++++
(This review is for the paperback "The Stranger," translated by Matthew Ward, and published by Vintage in 1989.)
This particular book has four major sections:
(1) Introduction (15 pages). It is excellent and I highly recommend reading it carefully before reading the novel itself. It explains, among other things, how the entire novel is related to existentialism. Even though not explicitly stated, this introduction also tells us about the nihilistic aspects of this novel.
Existentialism is a twentieth-century philosophical movement whose emphasis is upon personal decision to be made in a world without reason and without purpose. It also emphasizes such things as subjectivity, free will, and individuality.
This movement has spawned a form of psychotherapy called existential therapy that is concerned with the present and not with the past or future.
Nihilism in philosophy is the denial of existence of any basis for knowledge or truth. It is the general rejection of customary beliefs in morality, religion, and so on. As well, it stresses the belief that there is no meaning or purpose to existence.
(2) Chronology (4 pages). Traces in table form the author's life (among other things). The novel is by Albert Camus (1913 to 1960) who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. The novel was first published in 1942 in French and titled "The Outsider." Camus died in a car accident.
(3) Translator's Note (2 pages). The novel was translated from the French by poet and critic Matthew Ward. Ward states that the "'simplicity' of the text is merely apparent and everywhere paradoxical."
(4) The Actual Novel (115 pages). This novel is divided into two nearly equal parts of six and five chapters respectively.
Part one details the routine, mechanical nature of the main character's everyday life up to the point where he commits a murder. In part two we see how the main character is jolted out of his routine life since he now has to stand trial.
There are only four major characters in this novel:
(1) Meursault. A Frenchman who is the main character or "existentialist hero" of the novel. The entire story is told through his eyes.
(2) Maman, Meursault's mother. She is not a living character but her presence is felt throughout the novel.
(3) Raymond, Meursault's friend. He is indirectly the cause of why Meursault ends up in jail, is convicted of murder, and sentenced to death.
(4) Marie, Meursault's girlfriend. Meursault cares for her, but not in the same way that she cares for him.
There are eleven minor characters. They are all crucial to the story.
The writing in the novel is simple and laconic but powerful. The novel begins with the following: "Maman died today. Or maybe yesterday. I don't know." It ends with the following: "I...only...wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate."
The themes or topics that run throughout the novel are many. Some of these are as follows:
Death, detachment, indifference, observation, alienation, spiritual exhaustion, apathy, absurdity, callousness, immorality, unemotionalism, and ambiguity.
I should warn potential readers of this novel that those unfamiliar with and that do not understand the concepts of existentialism and nihilism may respond with anger towards this novel. All the one and two star reviews below this review illustrate this. What this means is that Camus did a good job in writing his novel.
What I did was take a word or a phrase from the first five, one and two star reviews below this one. These words describe existentialism and/or nihilism and express anger. They are as follows:
(1) "[B]ook...sucks" (this reviewer is angry).
(2) "[M]onotonous" book since it elaborates on the routine nature of Meursault's life.
(3) "[A]ll Meursault reacts to are the most basic wants...food, sex, warmth, sleep."
(4) "Meursault was an emotionless, hopeless, and disgusting man."
(5) "I am...angry that I had to read this crap."
In conclusion, this is an exceptional book that describes a different type of thinking. Don't miss this unique story!!
+++++
Book Review: A Sad, Lonesome Stranger
Summary: 4 Stars
Camus' novel 'The Stranger' certainly makes one ponder the meaning of life. The main character is a lost, hopeless, and amoral individul who trudges through life day by day. In the end, he discovers his life has no real meaning. Like Sisyphus condemned to endlessly roll a huge boulder to the top of a hill--only to have it roll down again, the protagonist goes through his daily routine, even though he realizes his actions will lead him to no end or conclusion. The frightening aspect of this tale is that while this book was written in 1942, one could argue that there are many of these individuals in today's society. Many more than even the existentialist Camus could have imagined.