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utsuro's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Animal cruelty, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol
cutepatzie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Physical abuse, Animal death, Gaslighting, Grief, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Rape, and Sexism
house_of_hannah's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
I feel like this absurdism that everyone is talking about truly shows up in the second half of the story during the trial. The prosecutor has a certain view of Meursault, and then forces the narrative to support it. This is something that happens in real cases all the time, and is how innocent people end up incarcerated, so it actually felt quite "true to life". However, the difference here is that Meursault is guilty regardless, and it's more his character that is being judged than anything.
I think this second half is where the story really shines. Being judged on the perception of who you are, without being able to defend yourself, is terrifying. Meursault's indifference to the world ended up being his downfall, with the one instance of him acting on his own being the trigger. I know Philosphy is the main subject brought up in discussions of this book, but I'm more interested in the Psychology.
After finishing this novella I went down the Wikipedia rabbit hole about the Algerian War, and learned more about the dark side of French history. I definitely thank this book for that, as it's not a subject I really knew anything about. Overall, I did enjoy reading this story, but I feel I'm just not intellectual enough to truly understand it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Grief
jana16's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Gun violence, Murder, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Racial slurs, Vomit, Alcohol, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Grief, Islamophobia, and Misogyny
dniespal's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Islamophobia, Sexism, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Racism, Addiction, Blood, Body shaming, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexual content, and Alcohol
ekcd_'s review against another edition
- 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
Moderate: Alcohol, Terminal illness, Stalking, Police brutality, and Murder
mat111lda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
Minor: Alcohol
riya_p's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content