Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I'll keep this short. The book was an awful read save the last ten pages. Everything before that is terribly uninteresting. It is only once he has been sentenced and awaits his end that it becomes something worth flipping through. I have the utmost respect for Albert Camus, but this is dribble.
Rating: 
Summary: Understanding Existentialism, Camus, & "The Stranger"
Review: I have read many of the 284 reviews written before mine, and feel it is important that readers understand what it is that they are reading.First, and foremost, Camus is an existentialist. As the Encyclopædia Britannica states "...Existentialism does not leave man with nothing to do. Once the nullity of the existential possibilities is recognized, man cannot but resign himself to Being, which, in one of its new manifestations in the world or beyond it, conducts him to a new epoch." Thus in its most basic form existentialism is an investigation into Being--how one lives--how one should live. Second, "The Stranger" is not written as Camus sees life, but rather as a critique against his contemporaries, e.g Jean-Paul Sartre, many of whom see life as absurd or pointless. Do not mistake Meursault's unemotional amoral living as the "Being" of Camus. Why would Camus argue for such an absurdity when he argues against suicide in "The Myth of Sisyphus"? (Sisyphus living perhaps the most absurd of all existences.) Third, and final, Matthew Ward's translation is superb. Do not be misled by other reviewers that have perhaps not compared translations side by side--Mr. Ward's translation is true to the style of the original--a TRANSLATION rather than a TRANSLITERATION. In conclusion, if one approaches this translation of "The Stranger" with an understanding of existentialism, Camus, and the translation, I believe a full appreciation for this philosophical masterpiece will be gained.
Rating:
Summary: terrible
Review: why are we forced to read this GARBAGE in high school? this book was terrible. i really felt like jumping in the book and slappin' that guy around a bit. how could he just act like that? UGH!
Rating: 
Summary: Damn...my face is falling off...
Review: This book was nuts. This guy was so cold hearted and completly...a strager...even to his friends. He was so cold that it almost even made to this book boring. I mean, somtimes I would be reading and I would notice that I was board, but I wanted to read more. I cant explain it, but this book was amazing! READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: the stranger
Review: The Stranger By: Albert Camus The book that I read was called The Stranger by Albert Camus. The story is a simple novel about a guy named Meursault, a shipping clerk in the North African city of Algiers. He seems to be a very superficial person in all his actions. He finds out about his mothers death and when he goes to his mother's funeral, he isn't in the least bit devastated by her death; this is because he just sees death as a part of life, in my opinion. He finds himself hanging out with some new friends and while "Backing up" one of them, he shoots and kills one man. He is now in jail and is facing the death penalty, hoping and praying for parole. Then he is visited by the county's chaplain, who makes him realize just how important life is to him. Meursault is a very unique individual that sees life in a very different way, rather than judging someone, he tries to find out why that person acts that way. The things that he holds dear and cares about are a little different also, he cares a great deal about the little things in life, like swimming and running, instead of things like a big house, or a nice car. Another thing that is a little "off" that I find is that he doesn't think about how his actions will affect his future life, he kind of "lives for the moment" instead of planning for the things to come. The last that intrigues me about him is that he doesn't have that much emotion for the things that are going on around him, I think this is because he doesn't want to live up to societies' expectations that everyone behaves a certain way. I think that the reason why he doesn't have everyone else's emotional habits is because he sees things as they are and that's it, he doesn't think about what the outcomes means to him. I think that the title, The Stranger, refers to the main character Meursault. The reason why I think so, is because throughout the whole book you learn plenty about him, but he always seems so very distant to me. The question that arises from this is "Why?" Why would the author write an entire novel, giving minute details about his train of thought, and his emotions (when they arise) and give obvious effort to keep the man a mystery? I think that the reason is because he wants the reader to relate to Meursault, and learn from his experiences. Another reason that could be the answer is because the author wants the reader to be jealous of him. The grounds that I say is on how everybody wants act without worrying about what everyone else thinks of him or her. Meursault doesn't have a care in the world about how anybody else thinks of him, which is why he finds no need to comply with societies' unwritten laws. This makes people either like him and value his friendship or opinion, or they think he's an insensitive guy. The reason why I picked this book is because my partner, Ray, chose it. The reason why I read this book is because Meursault intrigued me and made me want to continue on and read the book. When you have a character like in The Stranger, by Albert Camus that makes you think it would be great to be able to trade places with for a day, then you can't help but not put the book down. That's what happened to me and that's why I think it is on the honors reading list.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Great
Review: Camus has made a real classic with his book The stranger. Camus provides readers with a glimpse into the life of a young Frenchman named Mersault. The first line of the book is one of the most famous lines in literature. the line shows Mersault's affection for his mother. The telegram Mersault recieves does not tell when his mother died, only the fact that she did die. In the Book Mersault has a girlfriend by the name of Marie. Marie is somewhat a bandage for Mersault after his mother dies. althought Mersault's mothers death does not affect him totally, he still needs help coping with it. throughout the whole book Mersault does not take stands on his views towards different events in the book. i think Camus was trying to tell where neutrality can get you. i enjoyed this book very much, and im a teenager by the age of 16. you should pick this book up, its short, sweet, and has soo much meaning to it, its astounding.
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Summary: un titled
Review: Existentialism, the one thing you must fully understand before reading the stranger, also the ideals existentialism is based around. It states that your time on this earth is pointless, and no matter what you do, you will end up going to hell and be considered a sinner. The main character in this book can approach existentialism in 3 different ways. He can give in and live his life of sin and be doomed to hell, but he will be carefree and worry about nothing he does. The second is he can stand on the edge so to speak, and live his life the was he thinks is good, and laugh in the face of existentialism. The third is he can say forget this , and not even believe in it , and live a happy life , with the false idea that in the end he will go to heaven and be loved by god. The main character takes the first route, and lives his life without care or guilt for his actions, even when he commits a senseless murder on a deserted beach. He shuns love when it comes his way, and he doesnt really think too much about his actions. This book becomes more interesting the more you read, and by the end you will discover what a truly well written story it is.
Rating:
Summary: it isn't what you think it is, trust me
Review: When a friend reccommended The Stranger to me, I thought it would be a bleak display of the human soul, a sad depiction of how everyone and everything is pointless, but then I read it and gained a totally different perspective on Camus' work. The story paints a picture rather than weaves a tale. It blatanty lets you know whats going on without giving everything away, but it doesn't leave you in the dark, either. The senseless murder that the main character commits is totally synonomous with his point of view, and the way that the book is written, and the way that the book is translated, gives you a tough guy image of the character, while letting you find the humanity in him. I read this book thinking that it would be something I would read and never think about again, but it has become a work that I will use as a guide for the rest of my life.
Rating:
Summary: A horrible translation
Review: I have read a previous translation of The Stranger, and was deeply moved. My entire life was changed. The previous translator did Camus justice. Matthew Ward, with this translation of The Stranger, ruined the novel. Ward includes awful cliche and unintelligent description. Unfortunately this is the only translation currently in print in the US. If you are able to, please order from a forgein printer (sometimes printed under the title The Outsider) or consider searching for an out of print copy not translated by Matthew Ward.
Rating:
Summary: The Stranger is excellent.
Review: This book is about the death of innocence. In other words, we all got dirt in our past; I don't care, if you ARE the spitting image of Ghandi or Mother Teresa. Innocence simply does't exist. And, "democracy begins only when we all realize that we are guilty." The point is: it isn't anyone's business what you think, do, or are. Herd instinct triumphs in this novel, alas! But, this book will make you want to fight for your individuality, overthrow the system, be who you are. And, it will make you detest the injustice that plagues the world. Get it and read it religiously. <> is also very good, adding another flavor of intimacy. Watch for the special parts where Camus lays out his interpretation of events- at the end of The Stranger- as this is where the madness of the injustice is explained. Forget <> unless you are reading for the existentialist philosophy, but still it isn't too hot. But, even in the good novels suspension of disbelief is a useful tool; use it.
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