The Stranger by Albert Camus Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Stranger
Book Review: A book of self-absorption
Summary: 4 Stars
I personally view this book as a character study of an extremely self-absorbed individual. It's fascinating how differently the main character sees events from that of other people as a result of his extreme propensity to look inward. Overall, I get the impression that Camus intended to warn readers of the dangers of worshipping individualism by showing an extreme form of it.Book Review: A book to make one reflect on our ability to know others.
Summary: 4 Stars
I've taught this book on numerous occasions over the years. In the 60's and early seventies, Meursult had a lot of sympathizers. More recently, students have begun to trash him. I still am intrigued by this book, but have begun to wonder about the relevance of much commentary on it. For instance, we might ask whether a character like Meurault, who is apparently writing this version of his life after his arrest, isn't so crafting it to make a sort of defense of his actions. If he is, he's certainly inept at it. Why doesn't he simply claim self defense? Why, doesn't he tell us everything that's going on at that trial?
Well, we might say, it really doesn't matter; what REALLY matters is that Meursault is condemned to die not for the murder of an Arab, but for being who he is imagined to be. How, finally, can anyone claim to know anything about another character when we see how ludicrous the court's image of M is? (Both prosecutor and defense attorney may! have goofy images of M. And how dare that priest plead that there is a transcendant reality that must be acknowledged, when these dunces can't even figure out this poor little guy whom they "see" right before their eyes?
Readers migfht be interested in reading Roger Shattuck's treatment of the book in FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE. It does force you to reevaluate it.
Camus' preface to the American edition, which appears in his Lyrical Essays, is also worth a read.
Book Review: A brilliant and enlightening work.l
Summary: 5 Stars
The "Stranger" by Albert Camus is the greatest work of its' time, which rivals the works of nearly all 20th century writers (of whom I have read, of course, which is admittedly not much after only 2 years of high school). It is great in terms of, both its' ideology and writting mechanics. I bought my copy of the novel in the school book store several months ago, after a recomandation by a good friend. Soon after I took a trip to Los Angeles. While on my trip I read the novel and had a revelation. I realized then, how disconnected I was from those around me. I could draw far too many comparasions between my relationships and those of the personea. Furthermore, the novel(along with the philosophical essays of Sartre and Marcel) helped develop my intrest in existentialism and romanticism. Truly, a must read.Book Review: A dangerous book!
Summary: 5 Stars
If we set the reference point of judging books on the effect that they have on the readers life then this book is the book of all books.I read this book when I was 20 years old as a freshman. I was still searching for the meaning of life (still do) , my place in the world and also a light at the end of the tunel that I could follow. And man, what a blast..... It took me half a year to overcome it. I lost interest in life, I became so passive and numb that nothing really mattered. I almost dropped out of school. Camus book reveiled to me that there are really no answers out there, no purpose , no treatment and for that reason NO ACTION should be taken.
All of our agonies and strugles for the truth of our existence that we desperetaly radiate to our universe just simply bounce back. There is noone out there to answer.And for that reason our existence itself has no meaning. It is absurd (paralogos in Greek) !
I guess I took every word of the book literally. Now, after many years from the first reading I have come to terms with the absurdity of life, I know that there is nothing that I can do, but at least I will try to live a good life whatever that means. The book in retrospect made me a little bit wiser but I cant afford to follow it. It is self destructing.
So be careful with this book, it could be a time bomb. That is the magnitude of its brilliance. A masterpiece.
Book Review: A depressing but shockingly accurate glimpse of society
Summary: 5 Stars
The Stranger was an extremely thought provoking book, and it applies to every society at any time, thus is as powerful today in America as it was in France 50 years ago. Basically the book is about a man in Algiers who is killed by his society for his social abnormalities. He commited murder, but was executed for not crying at his mother's funeral. To me this book was a painful reflection of the mold that societies try to force people into, and the way the society views people who don't fit the mold. I felt this book was extremely powerful because of how it shows the cruelty that society can inflict to people who don't fit in.