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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
How fabulous would this have been if completed? Beautiful story telling of a childhood in Algeria
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:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book is the most absurd of all his works because it's way shorter than it was supposed to be and feels rough around the edges. There are lots of mistakes, and sometimes he even forgets to use the pseudonym to refer to his fictional self and because of all that, it doesn't quite tell the whole story. But even with all the mistakes, this book is still important, especially since it might be the last thing camus ever wrote. The idea behind it was really good, but it's a shame it couldn't be finished because of his death in a car crash.
“Camus had often told friends that nothing was more scandalous than the death of a child, and nothing more absurd than to die in a car accident.” And he ultimately met his end in exactly that manner, dying in a car crash himself.
A perfect example of 'What you fear the most might meet you halfway.' and this rings true in life, especially for someone as fearful as myself.
BTW This book isn't his most philosophical work, but more of a reflective journey through midlife, touching on life and childhood with a dash of philosophical musings. That's why it's perfect for anyone interested in Camus' ideas. It's a light and enjoyable read for the most part. As he reminisces about his past, you'll often find yourself experiencing moments of melancholic peace. The way he captures childhood thoughts and behaviors is truly impressive. If you're up for it, this book is a must-read.
“Camus had often told friends that nothing was more scandalous than the death of a child, and nothing more absurd than to die in a car accident.” And he ultimately met his end in exactly that manner, dying in a car crash himself.
A perfect example of 'What you fear the most might meet you halfway.' and this rings true in life, especially for someone as fearful as myself.
BTW This book isn't his most philosophical work, but more of a reflective journey through midlife, touching on life and childhood with a dash of philosophical musings. That's why it's perfect for anyone interested in Camus' ideas. It's a light and enjoyable read for the most part. As he reminisces about his past, you'll often find yourself experiencing moments of melancholic peace. The way he captures childhood thoughts and behaviors is truly impressive. If you're up for it, this book is a must-read.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
As is I'd give it three stars. But that is not a fair assessment of a book that was never finished by its author. This reads like a draft with potential to be one of the classics.
haha! foolish me, i never wrote a review for this book (not even a short one!). anywhoooooo this book is stellar and criminally underrated when considering the focus it receives compared to other works by camus. don’t get me wrong! i adore his work, and i plan to read more, but i really do think that had this been finished, it would have been his magnum opus. and i get it! that’s a tough claim to back up, and (to put things into perspective), this book stood out to me in large part due to the circumstances of my life as i read it. nonetheless, without any emotional baggage, it’s still an amazing book. you don’t need to be in a vulnerable state to still be impacted when you read pages 25-27 (probably some of the greatest writing in the entire book tbh).
i think one thing that makes the first man such a unique book is it’s eternal incompletion. when you read it, you’re reading a manuscript dominated by the authors own personal thoughts, and it’s truly unlike anything i’ve ever read. this can easily be a detriment to some though, and id argue that one of the few bad parts of this book is that it isn’t finished. even so, it’s still stellar and it holds a very special place in my heart.
staying on the critical perspective, i do wish that camus had expanded in the so called alienation of jacques, but also, i know why he didn’t ( this book would have been several hundred pages longer in ideal circumstances, so we miss a lot).
to wrap things up, i love this book and i know it will forever remain in my heart ❤️
i think one thing that makes the first man such a unique book is it’s eternal incompletion. when you read it, you’re reading a manuscript dominated by the authors own personal thoughts, and it’s truly unlike anything i’ve ever read. this can easily be a detriment to some though, and id argue that one of the few bad parts of this book is that it isn’t finished. even so, it’s still stellar and it holds a very special place in my heart.
staying on the critical perspective, i do wish that camus had expanded in the so called alienation of jacques, but also, i know why he didn’t ( this book would have been several hundred pages longer in ideal circumstances, so we miss a lot).
to wrap things up, i love this book and i know it will forever remain in my heart ❤️
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The First Man by Albert Camus has left me with a feeling that’s indescribable, a mix of sadness, impotence, and contemplation. It’s beautiful how Camus embarks this autobiographical novel initiating with his father’s death which, he laments from an abstracted point of view. Then, from a sorrow, he develops an introspection of what it felt like to live in a barren household where the food felt short and whose emptiness was filled by family love. This is, above all, a novel about humanity and how, in the places filled with distress, the people replace tragedy with kind acts of compassion.
You need to be a pretty big fan of Camus for reading this which I'm not