The Outsider

by Albert Camus//

Our inaugural book club and we’re starting with our brows high. Just don’t mistake our failure to conform with book club stereotypes as apathy –

The Outsider by Albert Camus follows Meursault, a young man in Algeria whose indifference to life’s events—even his own mother’s death—sets him at odds with society. When a senseless act of violence lands him in court, Meursault’s refusal to conform to emotional or moral expectations makes him an outsider, leading to a trial that questions not just his actions but his very way of being.

Published in 1942, the novel is a cornerstone of existentialist literature, celebrated for its stark prose and its exploration of life’s absurdity and the search for meaning. Camus’s story has inspired readers and writers for decades, challenging us to reflect on authenticity, justice, and what it means to truly live.