Amazing book

One of those books that has been on my shelf for a long time.... always meaning to read it. Can't believe it took me this long. A very relevant book. Highly recommend.

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wow

Very quick listen, the story is very engaging, the narration is clear. The translation is clear.

very thought provoking and beautiful. just finished and want to read again.

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The Stranger

The Stranger


There is a list entitled "100 books to read before you die".  Out of curiosity and the desire to expand myself intellectually I have been plugging my why through these books. Many of these books are a part of our life. Like the adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the entire collection of The Wizard of Oz. There are so many more, some fun and some daunting Like War and peace. There are some that are absolutely horrible like the Tales of Genji. Others are truly great books like WaterShip Downs, To Kill a Mockingbird, or The Secret Garden.  

The Stranger by Albert Camus was next on my list. As it began it reminded me of The Catcher in the Rye. It had the same nihilistic feel. 

The main character, Meursoult, is numb to his actions and the actions of others. Not caring when a man beats his wife, even goes as far to testify that she was having an affair. He is willing to marry someone, not out of love, but because she asked and it seemed like a good idea. To its most famous quote, “Mama died today or maybe yesterday, I don’t know.”

Unlike, Catcher in the Rye, where the main character, Holden Coulfield, ambles on in a state of depression and melancholy and does not kill anyone. Despite any conspiracy connections, he is relatively harmless. 

In, The Stranger, the main character does actually kill someone. Yes he was threatened with a knife. However after he shot once killing his attacker he waited a moment then like a psychopath unloaded four more shots into the already dead man. 

He was tried and found guilty. Not because he defended himself, but because of the coldness of his charter and the lack of emotion he showed at his mother's funeral. Which had nothing to do with the murder. 

Guilty because of his lack of empathy and inability to act like "normal" people do. Guilty not because he killed a man in self defense but because he shot four more times after he was killed. Guilty and sentenced to death by guillotine. 

Unlike Catcher in the Rye, where the story ends in an almost pointless anticlimactic fashion and the moral is hard to see. In, The Stranger, the lead character, Meursoult comes out of his shell and for the first time has an emotional dialog with a priest. Where he denies God and admits the pointlessness of existence but also says that he has found love for mankind. Just as he accepted his death, understanding that today or tomorrow, we all will die. 

It's important to point out that this story was written during WW2 during the German occupation of France. The author, Albert Camus, was a member of the resistance and is quite different then his charter. This is fundamental because of what the French had to endure and many became numb to life. After seeing many loved ones executed or imprisoned, rights being taken away and the very core of their culture being oppressed. 

This story, like Catcher in the Rye, is about people who see the true chaos and randomness of the godless world. An oppressed by a society that causes depression in people that leads to irrational behavior and suicide. 

Sound familiar, bare with me a moment. Look at the world we live in at this moment.

- For example it's a fact that many people are under economic slavery. 









- The cost of living and food is absurd. Where vegetables are absurdly high and rotting meat is being sold at outrageous prices. 

- In Canada we have evidence that our elections are rigged. I have personally seen a large number of people denied the right to vote. Including my own girlfriend allowing governing people to wrongfully maintain power. 

- We have seen that there is no freedom of speech and our opinions are scrutinised and censored. Specifically in regards to anyone questioning Covid 19 and the forced vacation. 

- Information is now restricted and only government approved propaganda is allowed on the internet. 

- We have seen peaceful protestors violently attacked by the same people swore to protect them. 

- We have seen the Canadian government freeze bank accounts of anyone who supported that protest and our very own citizens dubbed terrorists by that government. 

- We have seen the cost of living and food skyrocket.

- I personally know of many people who have taken their own lives because of all of this. Many killed themselves out of desperation at the loss of all belief and hope. 

There is a connection between this book and our everyday lives. Many people are now so numb because of the situation forced on them they have become nihilistic and desperate that many are forced to commit crimes in order to survive or to kill themselves because of hopelessness.

In short they become “Strangers.” Strangers to themselves, to others, and strangers to a society that sold fake ideologies.  

It shows the dangers of hop. Hop is locked in Pandora's Box. When hope is lost we decay, entering a state of entropy.

This book shows the power of acceptance, nothing is fair, and the power of choice. I do speak from experience. Someone who deals with life long depression and several other issues on a daily basis and found acceptance in the horrid truth of the universe and the power of choice. 

Choice is our true power. Yes, that includes the choice to take your own life. Also the power to choose to live. 

Acceptance has power to. The ability to truly accept hard truth. Can not change the outcome of hard truth. It can change personal attitudes when dealing with them.   

So Like Holden Caulfield and Meursault I make my choice. Not the choice to take my life, nor to detach myself from everyone. I choose to live until I inevitably die.  


As ever I give my thanks to those involved in bringing this book into our world. From the author to all those involved in publication in both book and audiobook. Keep the world thinking. 

Yours; David Evil Midknight

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1 person found this helpful

Overall, good book!

The chapter titles in the audiobook were confusing and seems like they were not the same as the book itself. Also, the book was an interesting read, quite philosophical, thought-provoking and all, but not "fun" to read.

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Meh…

Decent read from an interesting mind. First half reads like Hemingway. Second half makes it apparent this was all just a vehicle for unpacking an idea. Overtly didactic. Expected more.

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