Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Our author for September is probably one of the most famous French authors of the 20th century-Albert Camus -and a personal favourite of mine.
I've read and reread number of his works, and hopefully have time to reread La Chute/The Fall.
I've read La Peste/The Plague three times!

Which will you be reading?

I have read Stranger by Camus, I liked it and want to read more. Currently I am reading The Fall as a group read. Any other reading suggestions anyone?

I recommend The Plague, Nidhi.

Yes it’s very famous in GR. I will try to read it. Thanks Rosemarie.

You're welcome!

I thinks I'm going to go for one I've not yet read - The First Man; incomplete at his death, but apparently the most autobiographical of his work.

I'll be reading The Fall. I've read both The Plague (which I liked very much) and The Stranger.

Nidhi wrote: "I have read Stranger by Camus, I liked it and want to read more. Currently I am reading The Fall as a group read. Any other reading suggestions anyone?"

I'm glad you liked The Stranger, Nidhi. I just couldn't like it.

That was my first book by Camus and I myself was surprised that I liked it even more than Kafka ‘s works The Trial and Metamorphosis. So I have decided to explore more of Camus to find out the reason and to reestablish my sanity lol.

I do like Camus more than Kafka.

I am new to both. For next year I have planned Kafka’s works ( complete short stories) and biography.

I just came upon a passage from The Fall, it’s philosophy. And yes I know why I like this book... it is in soliloquy style .

“Maybe we don’t love life enough? Have you noticed that death alone awakens our feelings? How we love the friends who have just left us? How we admire those of our teachers who have ceased to speak, their mouths filled with earth! Then the expression of admiration springs forth naturally, that admiration they were perhaps expecting from us all their lives. But do you know why we are always more just and more generous toward the dead? The reason is simple. With them there is no obligation.”

Excerpt From
The Fall
Albert Camus

Great quote, Nidhi.

Very interesting passage Nidhi!
Very thought provoking and understanding the last makes sense.

Just started "The Fall", and agree with Nidhi. It's written in the soliloquy style. I love such books and feel I'll like this too. What I understand from the few pages I've read is that the book is basically an observation of human behaviour. It is only my first impression. This is Camus which means it is easy to misinterpret.

I have read The Stranger twice, but it has been a long time. I am planning to read The Fall.

I just finished The Fall. At present, I'm utterly at a loss for words. I'll share my thoughts when I can form them into a coherent whole. For anyone who wants to read it, I highly recommend it. But please know, you might not feel the same self after reading it.

That is the highest praise any book can get Piyangi, good or bad, I am curious. I may finish it tomorrow.

My library copy of The Fall/La Chute is waiting to be picked up. I haven't read it since university.

I'd like to share my review of The Fall here which expresses my thought on the book at length. Please note that it may contain spoilers.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I liked The Fall more than The Stranger. The theme of spiritual vacuum was not new for me but the monologue style made this book marvellous, I knew that Fall means fall from grace ( humanity) but the ending of the book gave it other meaning that is Fall from the bridge which was a ‘turning point ‘ in spiritual journey of the protagonist.

I enjoyed reading your review, Piyangie. It was insightful and inspiring.
I studied Camus' works in university years ago and I was much too young when I read La Chute.
But now it makes a lot of sense to me. His theme that true freedom is frightening and scary makes sense. Do we all want to be responsible for every one of our actions? It's also a very lonely situation.

I've only read "The Stranger" and was thinking of reading "The Plague" or "The Myth of Sisyphus" next. Are they worth it?

Jay wrote: "I've only read "The Stranger" and was thinking of reading "The Plague" or "The Myth of Sisyphus" next. Are they worth it?"

I've yet to read "The Myth of Sisyphus", so I cannot comment, but "The Plague" I would say very much worth it.

Rosemarie wrote: "I enjoyed reading your review, Piyangie. It was insightful and inspiring.
I studied Camus' works in university years ago and I was much too young when I read La Chute.
But now it makes a lot of sen..."

Thank you very much, Rosemarie. Camus is an author with profound thinking, so I agree with you that if you read him in your youth, he would make little sense. I would have really shied from him had I read him. But as you say, he makes a lot of sense now in our mature age.
As Camus says, freedom without responsibility is an impossibility since we live in a community and our actions involve others. So, there is no complete freedom. We are responsible for all our actions and are judged accordingly, thereby losing our innocence. You are quite right, Rosemarie. It is scary and frightening and a very lonely situation to be in.

Piyangie wrote: "Jay wrote: "I've only read "The Stranger" and was thinking of reading "The Plague" or "The Myth of Sisyphus" next. Are they worth it?"

I've yet to read "The Myth of Sisyphus", so I cannot comment,..."

Thank you, Piyangie. I heard a lot about "The Plague" so I wanted to dive into that first. But I saw your praise about "The Fall" earlier, now I'm a bit tempted to read that.

Camus also wrote some very thought-provoking plays, for those who enjoy drama. They're generally a fast read but keep you thinking long afterwards.

Reading "The Stranger" did leave me feeling a bit lost and confused on the inside, but perhaps that was what the book was supposed to invoke.

That's it exactly, Jay.

If I have to be honest, the book scared me a bit. I felt empty, lost, and confused. What about you, Rosemarie?

The greatest introduction to Camus's thought is his series of essays, originally written for Combat, the clandestine newspaper of the French Resistance which he edited between 1943 to 1947, entitled "Neither Victims nor Executioners".

It is one of the great moral documents of the 20th century and it provides a clear and concise understanding of what undergirds his philosophy and helps makes The Rebel (his masterpiece) all the more accessible.

I feel that the protagonist has lost his way and is still searching. He's turned his good feelings about himself upside down and is now his own harshest critic.
I don't know if I could take such a hard look at myself, but my philosophy of life is a lot gentler than his.

Yes, I do agree. He is certainly very harsh about himself. I noticed that his perceptions toward other people are very indifferent. Even when he went on trial, his thoughts about his girlfriend is pretty much what a hottie she is, instead of how she might be feeling right at that moment.

I simply couldn't stand the protagonist in The Stranger. It kind of stopped me from following the philosophy behind the story. When I reflect back, I see its importance in Camus's philosophy. But at the time of reading, I only wanted to be done with it.

I think Piyangie that Camus was influenced by some philosopher, I am interested in this author, till now I have just gathered that like Kafka, Camus life was short, he died in a car accident.

The next book by him which I have decided will be The Rebel, Plague I will read when Corona becomes a history.

I will continue to post on this thread even if I read some other works by Camus next year.

The Myth of Sisyphus explains more of Camus' philosophy, as shown in The Stranger/L'Étranger. Another translation of the same title is The Outsider, which I think is closer to the meaning of the book.

I want to read next The Myth of Sisyphus. But I'll have to wait till next year. Fully booked for this year! :)

I watched this video about philosophy of absurdism ( Albert Camus).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Idhb...

I jumped into this a little late, but I was really intrigued after all you comments. I’m about a quarter of the way through The Plague and it’s brilliant so far, it’s scary some of the similarities in the way we have dealt with COVID in the last few years. I wish I’d read this before it all happened so that I could see how it has coloured my perspective of this.

I read The Plague before all this happened. Camus does show different reactions to the plague in Oran, which could be compared to the Nazi takeover of France.
Some chaacters showed their strength of character and willingness to help others. Some characters thought only of themselves.
I do like the doctor, who I consider the main character of The Plague.

I read 'The Plague' last fall, and I'd like to read it again. The sense of isolation that he writes about is so eloquent, and so much like what many of us have now experienced. I wonder if anyone else found this puzzling, though: How long it takes for a scene that graphically depicts someone dying from the sickness?

I haven't read the book for awhile, Pat. Maybe one of our other members has read the book more recently?

I finished this last week and it was a great read.
I thought the way the fear of the plague built throughout the book was really well done. I think if the more graphic descriptions of the illness had come towards the beginning it could have lost that sense of build up for me.
I will definitely be reading more from the author.

Georgina wrote: "I finished this last week and it was a great read.
I thought the way the fear of the plague built throughout the book was really well done. I think if the more graphic descriptions of the illness h..."

Thanks, Georgina (and Rosemarie). That explanation makes sense. Definitely a book that's staying with me.