L'étranger
Last night I finished reading "L'étranger" by Albert Camus. Thanks to my dear friend Saqf for giving me this book too.
I haven't read in French for a very long time. The last time I did, I started reading "The Lord of the Rings" and then stopped halfway through the first chapter because it just didn't feel right.
In books, like movies, I think it's best to always read or watch it in its original language; A lot of things are always lost in translation.
Anyway this was a really good read. I really like the style in which it was written and how the story was told.
It totally sucked me in from the opening sentence.
I somehow connected with the main character, Mr. Meursault, who represents the writer's views, although he is very different from me, but I guess I just understood him, his vision and thoughts about life and the world around us.
It looks at life from an existentialist point of view, from which God doesn't exist, there are no principles, nothing in life really matters and no matter what everyone's going to end up dead anyway.
That means that people may only be judged or defined by their actions and choices, and human choices are the ultimate evaluator, and so behaviour doesn't need to be regulated. Everything becomes relative.
Of course, I don't fully agree with this opinion, but the book certainly makes you think a lot about life, principles, laws ...etc.
I found it really worth the read.
And btw, an English version of the book, "The Stranger", is available too for those who are interested in reading it but don't know French.
My score for it: 7/10.
Seras-Tu Là ? (Guillaume Musso) Secret Smile - Nicci French French Voters Reject EU Constitution The World Is A Book... French Parliament Legalizes P2PC'est un des livres qui porte le mieux son titre et dont d'ailleurs le titre resume toute l'histoire: un etranger parmis les autres.
Posted by: Yas at September 14, 2005 05:06 PMun tres bon livre, d'ailleurs c le premire livre francais que j'ai lu dans ma vie (en tantque adulte ;) ) et ca il y a presque 14 ans, woow !
chq1 s'identifie la dedans :)
Etre etranger ... he oui !
Je suis heureux que le livre t'a plu, et sans doute le style de l'auteur est très intéressant, même c'est un livre classique, il montre des idées actuelles.
Posted by: Saqf at September 15, 2005 11:31 AMJe ne crois pas que l'étranger peut se résumer aux quelques phrases que t'as écris, je sais que ce n'est pas un review du livre que tu es en train de faire. J'aurai apprécié voir la façon avec laquelle t'as vécu ce roman...
C'est étrange, mais un livre avec lequel t'as passé des heures et des heures, un livre qui, peut être, t'as emprisonné pour quelques instants dans le monde de camus, un livre, fruit d'une crise existencielle avec des sensations tellement contradictoire certaines fois, ambigus, un être qu'on découvre à chaque seconde dans le moindre de nos gestes, de nos actes, ne te sucite que ces pensées tellement superficielles,...
Mais, à la fin, Camus ne t'as pas invité à abondonné tes convictions, il t'as invité à vivre ce monde qu'il a tissé pour quelques instants...
je ne veux pas être trop agressif,... J'aimerai plutôt croire que tu n'es pas en train de poster juste pour remplir ton blog...
je dis pas que tu dois aimer ce livre, mais, même en le détestant, il y'a des sensations intense à exprimer...
peut etre que c'est de l'indifférence... oui, ...
...
c'était juste un avis qui voulait être non hypocrite... beau blog en tout cas...
:)
ciao
I remember I started reading this book years ago, but wasn't able to get pass the first few pages. I knew that if I just finished the first few pages, I would discover the wonderful book everyone was talking about... But I just couldn't :S
Posted by: Eve at September 15, 2005 10:09 PMI've read this book a long time ago.. i should read it again and see :)
The Stranger? sounds strange :D
as you said, better read booksin their original language!
the book has been sitting on my shelf for ages and ages... but now you got me motivated to pick it and give it another shot! It's been a while since I read anything in French or practiced any Fench :(
Posted by: Lina at September 17, 2005 07:09 AM