A review by soflimperis
The Stranger by Albert Camus

challenging 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

3.0

This book is a classic that delves deep into the philosophy of absurdism. However, by the time the novel comes to an end, you are left feeling empty. Throughout the beginning, the pace is slow. The main character is written straight and to the point, lacking any character and understanding of the world around him. As the novel progresses the main character lies flat, with the world around him barely changing-- but told in the flat dialogue of someone who doesn't understand what makes humanity special. This is the point of the novel and the ultimate message of absurdism. I understand that this novel is a way to tell a message-- but it is a boring way to tell the message. The main plot point doesn't occur until halfway through the story, and major character growth doesn't occur until the final pages. It lends itself to a boring story, although one with an interesting theme behind it.

Someone once told me that The Myth of Sisyphus would convince someone to like absurdism and that The Stranger would teach them to hate it. And it's true-- The Stranger does what it can to teach you to hate it. It is a boring story wrapped around an interesting message, a lackluster tale for the ages.
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