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thomasmannia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Dull and strange and downright bad at times, but I suppose there was an attempt.
I found the sentences irritatingly sparse; the few parts where they were actually longer than five words were the best and most meaningful in the book, and it would have been much better, though still rationally and morally void, if the rest of it had been written as such.
I also found the main character to be much worse than he is generally considered to be. He isn’t an ordinary man at all- he’s a murderer, who has no respect whatsoever for anyone except for the worst people in the book. He really should have been put in an institution.
The idea of the book doesn’t make sense in the context of what he did. He killed a man for no reason and was duly prosecuted for it. It would have made more sense if Raymond had done it and then blamed him for it or if he had done it on accident or something of the like. As it stands, the protagonist was an active participant in the story, not at all an innocent bystander like overzealous readers seem to think. He knowingly aligned himself with a bad person and then did a bad thing in said bad person’s name. How is he the victim?
The only likeable character was the vest woman.
Overall, this certainly not Camus’s finest work. He distorts the idea of existentialism to the point of it appearing, yes, absurd.
I found the sentences irritatingly sparse; the few parts where they were actually longer than five words were the best and most meaningful in the book, and it would have been much better, though still rationally and morally void, if the rest of it had been written as such.
I also found the main character to be much worse than he is generally considered to be. He isn’t an ordinary man at all- he’s a murderer, who has no respect whatsoever for anyone except for the worst people in the book. He really should have been put in an institution.
The idea of the book doesn’t make sense in the context of what he did. He killed a man for no reason and was duly prosecuted for it. It would have made more sense if Raymond had done it and then blamed him for it or if he had done it on accident or something of the like. As it stands, the protagonist was an active participant in the story, not at all an innocent bystander like overzealous readers seem to think. He knowingly aligned himself with a bad person and then did a bad thing in said bad person’s name. How is he the victim?
The only likeable character was the vest woman.
Overall, this certainly not Camus’s finest work. He distorts the idea of existentialism to the point of it appearing, yes, absurd.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Murder
softgirlari's review against another edition
dark
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
smthngrandom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the first Albert Camus book I’ve ever read so I’m unfamiliar with his philosophy. I think that this stopped me from understanding the nuance in this book.
I enjoyed the general dreamlike vibe of the book, and found the second half with the trial particularly compelling, especially his outburst at the end.
I think I’ll have to reread this if I read more of Camus’s work.
I enjoyed the general dreamlike vibe of the book, and found the second half with the trial particularly compelling, especially his outburst at the end.
I think I’ll have to reread this if I read more of Camus’s work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Alcohol
Minor: Islamophobia
ireneac's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
lily_marigold's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Gun violence, and Death of parent
bookish_skies's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
jakepasseri's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Murder
Minor: Domestic abuse and Blood
sofiadanielle's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-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
3.5
Hmm. A quick and engaging read, though I don’t think the “point” Camus was trying to make landed with me. I was interested in the storyline, though I don’t think I’ll be thinking much about this novel now that I’ve finished.
Kind of reminded me of No Longer Human by Dasai, though I much preferred that novel to this one.
Kind of reminded me of No Longer Human by Dasai, though I much preferred that novel to this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
miaisabelle7's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
maddb_96's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Gun violence, and Murder