... The story begins with the death of the central character, Mersault's, mother. That is in fact the first line of the book, the statement of this fact. It is the deadpan and uncaring manner of this statement that alerts the reader to the fact that this will be a different kind of book. The narrator never says that ... in between and through the lines. Maman had been living at an old people's home in Marengo for the last few years of her life and Mersault must catch a bus there to go to her funeral. He catches the bus for the eighty kilometer ride at two o"clock in the afternoon. While on t...

• Word Count: 3032
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... The story begins with the death of the central character, Mersault's, mother. That is in fact the first line of the book, the statement of this fact. It is the deadpan and uncaring manner of this statement that alerts the reader to the fact that this will be a different kind of book. The narrator never says that ... in between and through the lines. Maman had been living at an old people's home in Marengo for the last few years of her life and Mersault must catch a bus there to go to her funeral. He catches the bus for the eighty kilometer ride at two o"clock in the afternoon. While on t...

• Word Count: 3032
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School