I’ve read The Stranger by Albert Camus three times in my life. First as an adolescent, who was enamored initially by the cover art, next as a “serious student” in university; I believed that I might be able to better grasp some of the concepts. Finally I read it while incarcerated, having been caught up in what Camus aptly called “the machinery of justice.” Time has rendered it more profound and my understanding of it richer. The language remains perfect in its directness, and the descriptions poignant in their aching simplicity. The plight of the protagonist who seems to move through life adrift and largely disconnected from others is still fascinating to me, while the author’s commentary on ideas of belonging, faith, religion, and justice remain both thoughtful and thought provoking.