Need a New Book to Compare to The Stranger

[aXis]

Hi,
I posted before about needing a world literature novel to compare to The Stranger by Albert Camus, and I got The Metamorphosis, but it seems The Metamorphosis is part of the curriculum so I cannot do it for my independent study project. Right now, the only book I can think of is Crime and Punishment. Is this a good choice, to compare the theme of alienation in each novel? If there are not many other books that can compare to The Stranger, does anyone else know some other great books (2) that I could compare (of course World Literature and novels that have been originally translated from another language into English?) I can still change my proposal, but I need to know early. Thanks a lot for all your help, you guys have been a great help so far :)!

Regards,
aXis

[Mark F.]

I know it's not world literature but Camus always said James M. Cain was a big inspiration on his writing style. Hope that helps you somehow.

[Maida]

Well, I'm going to have to do a comparison between two world literature novels in the near future myself, and I was thinking of doing The Stranger, and A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov. You might be able to compare the main characters somehow...I'm sorry I can't be of any more help! Best of luck!

[MikeK]

Crime And Punishment would be good, as you mentioned, but even better might be another book by Dostoevsky. You may want to try Dostoevsky's "Notes From Underground". Very like "The Stranger", I think.

[aXis]

Hi,
Thanks for all your replies. Unfortunately, I have to compare the themes in the two novels, and I am taking a look at Notes From Underground. I checked out SparkNotes, and none of the themes of the two books match. If you have an idea of what themes I would compare, that are not listed there, can you please let me know as I have to hand in a proposal before I actually start reading. I don't want to get halfway in the book and still have no idea what I am going to compare :P. Any more advice and suggestions are welcome and appreciated :)!

Regards,
aXis

[Mark F.]

Alienation. Much more present in Notes From The Underground than in Crime and Punishment.

[aXis]

Hi,
Are you sure, how come it's not listed in SparkNotes :S? So, if I do Notes From The Underground, I'd be easily able to compare it to The Stranger, easier than Crime and Punishment? Can anyone directly point out which two themes I would compare (sort of like a thesis), so I can hand in my proposal?

Regards,
aXis

[Mark F.]

I read The Stranger some five or six years ago and Notes From The Underground just last year so it's very difficult for me to say if they're comparable. You won't be losing your time by reading Notes... anyway.

[aXis]

Hi,
Yes, by the reviews I've read, it seems like a good book, but still I need to know if its comparable to The Stranger and if it is, what themes can I compare? Unfortunately, it's really busy for me, and I don't have time to read extra stuff, already in the middle of reading 4 novels, and need this one so I can do my ISP. If no one knows any good book that I can compare to "The Stranger", can anyone recommend any other group of novels that I could compare (World Literature and translated to English?)? Thanks, all help is appreciated :)!

Regards,
aXis

[bazarov]

Alienation. Much more present in Notes From The Underground than in Crime and Punishment.

I agree, and Notes are aslo short:) , but I've read it long ago.

[MikeK]

Alienation, as others have mentioned above, would be a good place to start. That can actually be worked into two different themes; the main characters' alienation from God and alienation from their fellow men.

Kind of in the same vein as what I mentioned above, you can write about love; how the Underground Man and Mersault love others and react to the love of others.

You might even think about the themes of active vs. passive living, or passion.

Off of the top of my head, those are a few themes that you can definitely find enough to write about from these two books.

[MikeK]

I didn't see this come up after I posted it last time. I don't know if my computer's messing up, so sorry if this is posted twice.


Alienation, as others have mentioned above, would be a good place to start. That can actually be worked into two different themes; the main characters' alienation from God and alienation from their fellow men.

Kind of in the same vein as what I mentioned above, you can write about love; how the Underground Man and Mersault love others and react to the love of others.

You might even think about the themes of active vs. passive living, or passion.

Off of the top of my head, those are a few themes that you can definitely find enough to write about from these two books.

[aXis]

Hi,
Thanks for your help, so can one person clearly describe what I would be comparing in these two novels (if it's not too much trouble). I really appreciate all your help, I really need to hand in my proposal so I can start reading the novels, the comparative is due on December 11, which may seem far away, but really isn't. If someone can describe briefly the similar themes in the novel (and the contrasts that signify that theme or lead to that theme), I could choose Notes from Underground and really go with that, as its shorter and would consume less time. Thanks for all your help, and sorry if I bothered you guys too much.

Regards,
aXis

[aXis]

Guess I posted the last post late, thanks a lot for your help MikeK, I guess I will hand in my proposal, and if I need any help, I will look to you guys, but if the themes are easily comparable, I am sure I will pick it up :). Thanks for all your help guys (but I still might read Crime and Punishment) when I get more time :)