Book Note: The Stranger by Albert Camus

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Albert Camus is one of the most prominent writers of the 20th century. Although I have seen quotes from his writings here and there, this is the first time that I read a book by him. Interestingly, I have a couple of quotes from this book to share myself.

Originally written in French and then translated to other languages - I read the Matthew Ward translation in which Matthew had tried to limit paraphrasing and not use his personal style of writing in the translation. The writing style is pretty intriguing and fast paced, even when the author tries to be descriptive. It is a short book of only 123 pages, so, it was the perfect one-day read.

The ending felt quite abrupt, probably purposely done, and as if there was nothing left to say there - very peculiar to the character of protagonist of the story. Although written over 80+ years ago, some of the things in the book seem to be functions of human nature that are evergreen - figuratively as well as metaphorically. For example, this quote from Meursault's (protagonist) initial days in the prison:

"I realized then that a man who had lived only one day could easily live for a hundred years in prison. He would have enough memories to keep him from being bored. In a way, it was an advantage."

...or from his trial:

"But I couldn't quite understand how an ordinary man's good qualities could become crushing accusations against a guilty man."

...and from much later in the trial and being imprisoned:

He stated that I had no place in a society whose most fundamental rules I ignored and that I could not appeal to the same human heart whose elementary response I knew nothing of. "I ask you for this man's head", he said, "and I do so with a heart at ease."

The last quote seems so apt for our society today where bipartisanship is so prominent, and any sense of belongingness or empathy towards the other party, whether or not there is any logic to it, is immediately written-off as an enemy deserving of the worst, without any consideration to the person's overall conduct.

Meursault's indifference towards the society was treated with contempt. His observation is reflective of the society - that the trial became lesser and lesser about him and more about the ideologies that drove the two men (prosecutor and the defending lawyer), and the main subject of the trial was not the crime anymore, rather his overall conduct in the past.

Overall, a very good read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.