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Jim Fonseca's Reviews > The Plague
The Plague
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by
Jim Fonseca's review
bookshelves: french-authors, colonialism, algerian-authors, algeria, disease
Mar 29, 2014
bookshelves: french-authors, colonialism, algerian-authors, algeria, disease
[Edited, picture and shelves added 1/13/23]
Somehow Camus brings humanism, optimism and the role of love to an otherwise depressing story of bubonic plague in 1940s Oran, Algeria. First all the rats die and then we go from there. (At least with COVID we don’t have rats.)
After much bureaucratic bungling and delays, the city is cut off from the outside world by quarantine. A lot of the story's focus is on those separated by chance from loved ones for several months. There is intrigue as some plot to escape the town. But mainly a dreary perseverance and indifference takes over many in the city.
Camus uses the suffering and deaths of children to reflect on the role of God and religion. The barren, dry, windswept, desolate town is so well portrayed that it is like a character in the story. I’m reminded of the religious theme and the desolation of the Mexican town in Graham Green’s novel The Power and the Glory.
If you are put off by the thought that this is an incredibly depressing book, don’t be. There’s a tone of optimism that balances the despair.
Photo of street scene in Oran by Ferhat Bouda on nytimes.com
Somehow Camus brings humanism, optimism and the role of love to an otherwise depressing story of bubonic plague in 1940s Oran, Algeria. First all the rats die and then we go from there. (At least with COVID we don’t have rats.)
After much bureaucratic bungling and delays, the city is cut off from the outside world by quarantine. A lot of the story's focus is on those separated by chance from loved ones for several months. There is intrigue as some plot to escape the town. But mainly a dreary perseverance and indifference takes over many in the city.
Camus uses the suffering and deaths of children to reflect on the role of God and religion. The barren, dry, windswept, desolate town is so well portrayed that it is like a character in the story. I’m reminded of the religious theme and the desolation of the Mexican town in Graham Green’s novel The Power and the Glory.
If you are put off by the thought that this is an incredibly depressing book, don’t be. There’s a tone of optimism that balances the despair.
Photo of street scene in Oran by Ferhat Bouda on nytimes.com
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Reading Progress
February 25, 2014
–
Started Reading
February 27, 2014
–
Finished Reading
March 29, 2014
– Shelved
September 6, 2015
– Shelved as:
french-authors
January 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
colonialism
January 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
algerian-authors
January 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
algeria
January 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
disease
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I haven't read it in awhile but I think it's one of the great books of the 20th Century
Matt wrote: "I haven't read it in awhile but I think it's one of the great books of the 20th Century"Yes and I wonder if it is as well-read or better read than The Stranger?
"The barren, dry, windswept, desolate town is so well portrayed that it is like a character in the story. "What a great insight, Jim. Thanks for a very cogent review.
HBalikov wrote: ""The barren, dry, windswept, desolate town is so well portrayed that it is like a character in the story. "What a great insight, Jim. Thanks for a very cogent review."
Thank you. As a geographer I really appreciate books that have a strong sense of place.
Good review. This pertains to much of what is happening today with covid19. To quarantine or not, to stay home or go out.
Josephine wrote: "Good review. This pertains to much of what is happening today with covid19. To quarantine or not, to stay home or go out."Very true. Amazingly bubonic plague is still around, even in the US, with just a few cases a year.
As I read the book, I couldn't avoid going back to Six degrees od separation, a film that impressed me very much. And particularly to the fact that certain events, are for some people, mere anecdotes (something to tell your grandchildren years later); and for other people, they are experiences, something that changes them deeply; they won't be the same. Excellent review! Regards. :)
Pedro wrote: "As I read the book, I couldn't avoid going back to Six degrees od separation, a film that impressed me very much. And particularly to the fact that certain events, are for some people, mere anecdot..."I had not heard of the film Pedro, but thank you
I'm glad you liked the review Lada. It was a good book; not a pleasant book because of the subject, but very insightful.