the way you described the story has made it sound really appealing. it has increased my curiosity. would definitely read this new book.
* A bookworm's nightmare!
** Take a nap instead!
*** Finished but no reason to skip meals.
**** Don't forget to unplug the phone for this one!
***** A bookworm's bibliophilic dream!
the way you described the story has made it sound really appealing. it has increased my curiosity. would definitely read this new book.
I read this twice in a row because it baffled me. I couldn't understand what Camus was trying to say. I still don't, there's so many conflicting interpretations! It's a brain teaser.
We can never know what to want, because living only one life we can neither compare it with our previous lives, nor perfect it in our lives to come'
Milan Kundera,The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Parce que c'est toi, parce que c'est moi
It is very confusing, yes. Not a lot of fun if you don't have an understanding of philosophy.
I read this book years ago and, despite all the philosophising, the plain fact is that the main protagonist killed a man and paid the penalty.
I really couldn't see why Camus seemed to be arguing a case for the killer.
I didn't think at the time that it was a very interesting book: it seemed to me to be rather vacuous and to some degree pointless. We all have to conform to a set of values, even if philosophers make a living out of questioning them;the alternative is anarchy. It certainly didn't come anywhere near The Plague; where the philosophy was at least carried by a well-written story.
i read this novel some time back and i feel the author, Albert Camus is too good. the story and the narrative is so engrossing that even after i finished reading it, the apathy the young man received from the society in the story was there in my mind for several days! really a touching story.
This was a great read. Simple, to the point, yet very insightful. I too could relate to him, which probably explains why I liked it so much. I've just given a copy of to my sister, a week ago or so, I just had to.
Love the irony in how he's ultimately tried for the life he leads and the values he embraces and not really for his actions. Could Larry David and Seinfeld have gotten some inspiration from it for the series's finale?
Funny how it does nothing to debunk the myth that 'atheists are morally bankrupt and more prone to being irresponsible towards others and even violent'. I bet it makes some people think that even more.
Everytime this novel is refered to i've always though that it sounded a lot liked The Outsider, i've only just realised it's the same book. Doh.
Am i right in remembering that Mersault remains apathetic even when he has been arrested and then convicted?
I read the book years ago in French and was very much impressed by it. Camus' style is quite unique and he still stands out as one of the greatest French writers.
Nice review, Dark Muse.
This is definitely one of my favourite books, if not my most favourite book!
i just finished reading the dark muse and am deeply moved by the apathy the society showed towards the protagonist. the narratives is too good that i almost felt reading some real life incident which happened not so long ago.
I recently saw a fine Turkish movie of 'The Stranger' with English subtitles.
Mersault is a man is deep despair: life consists of a short bursts of moments...then death, the one certainty. Nothing matters to him but the moment. Once his mother dies in her sleep, she may as well have died fifty years before!
He acts on impulse because 'future' has no meaning, and 'past' or 'present' no worth. His murder, imprisonment and court case are a series of momentary distractions of no consequence. Since nothing has consequence, his choices are arbitrary. He is not depressed: he simply sees the world without veneer.
I don't see Mersault as an atheist so much as a man in utter despair, who arbitrarily chooses to live on rather than suicide. He is a fascinating character.
Reading the intellectual giant, Soren Kierkegaard, helps in understanding Mersault .
In your opinion, why the title The Stranger?
"He lives most gaily who knows best how to deceive himself. Ha-ha!"
- CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
The French title is 'L'Etranger', which basically means 'The Stranger' but it's more of an alienation, disconnection (like estranged). 'The Outsider' probably gives a better translation.Originally Posted by Tallon
As I see it, he accepts this too. The priest asks him to accept god in his heart for eternal forgiveness, but essentially isn't that just showing the real social hypocrisy? Meursault knows he is guilty, and accepts that he will be killed.
The Stranger was my least favorite Camus, which is not to say it wasn't a great book. IMHO it can't beat the power of The Plague or the beauty of The Fall.
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