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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Reading this in 2020 feels like looking into a mirror. It's almost prophetical the way Camus knew how plagues started and extended, disrupting society and human behavior. But of course, it's not that he was a seer, but a great observer of human nature and of the absurd of life and death, and how death, plague and disaster are always looming around the corner.
I'd say it's a bit of a hard read, since quarantine is in literature almost as uneventful as in real life, but as you understand the characters and their existential thoughts and changes throughout the pandemic it gets a lot better; I enjoyed it more towards the end and after finishing it and reflecting on it. Camus show brilliantly shows us how society negates disaster when it threatens their normality, even if it's right under their noses, and how it will soon forget any lesson learned after disaster goes away, as our current times prove.
I'd say it's a bit of a hard read, since quarantine is in literature almost as uneventful as in real life, but as you understand the characters and their existential thoughts and changes throughout the pandemic it gets a lot better; I enjoyed it more towards the end and after finishing it and reflecting on it. Camus show brilliantly shows us how society negates disaster when it threatens their normality, even if it's right under their noses, and how it will soon forget any lesson learned after disaster goes away, as our current times prove.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Sickly summer continues! I happened to read this after Everything is Tuberculosis by coincidence but I guess I should keep the theme going. Quite the challenging read because of pacing and vocabulary (extremely helpful for GRE prep, I'll say), but a timeless story with compelling philosophies around disease and life. I also wasn't expecting some of the character sentiments to resonate with me too! Tarrou you would have loved Twelve Angry Men.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide attempt, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
A truly insightful view of a society’s beliefs, fears, and ambitions in the midst of devastation. There is a lot to say about how individuals as well as a community handle such a scary and unknown danger, Camus captured that whole-heartedly. This is in many ways a very cathartic reading experience in a post-covid world and I highly suggest this to anyone who feels as if our recent pandemic in 2020 left you with unanswered questions and hard to explain emotions.
My only gripe is that this book started to drag at the midway point, almost as if the same idea was being repeated in different ways. After some reflection, that could be a purposeful decision in order to mirror the characters’ dread at the height of their plague.
My only gripe is that this book started to drag at the midway point, almost as if the same idea was being repeated in different ways. After some reflection, that could be a purposeful decision in order to mirror the characters’ dread at the height of their plague.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
"He knew that the tale he had to tell could not be one of final victory. It could be only the record of what had to be done, and what assuredly would have to be done again in the never-ending fight against terror and its relentless onslaughts."
.
.
One of the best short books I ever read, wow.
.
The fear, the darkness, the death-toll that was swallowing the city, I felt all of it, the all of that hopeless atmosphere, and all I was thinking was the quarantine during COVID-19 and maybe that was not even close to that thing, I just want to say I even felt the every mystery in the back of the spreading.
.
I liked the way of writing, and the perspective.
Highly recommended.
.
.
One of the best short books I ever read, wow.
.
The fear, the darkness, the death-toll that was swallowing the city, I felt all of it, the all of that hopeless atmosphere, and all I was thinking was the quarantine during COVID-19 and maybe that was not even close to that thing, I just want to say I even felt the every mystery in the back of the spreading.
.
I liked the way of writing, and the perspective.
Highly recommended.
3 countries later and I dun it
Plague bad : culture around a plague interesting
Just shows history
Plague bad : culture around a plague interesting
Just shows history
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half was slow, a little boring. Then it ramped up. Then I cried. Then I cried again. Then I was happy. Then more tears. And that sums up my expirience. In all seriousness, I think The Plague was absolutely worth a read. Is it a must-read? That's up to you. But I don't regret it for a second. The conversation it sparks about good and evil, necessary or unnecessary evil, and the various attitudes and expiriences throughout a horrific plague shared by a man on the figurative front lines is wonderfully insightful. The exploration of religion in relation to tragedy was one of my favorite bits. Should a priest call a doctor? Probably, but he may not. Watching these characters cling to their love, attempt to flee to their love, only for their love to be the friends they made along the way had me sobbing. Every part of this book had me in my feels, especially reading it following the Covid-19 pandemic. The parallels of our recent history to this fictional text is low-key freaky but adds such a depth that I find hard to explain. All in all, read it, don't read it, the decision is your and yours alone but should you proceed I don't think you'd regret it :)
2-2.25 Stars
I get it. I really do; I just didn't like it.
Reviewers on GR and a billion others outside of GR; Love.This.Book. This book is a philosophical diary of man and his fight against this disease, but also man's disease.
According to a reviewer from The Guardian: "Essential to Camus’ existential isolation was the discrepancy between the power and beauty of nature, and the desolation of the human condition." This is the kind of wording and thought put forth and I just had expectations for something else.
I guess I am just not that smart or thoughtful; so what? I want to read what I want to read.
I do recommend this book for those who love to figure out why people behave the way they do. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
I get it. I really do; I just didn't like it.
Reviewers on GR and a billion others outside of GR; Love.This.Book. This book is a philosophical diary of man and his fight against this disease, but also man's disease.
According to a reviewer from The Guardian: "Essential to Camus’ existential isolation was the discrepancy between the power and beauty of nature, and the desolation of the human condition." This is the kind of wording and thought put forth and I just had expectations for something else.
I guess I am just not that smart or thoughtful; so what? I want to read what I want to read.
I do recommend this book for those who love to figure out why people behave the way they do. I hope you enjoy it more than I did.
I wonder how I would have felt about this book before 2020. The ending rings painfully true.