Review- Introducing Existentialism by Richard Appignanesi and Oscar Zárate

Goodreads Summary:

Richard Appignanesi goes in personal quest of Existentialism in its original state. He begins with Camus' question of suicide: 'Must life have a meaning to be lived?' Is absurdity at the heart of Existentialism? Or is Sartre right: is Existentialism 'the least scandalous, most technically austere' of all teachings?

REVIEW:

I had first developed an interest in existentialism when we studied- and no one is going to be surprised by this- Albert Camus' The Stranger in our twentieth century French literature class. At that time, I just put the word "existential" in the dictionary, hoping it would suffice. No prizes for guessing that it didn't. It was only a little later that I actually bothered looking it up online. During my state (pun intended) of finding out more about the concept and the theory, I came across Introducing books. Having read the same books on Camus and Sartre, I knew that Introducing Existentialism would be a quick and knowledgeable read. 

I can guarantee that Introducing Existentialism is a very deep, intellectual and knowledgeable read, but it definitely isn't a quick read. Short, yes, but not quick. That is simply because existentialism, contrary to my initial beliefs, is a very complex and complicated concept and theory to understand. I am not going to tell you what existentialism is, because it is not possible to do that with just one reading, of Introducing Existentialism and of existentialism in general. I am not sure if even I know for myself what it really is. All I know is that I don't really have an opinion on it as yet, but it sure is something to contemplate over. It is complex and complicated, but also very interesting.

Coming to the book itself, Introducing Existentialism, unlike two of its counterparts that I previously mentioned, is not as easy a guide to existentialism as it should be. But then again, existentialism in itself isn't, for me at least. It isn't just a philosophical concept, but includes history, science, technology, religion and psychology as well. Deep, I tell you. And at the same time, this book definitely does not serve as an introductory "guide" as it's way above a simple introdcution. I found myself reading a few pages and keeping the book aside just to gather my thoughts and to try and see if I understood what I just read. 

To conclude, I can safely say that this book is just an okay introductory guide that requires heaps of supplementary reading and research to fully understand what it is trying to say and maybe even a reread or two. The illustrations are really well done; my favourite being Camus (of course!) and the cafe scenes between de Beauvoir and Sartre. What I did appreciate most about this book is that I suppose I finally understood the reason behind the rift between Camus and Sartre. I must also just mention the interesting front and back cover that show a spilled glass of and an almost full bottle of wine and a neat glass on the table and a half bottle of wine respectively. Funny how it goes front to back rather than reverse which is expected of existentialism. 

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Review- The Stranger by Albert Camus

Goodreads Summary:

Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd." 

REVIEW:

Albert Camus' literary works aren't just something you can get onto directly. It requires a certain revision of the background and history of his times which led the author to write the absolutely stunning pieces he's written. I had initially read the original French edition of The Stranger, L'Etranger, for my Literature class, where what you understand of a book and what you make of your understating of it is what matter the most. I liked to consider myself well-versed with the novel and I read the English edition, The Stranger, translated by Stuart Gilbert, purely out of curiosity. This is the US edition and I must admit that I am pretty curious to read the UK edition, The Outsider, as well. What the reading of the former did was that it helped me develop a deeper understanding and establish a certain realisation than the one I thought I previously had.

The Stranger is written from the protagonist, Meursault's point of view. Information that we take for granted and consider as basic, like the first name, job, career/ profession, an at a glance brief about the physical appearance of the main character, is not revealed at all throughout the length of the novel. There's a certain magical appeal to Camus' writing that leaves all these details for the reader's imagination. Not just that, even the entire narration is very open-ended. It's up to the reader to make what she/ he wants of it. The author's ability to make a character unlike any other and yet make him establish a relation with the reader and make the reader relate to him in more ways than one is truly admirable. Meursault, while not exactly an "ideal" person, was still the most genuine and real person I've read about. He shows his true emotions and feelings and doesn't even try to pretend to be someone he's not and that's a feat. As a result of his rather unusual and unconventional actions, he becomes a stranger to the society or he is rendered a stranger to society- it depends on how you look at it. It all, like everything, depends on perspective. 

While the English edition piqued my interest, was put down meticulously, made me see things in the novel that I hadn't before and made me come across many aspects that went unnoticed before, I would, any day, prefer to reread the original. Although, emotionally speaking, the English edition had a greater impact on me since I could easily read and understand it at the same time. Camus' writing is really simple to follow but difficult to understand because the core lies in what is not said rather than what is said. The Stranger is a real eye-opener to all that which is very well present around but not so easily given thought to. It's the epitome of that saying which goes something like- it's insane what you see when you aren't really looking. It's some deep philosophy that has me contemplating. While I haven't read many of Camus' works, I know for a fact that I'm going to learn a lot from them and The Stranger is a one of its kind intriguing, fascinating and mysterious novel that has had an impact on me.  

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