☯Emily ’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2011)

☯Emily ’s comments from the Classics for Beginners group.

Did anyone else feel that the trial was a farce? There was more interest in how Meursault acted at his mother's funeral than why he killed the Arab. There didn't seem to be any sympathy for the Arab from anybody. That seems absurd to me!

More questions from Shmoop.com:

1)Based on absurdity as defined in The Stranger, can an absurdist live a good, meaningful life without believing in the possibility of it rationally?
2) From an absurdist’s viewpoint, is Meursault more "free" in prison or outside of it?

Camus is considered an absurdist. I wasn't sure what this philosophy was and found this definition on Wikipedia: "Absurdism is a philosophical school of thought stating that the efforts of humanity to find inherent meaning will ultimately fail (and hence are absurd) because the sheer amount of information as well as the vast realm of the unknown make total certainty impossible. As a philosophy, absurdism furthermore explores the fundamental nature of the Absurd and how individuals, once becoming conscious of the Absurd, should respond to it. The absurdist philosopher Albert Camus stated that individuals should embrace the absurd condition of human existence while also defiantly continuing to explore and search for meaning."

Does this definition help to understand the book? What do you think of this philosophy?

Here is a question that I borrowed from shmoop.com: It is difficult for Meursault to explain his motivation(s) for killing the Arab. Are the reasons he cites irrational? Are they justifiable?

I happen to love this book also, but I am not sure what it all means. It is certainly easy to read. I finished it in two days that were filled with other activities unrelated to reading.

Myst wrote: "Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Really, Heather? One of the prompts in a challenge I'm doing is to read a book that was mentioned in another book."

In [book:The Woman in White|58..."

It is possible that Robinson Crusoe is mentioned in Woman in White since that was written by the same author as The Moonstone. However, it wasn't memorable (I finished that book several months ago.) Like Kirsten said, the butler is fixated on the character in The Moonstone. Instead of thinking WWJD - "What would Jesus do," Betteridge thought WWRCD - "What would Robinson Crusoe do?"

Annerlee wrote: "Nina wrote: "Thank you all for your feedback and input! We moderators tried to summarize as much as possible all your points and adapt our current way of doing things so that as many as you are hap..."

We are taking suggestions for themes on this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

At this point, each moderator will select the themes and we will use the suggestions given to us. We will then take nominations for the theme selected and then vote for the book to read as a group.

Just finished and think the writing is fantastic. I am puzzled about several things, which I hope to discuss in the group.

Rachel wrote: "Mary Elizabeth Braddon - Lady Audley's Secret."

Please indicate if you are willing to lead this discussion, if it wins.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "☯Emily wrote: "Wasn't Robinson Crusoe mentioned a great deal in The Moonstone?"

Yes! That butler was the one who made all his important decisions after referring to it."

Loved that character - Gabriel Betteridge

☯Emily wrote: "Nina wrote: "Robinson Crusoe won with 21 votes, Faust came second with 19 votes."

Who originally nominated the book? Are they willing to lead the discussion?"

I'll answer my own question: Kenneth in April 2016.

Nina wrote: "Robinson Crusoe won with 21 votes, Faust came second with 19 votes."

Who originally nominated the book? Are they willing to lead the discussion?

Wasn't Robinson Crusoe mentioned a great deal in The Moonstone?

It is the monthly read. It is not a long book, is it?

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Um, not sure. I've never read it before.

What the heck... it's not 'till January. Sure I'll lead!"

That makes it better. You can comment and/or ask questions as you are reading. I am doing that with The Stranger, so getting a little discussion.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "I've read On the Beach and it's very good. O Pioneers sounds good too, I really need to read a Willa Cather book.

However, I'd like to nominate An American Tragedy by [author:Theodo..."

Willing to lead?

The real important rules are the ones listed above. Any comments about the books is fine.

Gisela wrote: "☯Emily wrote: "There is no need to second a book. All nominations will be placed into the poll and voted on. Will you be able to lead the discussion, Gisela?""

Great!

There is no need to second a book. All nominations will be placed into the poll and voted on. Will you be able to lead the discussion, Gisela?

Nina wrote: "There is a huge difference between saying my mother and mum, right? It changes the whole thing."

Exactly.