The Stranger

To unwind over the Christmas break, I have attempted to read a little. Recently I finished The Stranger by Albert Camus, French philosopher. Though he was often thought of as an existentialist, he denied this label, instead claiming he wrote about the 'philosophy of the absurd,' of which I am only vaguely clear on what he meant.
The book was quite enjoyable, telling a story of a young man who murders an Arab man on a French-Algerian beach, and feels no remorse for the act. The mood of existential anguish is apparent throughout the writing, though I found Mersault's mental resolution to be positive and somewhat inspiring. Plus, the book is short, lending a feeling of accomplishment after investing a minimal amount of time. The perfect book.