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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Ta książka jest dla mnie wielkim zaskoczeniem, przyznam. Nie spodziewałam się, że powieść ta okaże się jedną z moich ulubionych, których czytałam. Ma w sobie naprawdę wszystko: zarówno elementy wzruszenia, jak i grozy. Może tylko szczęścia wyjątkowo mało, ale dodaje to tym bardziej wrażenia prawdziwości tej historii. Styl pisania autora z kolei jest dla mnie wyjątkowy, bo czytając rzeczywiście czułam się jakbym czytała kronikę doktora Rieux, która naprawdę została napisana. Zresztą zdania, które napisał autor są po prostu piękne. Smutne, owszem, ale niesamowicie piękne i godne zapamiętania. Podziwiam także wielowarstwowość tej historii, bo z jednej strony nic prostszego - epidemia miasta i ludność starająca się z nią walczyć, ale z drugiej strony można mieć wrażenie, że dżuma jest jedynie pretekstem do opowiedzenia historii o ludziach i o tym, jacy oni są, o ich egoizmie ale i o ich trosce o innych. Jest to w związku z tym powieści uniwersalna, bo każdy z nas znajdzie siebie w takim Tarrou czy Rambert. Nie mogłam tez nie zwrócić uwagi na to, jak łatwo autor przyciąga czytelnika, bo czytając naprawdę miałam wrażenie, że jestem też mieszkanką Oranu i razem z ludźmi przeżywam ich smutek i rozpacz oraz że to z nimi ciesze się po minięciu choroby. W związku z tym też bardzo łatwo było odczuć głębsze emocje czytając - przyznaje bez bicia, że od momentu śmierci dziecka, łzy zbierały mi się co chwile i że końcówkę praktycznie przepłakałam.
Więc nie, „Dżuma” nie jest dla mnie nudną i żmudną lekturą - jest książką do której będę często wracać myślami, bo nie sposób tego nie robić.
Więc nie, „Dżuma” nie jest dla mnie nudną i żmudną lekturą - jest książką do której będę często wracać myślami, bo nie sposób tego nie robić.
A Fairly Perfect Novel.
Read at never a more suitable time.
[Nobel 1957]
Read at never a more suitable time.
[Nobel 1957]
un très très beau livre, je comprends pourquoi c'est le roman le plus célèbre d'albert camus, mes mots ne lui rendront pas justice mais c'est un roman si bien écrit, une intrigue si bien tissée, des personnages uniques, littéralement chef's kiss.
Veeeeeery interesting read after covid, I doubt anyone can read this book the same post 2019. A lot of extremely accurate societal changes and personal changes described in this book aligned with current times scarily well. Take this passage for example, "Thus, in a middle course between these heights and depths, they drifted through life rather than lived, the prey of aimless days and sterile memories, like wandering shadows that could have acquired substance only by consenting to root themselves in the solid earth of their distress" pg. 73. He goes on to say, "And thus there was always something missing in their lives. Hostile to the past, impatient of the present, and cheated of the future...Thus the only way of escaping from that intolerable leisure was to set the trains running again in one's imagination and in filling the silence with the fancied tinkle of a doorbell, in practice obstinately mute."
I think this could be read as an extension of Camus philosophy, the plague standing in for the "void" or the "awakening" in one's consciousness as described in the Myth of Sisyphus - coming to realize life means nothing (absurdity) and what is there to do about it. Each character reacts differently, I believe Tarrou and Rieux together stand in most directly for his answer; recognizing and appreciating the absurdity, fighting it day to day for their own reasons. Interesting reflections on the purpose of religion too, Father Paneloux has some fascinating sermons. Not sure what Grand's role was, he got hung up on one sentence of literature and perfecting it. I should look up interpretations of his character, he could not find his words - only expressing emotions - early in the book and spent the latter half trying to perfect one sentence. And Cottard tried committing suicide - classic Camus.
One of my favorite lines, I loved how he described the town and the people in it on page 47, "...obscure functionaries cultivating harmless eccentricities."
Camus philosophy in a nutshell on p. 128 starting with Rieux speaking, "'...Mightn't it be better for God if we refuse to believe in Him and struggle with all out might against death without raising our eyes towards the heavens where He sits in silence?'
Tarrou nodded.
'Yes. But your victories will never be lasting; That's all.'
Rieux's face darkened.
'Yes, I know that. But it's no reason for giving up on the struggle.'
'No reason, I agree. Only, now I can picture what this plague must mean to you.'
'Yes. A never ending defeat.'"
This ends in on a somber note but I don't believe Camus sees it as reason to give up or bring about your end prematurely, only recognizing in the end death is but a final defeat. Rieux later says that he was taught this by one word, "suffering".
Had to include this for COVID on page 237, "Thus, where plague by its impartial ministrations should have promoted inequality among our townsfolk, it now has the opposite effect, and thanks to the habitual conflict of cupidities, exacerbated the sense of injustice rankling in men's hearts."
Tarrou has a short passage talking about his own awakening, his coming to the light moment where Camus says has two options, give into the void or begin living in an everyday fight against absurdity on page 245, "'When I was young I lived with the idea of my innocence; that is to say, with no idea at all...I brought off everything I put my hand to, I moved at ease in the field of the intellect, I got on excellently with women, and if I had the occasional qualms, they passed as lightly as they came. Then one day I started thinking.'" These pages are essential to the book, an extended conversation between Tarrou and Rieux, something the novel was leading up to in my mind. Great section for a re-read. Ending with, "but now they must set their shoulders to the wheel again".
I'll end with this, something I found quite beautiful and poignant. On page 291, "Tarrou had 'lost the match,' as he put it. But what had he, Rieux, won? No more than having the experience of having known plague and remembering it, of having known friendship and remembering it, of knowing affection and being destined one day to remember it. So all a man could win in the conflict between plague and life was knowledge and memories. But Tarrou, perhaps, would have called that winning the match."
I think this could be read as an extension of Camus philosophy, the plague standing in for the "void" or the "awakening" in one's consciousness as described in the Myth of Sisyphus - coming to realize life means nothing (absurdity) and what is there to do about it. Each character reacts differently, I believe Tarrou and Rieux together stand in most directly for his answer; recognizing and appreciating the absurdity, fighting it day to day for their own reasons. Interesting reflections on the purpose of religion too, Father Paneloux has some fascinating sermons. Not sure what Grand's role was, he got hung up on one sentence of literature and perfecting it. I should look up interpretations of his character, he could not find his words - only expressing emotions - early in the book and spent the latter half trying to perfect one sentence. And Cottard tried committing suicide - classic Camus.
One of my favorite lines, I loved how he described the town and the people in it on page 47, "...obscure functionaries cultivating harmless eccentricities."
Camus philosophy in a nutshell on p. 128 starting with Rieux speaking, "'...Mightn't it be better for God if we refuse to believe in Him and struggle with all out might against death without raising our eyes towards the heavens where He sits in silence?'
Tarrou nodded.
'Yes. But your victories will never be lasting; That's all.'
Rieux's face darkened.
'Yes, I know that. But it's no reason for giving up on the struggle.'
'No reason, I agree. Only, now I can picture what this plague must mean to you.'
'Yes. A never ending defeat.'"
This ends in on a somber note but I don't believe Camus sees it as reason to give up or bring about your end prematurely, only recognizing in the end death is but a final defeat. Rieux later says that he was taught this by one word, "suffering".
Had to include this for COVID on page 237, "Thus, where plague by its impartial ministrations should have promoted inequality among our townsfolk, it now has the opposite effect, and thanks to the habitual conflict of cupidities, exacerbated the sense of injustice rankling in men's hearts."
Tarrou has a short passage talking about his own awakening, his coming to the light moment where Camus says has two options, give into the void or begin living in an everyday fight against absurdity on page 245, "'When I was young I lived with the idea of my innocence; that is to say, with no idea at all...I brought off everything I put my hand to, I moved at ease in the field of the intellect, I got on excellently with women, and if I had the occasional qualms, they passed as lightly as they came. Then one day I started thinking.'" These pages are essential to the book, an extended conversation between Tarrou and Rieux, something the novel was leading up to in my mind. Great section for a re-read. Ending with, "but now they must set their shoulders to the wheel again".
I'll end with this, something I found quite beautiful and poignant. On page 291, "Tarrou had 'lost the match,' as he put it. But what had he, Rieux, won? No more than having the experience of having known plague and remembering it, of having known friendship and remembering it, of knowing affection and being destined one day to remember it. So all a man could win in the conflict between plague and life was knowledge and memories. But Tarrou, perhaps, would have called that winning the match."
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Visual, diffuse, decent
3.5 stars.
Even though I usually love Camus' books, I wish I liked this one more. I am not sure if it was from the translation of my particular version or if it is like this in the original as well, but I found the writing tiresome to read.
Also, I wish some of the philosophical questions covered would be expanded and go into more detail, instead of just briefly mentioned.
I also feel like I missed some interpretations or that I missed some important points.
Nevertheless, I liked the book, I would still recommend and probably re-read at some point.
Even though I usually love Camus' books, I wish I liked this one more. I am not sure if it was from the translation of my particular version or if it is like this in the original as well, but I found the writing tiresome to read.
Also, I wish some of the philosophical questions covered would be expanded and go into more detail, instead of just briefly mentioned.
I also feel like I missed some interpretations or that I missed some important points.
Nevertheless, I liked the book, I would still recommend and probably re-read at some point.
Sorta interesting to read during a pandemic. He got some things right, but not everything.