October 2nd, 2011 
If both your inner English teacher and psychologist are looking for something they’ll enjoy, The Stranger by Albert Camus may just be a good choice.
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A French novel first published in English in 1946, The Stranger was an instant classic. The story follows an ordinary man, Meursault, through his first person narrative of the events that happen after his mother’s death. Through his daily routine and his lack of remorse for his mother’s passing the reader can instantly see that there is something not completely right with Meursault. His lack of care for what goes on in the world around him, and his indecision with everyday events leads him into a murder that puts his very life at stake. Broken into two parts, the first part is an account of Meursault’s life before the murder and the second part is an account of after the murder.
With fall already here, it’s getting tougher to be able to sit and enjoy a good book for several hours. The Stranger is a great novel to read even on your busiest of days because it’s short. Only 123 pages, this novel is a quick read and straightforward with no complicated plot line to think about. Just the everyday comings and goings of one man dealing with the loss of his mother, a new relationship, a new friend, and the world around him.
Although short and quick to the point, The Stranger is a very well-written novel. The characters are easily distinguished by their own specific dialogue and mannerisms, and the description of the outside world is phenomenal, making the reader feel like they are in the book with the characters.
The only reason I would not recommend this novel to someone is if they were looking for something that’s not obscure. The Stranger is full of philosophy and follows an absurdist train of thought more than anything. It’s definitely a novel that will make you question the way people think. It will make you stop and go, “Now why would he do that?”
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