I picked this up in a charity shop as I'd taken my car to get fixed and forgotten to take a book to read while waiting! The mechanics then took so long to fix it that I managed to finish the book.

This is a novel I have heard of many times, but I can never get over the feeling that if a book is 'groundbreaking' and leaves a 'deep mark on the imagination of this an future generations' - it will probably be not very good. Clever, certainly. Important, undoubtedly. But fun to read?? Never!

So I was pleasantly surprised that this is very easy to read, very easy to understand, very simply written and does reflect on many human follies and conceits. The principle character is a man who cares nothing for social convention, or the feelings of others. This is not to call him a monster by any means - he is a regular, rather dull guy who prefers his own company.

Very enjoyable, and I would recommend it to anyone who has wondered themselves whether 'important' books ar worth the effort.

I shall be sending this out as a book ray in the New Year.

This will be sent on a bookray to:

kinedi (UK)
Jolanda (Netherlands)
irishajo (USA)
TheBowieFollies (USA)


***Edited to add***

10th January - sent to kinedi today.

Enjoy!

Received with thanks. It'll be my first attempt to read Camus but previous journal entriesby Xanthe-pup made me hopeful that I'll enjoy it too so watch this space :o)

Well, I didn't know what to expect from Albert Camus and must say I was perhaps a bit disappointed.The language was very simple and quite often a case of ''I was tired. So I went to bed.I was hungry.I bought some bread '' and maybe I was expecting a higher level of chosen words for an author of world literature.
The story itself was divided into 2 parts and in part 1 I just wanted to kick the main character, Mr Mersanault as he seemed just sooo wishywashy and had a very indifferent attitude to life..In part 2 a lot of things come together and the ending to me was quite surprising.
All in all though I appreciate the chance of having been able to read one of the ''big ones'' and do thank Xanthe-pup for organsing this ring.
Will PM Jolanda now so book can travel on

RELEASE NOTES:

Posted out today to Jolanda in the Netherlands

found the book in the mail today, looking forward to the read.

18-mar-2006
Interesting book, although sligthly depressing I kept wondering where the story was going. It's not a book I will read for a second time. However an intersting classic.

It's already on its way to the USA.

Received book, I will get to it asap.

Not sure what to say about this one. I tried to read slowly and absorb it but the short novel moved so quickly that I haven't yet decided how I feel about it. I enjoyed the very basic writing style, which I imagine was an extension of the author's attempt to portray a man wholly concerned with truth. No prevarications or subtleties needed, just absolute honesty about himself and human existence. I was also intrigued by the character's passionate speech at the end, which I have still not quite deciphered the meaning of.

At any rate, I think it's a worthwhile read, something to think about philosophically. I'll be sending it on as soon as I get an address.

and camus came today, i was just rereading the fall and walla! Cheers to the tantamount taffy from this sforzando scouser,heres a bassey tune!
cheers to you as well irishajo for getting this to mae :)

As the last rung of this ray I was planning along with a spike milligan to read and release this near the eleanor rigby statue when I visit home late september

happy crookbossing, brooksiding and bokchoying!

thebowiefollies!