Glenn’s review of The Fall > Likes and Comments

interesting! Where's that Jung quote from?

Camus gives us a searing portrayal of a modern man who is the embodiment of spiritual poverty – morose, alienated, isolated, empty.

That and of nihilism too.

Rlotz wrote: "interesting! Where's that Jung quote from?"

I saw this quote from the following website. And the video is wonderful.

https://www.facebook.com/TheArchaicRe...

Luís wrote: "One of the best masterworks of all times."

Indeed. Albert Camus was able to preform laser-surgery on the human soul. His early death in an auto accident is a great loss to us all.

Rakhi wrote: "Camus gives us a searing portrayal of a modern man who is the embodiment of spiritual poverty – morose, alienated, isolated, empty.

That and of nihilism too."

Agreed.
I recall reading your preliminary review of The Fall. I can see how writing a full review of this slim book requires serious reflection.

Glenn wrote: "Rakhi wrote: "Camus gives us a searing portrayal of a modern man who is the embodiment of spiritual poverty – morose, alienated, isolated, empty.

That and of nihilism too."

Agreed.
I recall rea..."

I need to revisit this work soon. Thanks for bringing this up at this time. :-)

I will admit, I found much of this man within myself. It was a revealing. Perhaps I'm a thousand million people. I seem to find hints of myself in many characters I read. And at times, hints of characters I'd aspire to be like. My favorite Camus book thus far.

Paul wrote: "I will admit, I found much of this man within myself. It was a revealing. Perhaps I'm a thousand million people. I seem to find hints of myself in many characters I read. And at times, hints of cha..."

Thanks for your reflections here, Paul. The magic of fiction -- that connection, that recognition we are millions of people -- expansion again and again.

I also read your review of The Fall just now. Poetic; Wonderful.

Haha Thank you, sir. Forgot I wrote one. Not too bad.

I think the one thing that sticks with me is contemplating the "little-ease." I think I think about that far too much, and too often. I don't want to be put in the "little-ease."

Zadignose wrote: "I think the one thing that sticks with me is contemplating the "little-ease." I think I think about that far too much, and too often. I don't want to be put in the "little-ease.""

Good thinking! Anybody's life is too large to be put in anything little. I'll keep what you note in mind as I continue reading.

there is a degree of pain in turning the pages.

Yes! And loathing, not towards the book but towards the forced inner reflections. This was a very tough read for me too Glenn. I'll look forward to your complete review, once you finish it.

Himanshu wrote: "there is a degree of pain in turning the pages.

Yes! And loathing, not towards the book but towards the forced inner reflections. This was a very tough read for me too Glenn. I'll look forward to..."

Thanks for your comments here, Himanshu.

As a young man, circumstances obliged me to listen to a number of people, over drinks, pontificate on ‘how life really is’. Fortunately, for many years I have had the good fortune not to have to put up with such suffocating, scotch-laced drivel. I get hints of my previous experiences reading the narrator’s words. However, I’m sure there is a good dose of wisdom in the novel – after all, this is a classic of world literature, but I will have to let it lie fallow for a time and return to its pages with a degree of freshness.

awesome review as always,Sir!

Wonderful review, Glenn.

@ Etnik and Garima

Thanks so much! Much appreciate your taking some of your valuable time to read and post.

So...did you get to the end? Great review, Glenn. I'm also very interested in that Jung quote. I have The Stranger on my shelf to read soon.

Cheryl wrote: "So...did you get to the end? Great review, Glenn. I'm also very interested in that Jung quote. I have The Stranger on my shelf to read soon."

Thanks, Cheryl.

I'm still reading The Fall, but I am taking my time in an attempt to squeeze the wisdom out, drop by drop.

And viewing modern life in terms of Jungian psychology is proving most fruitful. BTW: my lifelong friend is a Jungian psychologist, having first spent 20 years in silence at a Trappist monastery. Quite a man, right off the pages of a Hermann Hesse novel.

Glenn, your review has me intrigued. I've read The Stranger and The Plague and liked the latter better. I'll have to add The Fall after reading your review.

Alice wrote: "Glenn, your review has me intrigued. I've read The Stranger and The Plague and liked the latter better. I'll have to add The Fall after reading your review."

Thanks, Alice. Yes, Camus was quite the writer. The Fall is such a short work. It surprises me it isn't better know, up there with The Stranger.

BTW: At J-P Sartre's request, Albert Camus was the actor to take on the male role in the first performance of No Exit.

adrenalexpire wrote: "lovely review, as always Glenn ;)"

Thanks so much, a. Appreciate your taking time to read and write a kind note.

Ooh Glenn! The final quote and your masterstroke question was almost like a little zen koan. Invigorating review!

Vipassana wrote: "Ooh Glenn! The final quote and your masterstroke question was almost like a little zen koan. Invigorating review!"

Thanks, Vipassana! Much appreciated.

Glenn the way you relate any text to other books, reviews, or work of other authors is inspiring... a mark of semantic organization! I read a short Biography of Leonardo DaVinci and attempted this..it was more than augmentation-it was enrichment of the reading experience.

Paakhi wrote: "Glenn the way you relate any text to other books, reviews, or work of other authors is inspiring... a mark of semantic organization! I read a short Biography of Leonardo DaVinci and attempted this...."

Thanks, Paakhi. Yes, for me, a novel or essay expands when I can relate it to other works of literature and philosophy.

Wonderful review, Glenn. (view spoiler)[Finally bookmarked _here_ and _here_. (hide spoiler)]

Ted wrote: "Wonderful review, Glenn. [spoilers removed]"

Thanks, Ted!

well done, glenn. i enjoyed reading your review, and the apt use of "smellfungus"

Pat wrote: "well done, glenn. i enjoyed reading your review, and the apt use of "smellfungus""

Thanks very much, Pat. Glad you enjoyed. And I love words like 'smellfungus' --- so colorful and the sound is so cool.

Edward wrote: "Brilliant. An author well known and postumously the receipient of various attempts at "cool" postulations from the distant. Inviolable death is conveniently ignored. Wishes for life have been erod..."

Thanks very much, Edward. For such a short novel, many people, including myself, find this a difficult, even a painful, read.

GoodReadsAccount wrote: "It occurs to me, I never mentioned that your review is the sole reason I read this book. So, take that how you will."

Thanks for letting me know, G! I take it in the best of spirits, my friend.

A masterpiece of concision and insight, Glenn!

Ian wrote: "A masterpiece of concision and insight, Glenn!"

Thanks, Ian!

Great review Glenn.

I will second that!, great work Glenn.

Jean-Paul wrote: "Fabulous review, Glenn. As you were reviewing Camus, so I was Gide. :)"

Thanks so much, Jean-Paul. I can just imagine what great insights could be had if Camus and Gide had an opportunity to discuss Clamence's monologue. Two of the giants of 20th century French literature, for sure.

@Luis, Steven & Ba - Thanks ever so much. Really appreciate your stopping by to read my review - quite the short novel, this - and let me know you enjoyed!

"Know-it-all black bile stinker"? Wow, how do you really feel?

Christine wrote: ""Know-it-all black bile stinker"? Wow, how do you really feel?"

Ha! As I noted in an above message, as a young man I was obliged by my work situation to listen to the drivel from older men about how "life really is," men who nearly always were addicted to cigarettes and booze and various pills (heart pills, stomach pills, sleeping pills, etc. etc.) and nearly always proved themselves to be a combination of chauvinist, hypocrite, boor and fool. Fortunately, circumstances changed and I haven't been forced to listen to such nonsense for many years now.

market participants are always already guilty!

sologdin wrote: "market participants are always already guilty!"

Ha! Sounds like you would agree with Teddy Roosevelt when he said, "There is no moral difference between gambling at cards or in lotteries or on the race track and gambling in the stock market. One method is just pernicious to the body politic as the other kind."

“I never had to learn how to live. In that regard, I already knew everything at birth.”

This reminds me of what Carlos Ruiz Zafon says in “The Angel’s Game”

"There is nothing in the path of life that we don’t already know before we started. Nothing important is learned, it is simply remembered."

I believe this to be true. At least with a part of myself. Thank you so much for this review, Glenn! Your reviews are always a pleasure to read. :) I have Camus on my list, including this one. :)

I'll have to reread this soon! Excellent examples.

Vessey wrote: "“I never had to learn how to live. In that regard, I already knew everything at birth.”

This reminds me of what Carlos Ruiz Zafon says in “The Angel’s Game”

"There is nothing in the path of life ..."

Thanks so much for your comment and sharing Carlos Ruiz Zafon's beautiful quote, Vessey. Like yourself, his words certainly resonates with me, so much so that I've dedicated many years of daily spiritual practice to help me remember this profound truth.

May this winter day bring you joy and a warm cup of coffee. Always a treat sharing with such a sweet, perceptive Goodreads friend!

Lisa wrote: "I'll have to reread this soon! Excellent examples."

This is a short novel that can be read in a day or two. Enjoy! And thanks so much, Lisa, for stopping by to read my review and comment.

Not me. I love Camus!

David wrote: "Not me. I love Camus!"

Ha! You are actually the first person to post an answer to that last question in my review. Thanks - and, on that point, I completely agree with you!

Glenn: That is a beautiful b&w photograph of an Amsterdam canal bridge. The quote too from the book is stupendous.
After seeing you and several other readers give the book a five-star rating, I think I will have to re-read the book. I read it in 2013 and just gave it two stars. Maybe I missed something.

Mohsin wrote: "Glenn: That is a beautiful b&w photograph of an Amsterdam canal bridge. The quote too from the book is stupendous.
After seeing you and several other readers give the book a five-star rating, I thi..."

Thanks, Mohsin. I certainly can appreciate how you gave this short novel two stars. For me, it was tough going listening to Clamence's monologue - exactly the type of person I've had the good fortune not to be obliged to listen to for many years.

As I noted in a couple of comments on this thread, when I was a young man I was obliged to listen to such monologues which I found distasteful in the extreme. However, I think Camus captures the psychology of the modern, urban cultural and social mindset with penetrating insight.

"Thanks, Mohsin. I certainly can appreciate how you gave this short novel two stars. For me, it was tough going listening to Clamence's monologue - exactly the type of person I've had the good fortune not to be obliged to listen to for many years.
As I noted in a couple of comments on this thread, when I was a young man I was obliged to listen to such monologues which I found distasteful in the extreme. However, I think Camus captures the psychology of the modern, urban cultural and social mindset with penetrating insight."

You are most welcome, Glenn. I will try reading the novel again soon. Maybe my perception will change this time.