Rating: Summary: A Most Honest Camus Review: "~Great book, I had read The Stranger and was captivated by that; The First Man seems to be more autobiographical. It seems to capture the existentialist predicament of being thrown into the world not of one's own making, having the circumstances of your life dictated by chance but still being responsible for who you are and what you become. It seems the protagonist struggles to create himself; and in that sense he is writing on a clean slate, creating the first man, so to speak. read.
Rating: Summary: Camus Can Do Review: Albert Camus, author of The Stranger and The Plague, died in a car wreck in 1960. His briefcase, found at the scene, contained the first draft of his most poignant and personal novel. It's taken all this time to convince his family this thing was worth publishing, unfinished though it is. Was it worth the wait? You bet! In fact, The First Man is one of the most impressive releases in recent years because readers get the raw Camus: daring yet touching. His main character, Jacques Cormery, is suspiciously similar to the author; therefore, what we get is a first-hand account of the Algeria Camus loved so desperately. The First Man's most poignant episodes are those concerned with Cormery's search for the father he never knew. The low-key lyricism splendidly evokes the tormented spirit of a man as he makes a pilgrimage to the center of his own heart.
Rating: Summary: a stranger to himself Review: Albert Camus. I have always liked his books, especially The Plague. My favorite part of that book was not necessarily the conversations between the characters but the moments of solitude where the sensual beauty of the world is silently looked upon. Reading The First Man I found a book by Camus that I prefer to his novels and stories because in this unfinished autobiography you get the feeling you are listening to the loneliest man on earth. It is sad, but it is heartwarming, this is Camus alone and what is important to Camus stands out like it does nowhere else. In other words this is Camus outside the context we normally encounter him in which is the turbulent intellectual debates in France of the 40's and 50's. Camus never believed in the politics of the French left in regards to the Arab countries and the future course of leadership for those nations which were his home from a very early age and where this autobiographical novel takes place. Camus believed in an alliance of European and Arab peoples that would rule together. You cannot help but think Camus was perhaps trying to come to terms with his own identity which was a combination of both places, and perhaps an uneasy combination. In some ways he reminds me of T.E. Lawrence in that his ultimate vision was always at odds with almost everyone elses. Both were ultimately very lonely figures. This book concentrates on the childhood years but since we all know what the future held for Camus it is all the more moving. And that feeling for nature which required no identity and had none of its own it seems was there from the beginning.
Rating: Summary: Insight into the Real Life of Camus Review: Camus always wrote about things based on his life. Because this is an unfinished work, the story is almost a completely accurate account of Camus's early childhood. He did not really have any time to edit and "mask" himself. Like the character in the book, his father died at the Battle of Marne, his mother was a partially deaf maid, and he was mostly raised by his grandmother. The hardships that Camus faced are all described in his book. If you are looking for Camus's typical thrilling plot, look elsewhere. If you are true Camus fanatic eager to learn about the extremely humble beginnings of one of the most modern philosophical geniuses, look no further.
Rating: Summary: Insight into the Real Life of Camus Review: Camus always wrote about things based on his life. Because this is an unfinished work, the story is almost a completely accurate account of Camus's early childhood. He did not really have any time to edit and "mask" himself. Like the character in the book, his father died at the Battle of Marne, his mother was a partially deaf maid, and he was mostly raised by his grandmother. The hardships that Camus faced are all described in his book. If you are looking for Camus's typical thrilling plot, look elsewhere. If you are true Camus fanatic eager to learn about the extremely humble beginnings of one of the most modern philosophical geniuses, look no further.
Rating: Summary: Camus takes one giant leap backwards. Review: Camus leads us directly where his cliche geomental abstractions have taken us before. Its time for Camus to discharge this obsession with estivation and learn to love the summer solstice. Hibernation is not all that anyway.
Rating: Summary: Being Camus for a second Review: Camus shows through this book why he is a great writer, one could only wish to look at life through Camus' eyes and mind, even if it was for a second. Fortunately this book allows us that pleasure. Camus shows us a man who is patient when confronting his destiny. One of Camus' best.
Rating: Summary: Very Interesting Review: Camus' final book, found in the wreckage the day his life was taken. "The First Man" is incomplete and lacking Camus polishing, which would have made the novel more discreet. "The First Man" is the tale of Jacques Cormory. His life, his struggles, his personal revelations, and his relationships are all Albert Camus'. "The First Man" is a biographical novel. This is an actual account (name changes?) of Camus' experiences, it is really nothing like any of his other works, but it's not lacking in words of wisdom, or the why(?) and how(?) of things.
Rating: Summary: Very Interesting Review: Camus' final book, found in the wreckage the day his life was taken. "The First Man" is incomplete and lacking Camus polishing, which would have made the novel more discreet. "The First Man" is the tale of Jacques Cormory. His life, his struggles, his personal revelations, and his relationships are all Albert Camus'. "The First Man" is a biographical novel. This is an actual account (name changes?) of Camus' experiences, it is really nothing like any of his other works, but it's not lacking in words of wisdom, or the why(?) and how(?) of things.
Rating: Summary: POPSPICK PLUS Review: Don't miss this book. For teachers the last two chapters of this book are worth the price of the book. It leaves a lasting impression.
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