Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The Outsider

Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Outsider by Albert Camus

26 reviews

bouebooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark 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

3.25

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miayukino's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

(lit pour français ap)

Certainly a reflective and grim story. My prof suggested that many have speculated Mersault to be autistic or have asberger's and as a neurodivergent human (allistic), I gotta say it's way more complex then that. Autism and neurodivergence are not code words for social dysfunction or cold personalities. Obviously, everyone's experience is completely different and without spoiling much, my take is that our protagonist is neurodivergent and feels an incredible amount (contrary to the words of my teacher). He has many recognizable compulsions and intrusive thoughts which remind me of my own OCD traits but his coldness to me is not a physiological characteristic but rather a philosophical one. Not all neurodivergent people inherently believe in nothing (I sure don't), that is Mersault's own distinct nihilism.

Suffice to say, if you give this one a whirl, do think about the phychological aspects but check yourself when throwing around mental illness as synonyms for complete lack of social understanding and nihilism, because more often than not, it's a stereotype or a subjective experience.

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pixiecaps's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense

4.25

finished this novel in one sitting and I feel that in due time I’ll reread it.

the only word I can seem to use to describe this book is absurdism. so much occurs in a short span of time and all actions seem to have not much thought or meaning to them... at least in the narrator's perspective. the world expected Meursault to act, respond, and live following presumed societal norms & human values and when he didn’t, he to them became an enigma. overall this novel will impact those who value analyzing the thoughts of an absurdist as well as a nihilist. the novel strongly presents themes such as social alienation and apathy. Furthermore, I cannot stress enough that Meursault believes his actions mean nothing.

“It occurred to me that anyway one more Sunday was over, that Maman was buried now, that I was going back to work, and that, really, nothing had changed.” - Albert Camus, The Stranger

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