The Stranger (Albert Camus)

"The Stranger," a novel by Albert Camus, follows Meursault, an emotionally detached man living in Algeria. After the death of his mother, he exhibits indifference to societal norms and conventions, which leads to his alienation. The story escalates when he kills a man in a moment of irrationality, resulting in a trial focused more on his character than the crime itself. Through Meursault's experiences, Camus explores themes of absurdism, the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life, and the conflict between individual existence and societal expectations. Ultimately, the novel questions the search for meaning in an indifferent universe.