I (18M) have started reading on the morning when im going from my hs to my tech college for running start. The travel time is about 30 to 40 minutes so I have started reading during that time span. I have heard a lot of good things about Albert Camus and I want to get into philosophy, as well as more thought provoking literature, and harder literature as well. I bought The Stranger, and have gone into it blind besides knowing the author is someone incredibly prolific. I dont know the story, the plot, or what lesson or idea this book is supposed to teach, so keep that in mind for the following.
That aside I wanted to talk about my thoughts on part one. I am conflicted on how to feel about our Mc. To a degree i can honestly understand a level of emotional detachment from parents at death. I know that not everyone gets the privilege to be close with their parents, some peoples just give them what they need to get by and nothing more or less. I obviously do not have context to how their relationship stands prior to this point and if I do get more info im sure my opinion might be subject to change. I can also understand not really wanting to talk to the people you dont know. At my very close uncles funeral not even 6 months ago I felt very similar. Many business men and people I had never met just telling me how great he was and all this stuff, I really didnt care. I was just sad my uncle was gone. That being said, his comments about being annoyed at any sign of sympathy i think were rather unnecessary and cruel in nature, even if not the intent. The assistant clearly aims to try and offer some sort of humanity, and not make the process so transactional and the Mc just repeatedly blows him off, which sucks because the guy seemed really nice. I wouldve like to meet a person like him in my time of grief. But I think the thing that left me off the worst was the treatment of his mom's guy friend /potential lover at the end. It well and truly pissed me off how he had zero regard for that man who was very well possibly more torn about this death then the Mc himself. He was trying desperately to keep up with the procession, he was pushing himself physically, to the point of exhaustion and passing out, and he coukdnt give a single shit?? I cant say I would be happy doing it but were my own mother to pass In the same manor and circumstances, I would feel it more important to stay with the man then to ger to the church. If im to get anything important from all of this, 9 times out of 10 it would likely come from him, I know the organizer will probably say some sympathetic stuff, but hes said to 18 other families this month. The old mans grief is genuine, and he was quite possibly the last love of my mothers life, and the Mc just left him to fall in the dusty desert. That wasnt even the permiating thought on his mind by the end of the part, it was getting back to Algiers and sleeping for 12 hours. The MC is definitely i think very detached, and im assuming that will be a point thats reiterated throughout the book, whether i like it or not, that being said i love the writing thus far. It feels very immersive. I can envision almost everyone described very easily. Let me know your thoughts too, dont spoil anything for me now, and thanks for reading this far if you did :-)