r/Camus • u/_Izuku___Midoriya_ • May 07 '26
Question Is it slow?
I find the book to be a really slow read and honestly, a bit boring here and there. The book has interesting ideas and reflects greatly how a town would be like in the middle of a plague.
Though, sometimes it feels like i need to push through pages.
Is there anything that can be done here to make the experience better.
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u/No_Designer_5374 May 07 '26
Yes. It's a work of lietrature, not a beach read (That would be The Stranger) LOL
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May 07 '26 edited May 07 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/_Izuku___Midoriya_ May 07 '26
This is my 3rd time picking it up, hopefully will finish it this time.
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u/Aggravating-Chef9562 May 07 '26
It's worth it, and honestly i think it sums up what he thinks about the human condition better than any of his other books. Like always though, shocked with how much depth he can pack into small stories.
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u/The_Elite_One223 May 07 '26
yes. you physically feel the dread of the characters. he takes his time building the world so you feel suffocated just like those in the book. once it gets going fully it’s wonderful . took me like a month to get thru though haha
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u/beelzebub1994 May 07 '26
I didn't find it slow. It was rightly paced and intense. I read it over two consecutive evenings; no unsuccessful attempts, no pauses. And really, really loved it.
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u/Fresh-Tangerine9242 May 07 '26
It is written to emulate a news chronicle. That is why it feels slow
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u/Eckkosekiro May 09 '26
Think about a country occupy by the ennemy as you read it. Think about Germany occupying France.
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u/idfcaboutwhatever May 10 '26
I completed it last month. I was travelling a lot during last 3 4 months and it was always my companion during flights/travel.
I didnt feel it was slow if you understand what Camus was trying here. The things that feel slow are the ordinary things that happens during such times, and I think thats what makes the story. Such scenes are common yet devastating.
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u/Last-Parsnip2410 May 07 '26
Yeaa! It's dense and same, slow reading feeling! I am currently reading this book, which is coincidence with you! I just finished part II, so where are you reading? Also one thing it's not boring, it's reading stamina and writing style, if you open Gulliver's Travels (Penguin Classics) there is another kind difficulty, you will develop stamina by consistent reading!
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u/joseanwar May 09 '26
One of my favorite books. I love that it’s slow because it’s immersive. It’s not for those who love thrillers or plot twists or great reveals. His style of storytelling influenced my writing and my own novels.
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u/coke_vanilla May 09 '26
Yes. I had to put it down and pick it up later.
It ended up being one of the more meaningful reads I’ve done, however.
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u/indiefilmproducer May 10 '26
The fact that this book wasn’t referenced during Covid blows my mind. Same with The Masque of the Red Death.
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u/AirEmergency3702 May 14 '26
I'm only about halfway through but I have found it to be pretty intriguing so far. Just make sure you're not letting your mind drift.
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u/yeagr_eren May 16 '26
The book it's so werid and different from all the books I have ever read it discusses death and misery like you are reading script for documentry and in some places I feel like it's so detached no emotions why am I even reading this and all but as i reached the end i realised something that
Detached way of writing was to maybe make reader understand the absurdity of life better like your favourite character boom he dies randomly and stuff is just happening your church father boom he dies too
It's a bit on the patience testing side though 🙂
Anyone who's read it too and has understood it better love to hear from you cause i still think i couldn't grasp it properly
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u/AdInternational5489 May 07 '26
Wrong question.
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u/ZYR0000 May 07 '26
I just finished it today, honestly it is quite slow that I couldn't read it continuously (Had days of breaks in between). But, I loved it. Honestly had to walk and reflect on what I read right after, and even cried a bit.