The Stranger by Albert Camus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

At first glance, the Stranger by Albery Camus can seem confusing and even disturbing. The story follows a character named Mersault, and his attitude on just about everything seems illogical to both us and his fellow Algerians. He lacks emotion, rejects religion, and is indifferent to social norms, making him the least approachable character in the novel. However, he’s also the character the reader is expected to approach. This juxtaposition turns the relatively simple premise set in ALgiers to a complicated journey where the reader must struggle to piece together Camus’ intent. To readers unfamiliar with the themes in his works, the Stranger is a great introduction that left me wondering if my life was any less absurd than Mersault’s. Although the novel is unintuitive and seems to touch on completely irrelevant and unimportant points, the conclusion will leave most readers satisfied. Although I would not recommend this book to everyone, it is certainly a perfect fit for people seeking to address the ‘absurd’ that they encounter every day.

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