–review by Josh, teen reviewer
The Stranger by Albert Camus
The concept of this novel alone is thought-provoking enough to spend hours analysing. A man arrives in a city in France after his mother dies, and after killing someone in self-defense, is put on trial; the main driving force of the animosity towards him is that he’s a stranger, and nothing is really known about him. That theme alone is powerful and speaks volumes about human nature’s tendency to assume guilt in others, or to find a scapegoat. This book covers all that, and then decides to dive deeper. While in jail for this crime he undergoes extensive self-examination, cultivating to an ultimate theme of “What is the meaning of life?”. A short novel, it covers an impressive range of subjects, views, moods, and themes that can easily leave a reader thinking about it for weeks afterwards; to me, a sign of how excellent this book truly is. – Josh, teen reviewer
Find the book in our library: The Stranger