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I have had The Stranger on my bookshelf for several years and thought about picking it up to read several times.

I picked it up the other day and delved in.

At the same time, I also started reading America by Dinesh D’Souza. So, how about this for irony - the first sentence in America is: “Writing in the mid-twentieth century, the French existentialist writer Albert Camus posed for human beings a central question: to exist or not to exist.�� The title of this first chapter in America is: “Suicide of a Nation��.

The Stranger is a very intriguing read. Turning pages was effortless.

My first question was “What does this title The Stranger mean? I looked it up. Ahh, yes, “he is a "stranger" in the sense that he is psychologically alienated from other people and from the world at large. Meursault does not react to events and to his environment in a "normal" way, for he feels disconnected from life.��

While reading Part One, I discovered Monsieur Meursault was a cold, selfish fellow. My thoughts ran directly to Ayn Rand in some ways. She did not believe in God and she believed selfishness was a good thing. (Mind you, I agree with Ayn Rand regarding her political philosophy 100%- but her theological philosophy, I am on a different page.) But, as I got into Part Two of The Stranger it was more than selfishness that was portrayed here.

But, as I am stating Meursault was selfish, it is interesting how “real�� Meursault is portrayed. Real because human beings “are�� intrinsically selfish. If we do not portray selfishness, it is because we were taught not to do so - either through Bible teachings or school, or family. All for good reason.

Camus�� symbolism of heat, light, whiteness, the color red, and darkness are throughout the book. I see a correlation between strong light and the color red; (Meursault’s senses on overload) and unpleasantries. It seems negative thoughts and actions are alongside some of these senses.

Algiers is a “hot�� spot, no doubt, and, Mr. Camus, through Monsieur Meursault, reminds us of this- often.

“I caught the two o’clock bus. It was very hot.��

The funeral procession to the gravesite - “the sun was beginning to bear down on the earth and it was getting hotter by the minute.��

First time Meursault was in the room keeping vigil over his mother - “a very bright white-washed room��.

“Darkness had gathered . . . caretaker turned the switch - I was blinded by the sudden flash of light.��

But, Meursault’s thoughts and actions surrounding different circumstances were cold. Very cold. A contrast of the heat of Algiers and the coldness of Meursault’s heart.

For whatever reason, this book really hit me. Depressed me, actually, for some of the time. But not for the story as a whole.

Beyond intriguing- a read that is thought provoking!