The Stranger: A New Translation by Matthew Ward

wow

You have to go into this book with an open mind, and a slight knowledge of Existentialism. It also helps if at one time in your life, you had questioned your existence. That is probably why I enjoyed the book so much.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Camus Made me an Existentialist

I first read this book in my senior year in high school, and have kept the copy, not for interest, but rather I just kinda stole it.

My first year of college I took a class in which we read The Plague, another book by Camus, and it is through that book that I related with Dr. Bernard Rieux, and realized that I am an existentialist.

I just re-read The Stranger, and it has been some time since I have read The Plague, but have found that after a few years existentialism takes on a somewhat new meaning for myself, and it was really refreshing to now read The Stranger with an actual understand behind the philosophy of the novel and made it a very interesting, thought-provoking, and intellectual read for such a small book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

One strange book.

I studied this novel in English class this year, and although a fast-paced read, I had trouble getting into it. Reason number one? The narrator, Meursault, is the epitome of an existentialist, and proceeds to show hardly any emotion throughout the entire story. His mother dies, yet he feels no sadness. He kills a man and feels no guilt. He does this, he does that; but all with robotic acceptance and zero feeling. Who wants to read about that? Okay, well, a lot of people love the work of Albert Camus. He's very intelligent, and it's clearly evident in his writing (check out his thought-provoking essay, The Myth of Sisyphus). But instead of reading about existentialism (I guess I just don't understand the philosophy very well), I'd rather dig into the more emotional stuff that causes laughter and tears... Then again, I am just a teenage girl with a lot of opinions.

My main point: while reading The Stranger, I might as well have been Meursault, accepting everything I took in with very little reaction. Not good.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Genius Albert Camus

This is the very first time I read Camus and definitely "The Stranger" has become one of my favorite books. His style is not only original but dramatic at the same time. Camus can take the reader to unimaginable places where everything can be possible without being science-fiction. The themes within The Stranger makes a book to discuss over and over again.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A classic

The Stranger focused on one main character. You get to know him; what he thinks, what he does, all that. It was written in a very unique and timeless way. Camus has a very distinct voice.
I could relate to the main character in so many ways. It was moving and touching. It makes you think about what your morals are and what the value of life is. It's a fast read with long-term thoughts that will linger in your mind. I think it's a book for most people. It might bother people with a lower maturity level because it can be kind of heavy.
Camus is brilliant.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Fascinating Read

The Stranger by Albert Camus is among the curious classics which seem to slowly lure you into the romantic plot of part one. Truthfully, the beginning goes at a snail¿s pace, introducing the characters and meeting the narrator Meursault. But, a chilling surprise waits for you at the end of part one that gets you right back into the story of part two, wanting you to flip through the pages to see what happens next. In this novel, the narrator does not tell it through his eyes. It seems as if we¿re listening to this novel through Meursaults thoughts and ideas. You¿ll read as this apparently average man shares his own philosophy on happiness and the absurdity of life. The author displays great acts of Meursault¿s absurdism and passiveness in many of the unfortunate events. He demonstrates being emotionally unfazed at his mother¿s funeral. Before the wake, he is found at her coffin, drinking and smoking a cigarette. It seems almost as if he is in a different world then others in the story live in, and he continues through his life unaffected by its consequences. You¿ll travel with him in his Meghreb town on the coast of Africa, you¿ll dine with him, visit the beach with him and even perform the unthinkable, as he challenges the world with Camus viewpoint. Together, Meursault and Camus will show you a new way of looking at the meaningless of life. This book will certainly delight both young adults and older readers alike with its fascinating plot. And unnerve you when you see what happens when one man is faced with the absurdity.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

stuck

i can't exactly say what i thought about this book. i loved it and raced through it. until i got to the last 10 pages. they were very boring and it took me about a week to read those last 10 pages. while reading it though, it's very interesting and i'm sure everyone is trying to figure out what drives the main character a man without feelings. as i once read in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chobsky, this book is 'easy to read but hard to read well'. that is true and i think to truly take in the book and understand it, you must read it twice.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Could have been better

I read this book for class last Saturday and currently I'm quite indifferent about this book. I loved the subtle irony that is persistant throughout it. There is even irony in my indifference because what keeps me on the fence from saying I enjoyed this book is the narrator's consistant indifference about everything and his lack of ability to form true opinions about others or even the situation he is in. This bothered me and I would even go as far to say that it got on my nerves, but I think that I will read this again in the future and maybe my opinion will change...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Stranger is Strange

The Stranger is so strange,yet captivating. Marsol is the weirdest character I've ever met in a story. There is so much symbolism in this book. You have to wonder how any character could be this careless. Every writer should read this truly existenalist piece.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

WOW!

This the first Camus book I've read and it was so incredible! I underline my favourite lines in books and I think that I underlined nearly the entire book. Personally, i wish that he had kept writing. I didn't want it to stop.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Stranger

The Stranger starts out with the main character, Monsiuer Meursault, finding out that his mother had died. Meursault was a low income hard worker who could not support his mother at home, so he sent her to an old peoples hime in the country. This was the first of Meursaults so-called sins, used against him later in the story. At first it would seem as though Meursault wasn't sorrowful of his mothers passing, but Meursault's main foible was that of his taciturn nature and unwillingness to show emotion. Later in the story he commits murder in a vehement moment of rage. All of a sudden he is thrown in to a trial with a magistrate. His little mistakes that he had thought nothing of before were sudenly brought to the jurys attention, including his unresponsiveness to a priest and religion. This author did a great job writing this book and showing how society can tear a person apart using small insignificant mistakes. The author shows exactly what Meursault is thinking throughout the book plus his views on certain matters. The author also points out the flaws of religion and how God is not for everyone and should not be pushed upon by someone. This book is insightfully written and give credit to Matthew Ward who translated it into English.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An Extraordinary Read for a first time Camus reader as well as those who are already addicted to his work.

I loved this book. I loved the simplicity and direct approach of Ward's translation and how it still evoked a deep inner quality of Camus' independent attitude and for his day a somewhat revolutionary manner.

I read through the pages deeply entranced by Camu's imagery, yet easily comprehending each word. It was only after I put it down that the layers of thoughts arose.

Bravo!

High school Requirement!!!

My original intention for reading the book was its 123 pages. It was for a major project and I wanted to spend no more than five hours of reading. As I began to read it, I also began to lose hope for it. Then, I got closer to the end of Part One and suddenly gained interest. Part Two, by far is the most thought provoking. In P2, my perspective of Meursault is completely altered and I catch myself rereading multiple times to truly understand Camus's amazing story. I oh-so strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a fast book, to someone who has questions of religion or existence, or to anyone who really just needs a good book to read.

It's a great book

I first read this book in high school. It is a great book. It can be hard to understand but the author's meaning is deep. The book is divided into two parts and part I is pretty boring to be honest but part two becomes very interesting. The book's main character is very relatable. I won't give the plot away, but if you are willing to read it with an open mind I am sure that it will change your world around.

The Stranger is a thought provoking masterpiece

Telling the tale of a random murder and the culprits ensuing reflections, Camus' The Stranger addresses some of the most intriguing of philosophical topics. From the meaningless of human life, to the belief in the existence of God, Camus' novel is sure to be thought provoking. The reader is thrust into the world of the absurd as the main character, Meursault, struggles to come to terms with the world which surrounds him and is crumbling with each passing day. While at first his apparent lack of regret and repenting for his crime may seem barbaric, the reader is led on a journey of understanding, guided by Meursault's internal battles to the lack of importance of all but the physical world. The novel's conclusion while at first depressing turns to optimisms as the previous fears of death and the afterlife are cast aside to be replaced by full immersion in the present state of being. Although Camus' declined association with the school of thought now know as existentialism, this novel has and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the philosophy. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who finds themselves questioning the world they inhabit and seeking guidance to some of the ages most complex dilemmas. It language is simple to understand and straightforward with little adornment or embellishments, which appropriately fits the overall theme while making it easily accessible. Once again, I cannot say enough about the brilliance of this novel and would exhort you to experience it for yourself.

The Stranger

The quintessential Camus novel, The Stranger had been on my list of books to read for the longest time. I've always been a fan since his Myth of Sisyphus and had thus decided to delve further into the world of the Absurd.

From the very first line to the very last, the book is, without question, very unsettling, both in its style and in its message. The language is, for the most part, direct and concise (not without reason) and may give an impression of loneliness and impartiality. In fact, the only time similes and metaphors and complex syntax appear is when Camus describes the weather, symbolizing a true dissociation from past and future - Meursault, the main character and speaker, lives only in the present, unable to comprehend ulterior motives and causality. At the same time, I think it is especially easy for people to be put off by his stoicism as he fails to empathize with the rest of humanity. The novel progresses as he simply observes his surroundings, never fully participating in the scenes and never passing judgment on what is occurring - he is, in many ways, just like Nick from The Great Gatsby, a passive observer. Thus, as Camus intends, he is just like the universe, cold, impartial, and without causality or direction. Given the style, the middle of the novel can get a bit slow, but if you really pay attention to what is being said, it is riddled with philosophical conclusions regarding the ethical ramifications of relativism and the sterility of the universe.

In terms of the message, the novel seeks to tear down various institutions of society, namely the church and the court, as it presents themes from the Absurdity of lofty ideals such as love and patriotism to the folly and inherent injustice of the modern trial. It, like so many other pieces of existential literature (and it is very existential, despite Camus's denial), fundamentally forces the reader to take another look at society and question the meaning of responsibility, justice, morality, and the Absurd life.

Though the book is far more condemning than the Myth of Sisyphus, I believe that good literature is, at its heart, disquieting and shocking - The Stranger is just that, from the first line to the last, acting as perhaps the very pinnacle of Absurdist philosophy. If you've ever questioned the institutionalized slave morality of society, or the existence of God, or simply the meaning of life in a cold and impartial universe, then I highly recommend The Stranger, for it represents Albert Camus's eloquent, moving, and utterly brilliant attempt at the questions that have plagued time.

French Algeria shocked my world.

I know very little about French settler colonies when I approached this book, therefore I was very surprised to find the large majority of characters being either of french or spanish extraction. I was also extremely surprised how european and familiar the setting in the story would be to european readers. Overall a great novel, full of surprises and unexpected turns. Camus really makes one feel like one rides in the front passenger seat.

As a high school student says..

A very good depiction of the concept of absurdity. The simple nature of Camus' writing style hides much more than can be superficially seen. A short, but thought-provoking book. (ahah. this was a required reading for me, so i can't say i particularly recommend it.)

An Interesting and Dramatic novel

This book started out with Meursaults mother dying and he had to go to her funeral. He finds out that his mother and Thomas Perez were really good friends before she died, some people said that they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Then he goes to the beach and he sees Marie, a woman he used to work with. He made a date with her to go see a movie and she said yes. After this Meursault meets up with his next door neighbor, Raymond Sintes. Raymond invites Meursault to dinner and he tells Meursault about how he thinks his wife has cheated on him, and he beat her. Raymond wants Meursault to write Raymond's wife a letter telling her to come back, and Meursault does and then Raymond considers Meursault his "pal". Raymond gets caught by the police for beating his wife and he asks Meursault to be his defendant in court. After this Marie asks Meursault if he loves her and if he will marry her, he told her it doesn't matter to him, he would be fine either way. So they are now engaged, but he ends up getting put in jail for murdering an Arab, and they don't get married.
This was a really good book, and it was also really hard to put down. The reason I think The Stranger by Albert Camus is a fantastic book is because it is really interesting, you want to keep on reading to find out what happens next. The reason I think this book is interesting is because Meursault doesn't care what happens in the whole book, from his mom dying, to him being put in jail, to him getting married. I believe if you like drama this would be a great book for you to read. It was a fun and fast read and I would give it a four and a half out of five. Other books I have really like were Tell No One and As Simple As Snow. These two books were a lot like The Stranger, because of the mystery in this book.

An Intriguing Tale

From the first sentence to the last, Alburt Camus has you in his grip. The intriguing classic, "The Stranger" draws you in by its story line, and keeps you into it by making you one with the story.

"Mother died today. Or, maybe yesterday; I can't be sure." From the first couple of sentences to the last, "The Stranger" has you hooked. As the book progresses, you can see in full description the narrator's life as it unfolds. From his mother's funeral, to his friend's conflicts, and the aftermath of his pointless decisions, it is as if you were seeing things first hand.

Because the narrator is faceless and the book is in first person, you feel like you are the criminal. You personally experience all the narrators emotions. You interact with everyone. You face all the obstacles. When the narrator is imprisoned, it feels as if you are locked away from all humanity. It is just you, the cell, and the prison guards.

In the lowest depths of his sanity, the questions of humanity, society, the law system, and the overall reason to live, can come to the surface of your conscience. That is the time you can find yourself pondering over controversial questions. Questions that can never be answered.

Although I, along with many others, have enjoyed this book, I could see how some might not like it. At times, "The Stranger" could seem depressing, for many times through out the book, life itself is viewed as meaningless. The narrator sees the world through eyes that not many people could look through. The world to him has no Religion, no thinking ahead, and no reasons; things just happen and you need to take them one day at a time. For that reason, I would only recommend this book to those who wish to see the world differently; would like to be puzzled by the questions of society and mankind; and people who can open their minds to new views.