Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Stranger by Albert Camus

24 reviews

happyknitter2020's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Such a tragic little book. If only they had understand that he had autism he could have been supported. 

An isolated man's life...his mother dies, a girl wants to marry him within days, his neighbour abusing his dog, his friend beung abusive, violent and exploiting women & them the pressure of it all building in his head, his lack of understanding & the intens  sun, the heat...led him to shoot a gun & kill a man he had never met before on a beach. 

No wonder he didn't understand why...

Some of the sentences in the following chapters are stunning. The way his mind manages being in Prison, the Court proceedings & the sentence passed...utterly tragic, will stay with me for a long time.

Glad I have found Camus, will read more of his books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Animal cruelty, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Grief, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Violence

izzyreading's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Made me feel an intense sadness and hopelessness after i finished reading it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, Confinement, and Gun violence

Minor: Xenophobia and Grief

martin888's review

dark inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Violence, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

Minor: Grief

biobeetle's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Islamophobia, and Confinement

Minor: Misogyny

_bailey_reads_'s review

challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This was truly the worst book I’ve ever read. Not only was the main character completely insufferable but all the other characters were equally as awful. The idea of the main character being an “ordinary man” is disturbing. Nothing about him is ordinary in my book. The only thing I liked about the book was it’s overall creepy and dark tone. Otherwise I thought it was pointless, there is no development or growth. It was dull and borderline unreadable. 

Maybe I just completely missed the mark but I’m 99.9% certain the main character is a psychopath and truly has no emotions. He has no redeeming qualities. Allowing Raymond to do what he did is literally exhibit A. 
Also Marie is a complete idiot.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, and Death

sagelikesscats's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Maybe a lot of people find the protagonist insufferable, but I didn’t really mind that he was nihilistic, maybe we that he didn’t care that the things he did had a negative affect on others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexism, and Confinement

Moderate: Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Animal cruelty, and Sexual content

Minor: Racism

riozul's review

dark reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Murder

kers_tin's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Murder, Racism, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Colonisation, Abandonment, Death, Classism, and Animal death

tungstenmouse's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 During part 1, I wondered why people see this book as so important. Part 2 answered that question and really made me think. I was prepared to give this 3 stars or less but the second half as well as the perspectives from the translator and the scholars in notes at the end of the book really helped bring up my rating. This was definitely worth the listen for the ideas it presents.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gun violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Confinement, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Misogyny, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Vomit, Sexism, Racism, Police brutality, Infidelity, and Sexual content

h0neybear's review against another edition

reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Wouldn’t expect a book like this to be so damn entertaining but it really is. Mersault’s narration is interesting and at times funny and it certainly keeps a reader hooked. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Animal cruelty, and Death

Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol and Sexual content