In the constant pursuit of something invisible, we often forget to set time for ourselves, for meeting friends, for health. Just sit down, breathe out and enjoy a good book. And, now that we are all forced to sit at home, the time has come to finish reading all that we started.
I have the habit of reading several books at once that suit my mood at the moment. One of these books I started reading in the summer of 2019. This book by Albert Camus, entitled "The Plague" (La peste).
The situation around the coronavirus itself was terribly familiar to me, as if I had encountered this, but I did not know where I had heard about such familiar precautions, quarantine, curfew, and the fight against the epidemic.
Yes, this is not the first and not the last pandemic that threatens humanity. As of today, we all live in a crazy fear of the unknown, unpredictability of the disease. Hundreds of infected and thousands of deaths around the world, in every country, concern everyone, because in every family there are people with chronic diseases or the older generation, who are at increased risk.
But, observing precautions, we can all together win this fight.
So, back to the book.
The typical Camus style is slightly repelling by its rudeness, rigidity, but creates a special atmosphere of illness and severity. The grayness and gloom of the tormented city, the stench of bodies is felt when reading; author really loves going into detail.
Albert Camus in a metaphorical form described the occupation of France, comparing the actions of the Nazis with the invasion of the plague, with the effect on the consciousness of citizens and the fear created by it.
The confusion and inner torment of the heroes, fatigue from the current situation, a certain hopelessness described in the book, may not be suitable for reading in the present, already dull, time. But after a long struggle, the joy of victory comes, which cannot but give us hope for a happy development of events in our modern world. I recommend reading for a good cheer. Of course, in the process of reading, it will be a little hard and sad.
But everything will be fine, you just need to take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Health to all!