The Plague

by Albert Camus | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0140014721 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingdark-dracowing of Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on 4/4/2010
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6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingdark-dracowing from Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Sunday, April 4, 2010
Picked this up from a charity shop as one more to cross of the '1001 books to read before you die' list.

Journal Entry 2 by wingdark-dracowing at Ledbury, Herefordshire United Kingdom on Friday, March 2, 2012
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book - the first surprise was that it was actually about a plague. I know that sounds daft, but so much is written about this novel, linking it to the nazi invasion of France, that I was surprised it wasn't more overtly anti-war. Instead, it is rather a gentle story, about a group of people trying to survive when plague breaks out in a small town.

It is very well-written, the horrors of the plague diluted by the words so that the apathy and despair of the people quarentines within the city walls comes across to the reader. This is only hghlighted by the really horrific moments - the death of a rat, the death of a small boy, the madness of one of the characters. The general helplessness of the doctor and the town in general is so brilliantly portrayed, that you kind of forget that there is a lack of strong plot. Yet, the storylines are well woven together - those trying to escape, those doing their bit, those missing their loved ones that have to be kept away.

Overall, this was a good read.

Released 12 yrs ago (3/18/2012 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This is off on it's journey as a book ray - hope you enjoy it.

1. hodgeheg (UK)
2. RonOren (UK)
3. Lord-Trotsky (UK)
4. Jo_an_a (Finland)
5. Cat201 (Austrailia)

Book received for the start of the ray. Many thanks!

Released 11 yrs ago (4/3/2012 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I just don't think I was in the right frame of mind for reading this book. There were parts that interested me (particularly towards the end) but mostly I found it a bit of a chore, unfortunately.
Passing it on now to RonOren who will hopefully get more out of it :-)

Journal Entry 6 by RonOren at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Thursday, April 5, 2012
Just arrived, but I will have to wait a little while before I sink my teeth in it: got another ring to read first. Thanks for sending it through, hodgeheg.

Journal Entry 7 by RonOren at Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I seem to be almost diametrically opposed to dark-draco's comment about the actual plague: although I know the plague is supposed to be a symbol for the Nazi invasion, it didn't really feel like that for me. If anything, I'd say the plaue was symbol for evil in general; but more than that it was a pretty straightforward story about a town in terrible straits.
What makes this book special (and deserving to be called a classic, I think) is the digressions into general morality that Camus makes at times. I was very impressed by the way that the language mirrors the depth of passages: when it's simply a story, the sentences are very short and simple; but the deeper musings are a lot more complicated (and actually forced me to re-read sentences a few times). It's a compliment to Camus as much as to the translator.

And yet - I struggled to read it. Or rather, I tended not to pick it up, expecting a struggle to read it. Sometimes it was a little hard going, but mostly it was perfectly fine. Somehow, I just couldn't shake the feeling that this book must be difficult to read (and by that made it more difficult for myself). It's a shame - it reduced my enjoyment of the book and made me take such a overlong time to get through it.
Having said that, I'm glad I did have a chance to read it; so thanks for sharing it, dark-draco! I'd like to try something else by Camus at some point, to see if I can shake the unfounded difficulty...

I'll get the book to Lord-Trotsky as soon as possible - same-day update: now sent.

Journal Entry 8 by Lord-Trotsky at Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Book arrived in the post today (Thanks RonOren). Put it to the top of my reading pile and will start as soon as I've finished my present book.

Journal Entry 9 by Lord-Trotsky at Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Sorry this has taken me so long. I really struggled to get into this. I started to avoid reading it but, eventually perseverance & determination paid off and I really got into it and was so glad I read it.

Thanks for sharing it. I will post it as soon as I have Jo_an_a's address.

Journal Entry 10 by Lord-Trotsky at Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom on Friday, July 27, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (7/27/2012 UTC) at Maidstone, Kent United Kingdom

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Posted to Finland.

Journal Entry 11 by jo_an_a at Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Saturday, August 4, 2012
Book arrived safely, thank you!

Journal Entry 12 by jo_an_a at Vantaa, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, August 31, 2012
Oh my God, what an effort!

But I did in fact enjoy the book. I just found it really hard to get started, and then to pick it up each time.

While I was trying to struggle my way through the book, I read lots of reviews and analyses of it. It sort of helped me to get motivated, as I was awaiting certain things to happen, and to find the great sentences described in some reviews.

I most warmed to Grand's character, and his struggle with the first sentence of his book.

I am very glad I did manage to read this book, thank you dark-draco for sharing. I am also happy the plague has now ended for me, and I can send the book to its next reader.

Journal Entry 13 by jo_an_a at Vantaa, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Released 11 yrs ago (9/3/2012 UTC) at Vantaa, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

This has been sent off to Australia now!

Journal Entry 14 by cat207 at Gladstone, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Arrived in today's mail. Thank you jo_an_a, and dark-draco for sharing. I'm glad I'm last on the list. Looking at the reviews, it seems pretty heavy, and my reading time is limited at the moment. It will eventually be read and passed on.

Journal Entry 15 by cat207 at Picture Perfect Hair in Wallsend, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, August 13, 2016

Released 7 yrs ago (8/12/2016 UTC) at Picture Perfect Hair in Wallsend, New South Wales Australia

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