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l1nty's review against another edition
review coming eventually, but oh my goodness, the growing stone was terrible. it was such a struggle to read a thirty-page story that it was almost embarrassing, but it was just SO BAD. it was really racist and boring, and while i get that it's supposed to be absurd, it should still be good. such a disappointment, because i love all of the other stories in this book, so it was a huge bummer that it was chosen as the final one.
jdubbbzzz's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
amandahart's review against another edition
4.0
I could have definitely done without the second story, but the others were all great
marielaloo's review against another edition
3.0
it's sad cos i really liked my first camus (the stranger), but i didn't really like this even though i'm a sucker for short stories. i liked 'the adulterous woman' though.
briancrandall's review against another edition
5.0
The schoolteacher watched the two men climbing toward him. One was on horseback, the other on foot. They had not yet tackled the steep path that led to the school, built on the hillside. They were struggling more and more slowly in the snow, among the stones, on the vast expanse of the high desert plateau. From time to time the horse visibly stumbled. They were not yet within earshot, but he could clearly see the jet of vapor coming from the horse’s nostrils. One of the men, at least, knew the country. [67]
bonnie3088's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
"Is there another love than that of darkness, a love that would cry aloud in daylight"
I don't know if this book would count as a DNF if I just never finished the last short story. I guess it does.
This book was really well written and had some really great stories. But as it went on the whole thing felt like a chore to finish. I think if I just understood more of Albert Camus' philosophy then I would be able to place myself in the right headspace to read and finish this book. I think the stories were insanely thought provoking but at times too full of themselves. But then again I probably just missed the mark on the target demo
I don't know if this book would count as a DNF if I just never finished the last short story. I guess it does.
This book was really well written and had some really great stories. But as it went on the whole thing felt like a chore to finish. I think if I just understood more of Albert Camus' philosophy then I would be able to place myself in the right headspace to read and finish this book. I think the stories were insanely thought provoking but at times too full of themselves. But then again I probably just missed the mark on the target demo
pithingcontest's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
[7/10] Enjoyed overall! An interesting reflection of Camus's pied-noir roots that conveys the feeling of not truly belonging anywhere. Alienated from one's homeland, but an intruder anywhere else; your birthplace is comfortingly familiar, yet you don't feel at home there; the foreign countries you travel to that feel like home are paradoxically completely alien to you. Definitely something I can relate to, though to a much lesser extent. The stories were too short to really captivate me like most of his works, but they're INCREDIBLY atmospheric and vibes-forward—Camus's settings are always so vivid & lifelike, and it's very prominent in these. Reminded me a lot of the Tolstoy short stories I've read, actually, especially Hadji Murat. The Guest tugged at my heartstrings more than I expected, and the missionary insanity of The Renegade was another favorite (that also reminded me WAY too much of The Book of Mormon musical).
Favorites: Jonas, or The Artist at Work; The Guest; The Renegade, or A Confused Mind
Favorites: Jonas, or The Artist at Work; The Guest; The Renegade, or A Confused Mind
anarcho_zymurgist's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
For whatever reason, I generally have a difficult time getting invested in short stories. My feeling of ambivalence towards this selection by Camus, therefore, I think says less about the quality of these particular stories and more my own bias.
bronnyb's review against another edition
‘History shows,’ he would say, ‘that the less people read, the more books they buy.’