Aug. 31, 2024 |  Genres:  Literary Fiction   Fiction   Literature  

The Stranger

Published in 1942 by French author Albert Camus, The Stranger has long been considered a classic of twentieth-century literature. Le Monde ranks it as number one on its "100 Books of the Century" list. Through this story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on a sundrenched Algerian beach, Camus explores what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd."

I can see why this book is considered such a classic. Without giving away too much, Part 1 made me appreciate the little things in life. Things like enjoying a nice summer day, eating good food and drinking good win, and loving the friends and partners in your life. Part 1 feels like a summer day on a beach. Part 2 makes me question things, and think about the purpose of our existence. Towards the very end, the main character goes on a tirade about how nothing in the world mattered, and that having certainty with the way you live your life is the only thing that does matter. I felt that very deeply. The overall absurdity of the novel makes both parts somehow feel right with each other, even though they're about entirely different things. Overall, an amazing read for everyone.