I initially thought The Stranger was nihilistic. But it is absurdist. The book narrates the adventures of Mersault, a man who has a rather radial yet authentic approach to living.

Mersault doesn't care. Doesn't care about literally anything. He doesn't express emotions. No crying. No grieve. No really anything. He is emtpy, lacking average normal people have.

The book's real question is about whether we're willing to live honestly in a world without inherent meaning, or if we'll pretend to feel what we're supposed to feel just to fit in, be like others. Meursault pays the price for his honesty, which says something uncomfortable about what society actually values.

A crisp, short read. But hard to digest.