pacavegano@bookwyrm.social reviewed The Fall by Albert Camus
Did the trick
4 stars
I picked up this book to read at this time as a sort of reaction. I had recently attempted to read a novel which was so poorly written that I could not manage to finish it, though the plot and the characters interested me. I felt the need to cleanse my reading palette, and this book, which has been sitting unread on my shelf for years, seemed like it would do the trick. Indeed, it did.
This book succeeded in restoring my pleasure in reading, despite the fact that, really, neither the plot nor the characters interested me much. There are many factors which can affect my enjoyment of a novel. Plot and characters are frequently among the important factors. However, as time goes by I come to realize more and more that there are three basic elements which are most likely to contribute to my satisfaction with a …
I picked up this book to read at this time as a sort of reaction. I had recently attempted to read a novel which was so poorly written that I could not manage to finish it, though the plot and the characters interested me. I felt the need to cleanse my reading palette, and this book, which has been sitting unread on my shelf for years, seemed like it would do the trick. Indeed, it did.
This book succeeded in restoring my pleasure in reading, despite the fact that, really, neither the plot nor the characters interested me much. There are many factors which can affect my enjoyment of a novel. Plot and characters are frequently among the important factors. However, as time goes by I come to realize more and more that there are three basic elements which are most likely to contribute to my satisfaction with a novel.
The first is good writing. At the most basic level I mean writing with correct grammar, accurate word usage and so on (and of course, if a character is being portrayed who does not have the best grammar or vocabulary, then it is “correct” and “accurate” for their dialogue to reflect that). I also don’t believe that there is a single, canonical set of rules that must be followed in English. As long as the grammar and word usage are appropriate and self-consistent for whatever dialect and time period the book is written in, that is all that I ask. One can certainly ask for much more from good writing—an engaging style, effective description, careful word choice—but the basics of grammar and word use are essential.
The second element I desire is that the book make me think. Ideally, it will present a new idea or a new way of looking at something that truly engages my mind. This need not be something of monumental importance. It can be something rather trivial, as long as it gives me something to ponder.
The third element is the physical experience of reading the book. Is it comfortable to hold? Can I read it without breaking the spine? Is the printing sharp enough and large enough for reading to not be a strain?
This is already probably the longest review I have written, and I have barely said a thing about the book. Forgive me. This is because I have little to say about it, and most of what I have to say requires the explanation above. Yes, the writing (and in this case, the translation) fully satisfied my immediate need for a well-written novel. For that, alone, it would have been worth reading. It also made me think (and will likely remain in my head for a while), even though the questions it raises are not of great interest to me. And it is physically delightful. It is a slim, high quality, mass market (or pocket) Vintage edition from the 1950s. I wish that books like this were still being made. More reason to haunt used bookstores…