It took me almost a week to finish this book, which was such a shock for me as it was such a short one. 
I can, however, say that taking the time to read this book is the best decision I could have made rather than rushing to finish it in an afternoon or a weekend.

The only reason I can say this is a four star read and not a five star is that it took me a good twenty pages to really get into this book, but afterwards I loved it completely. The narrative style was so fascinating to me, and I loved how as the reader I was in conversation with Clamence the entire time. The commentary on guilt, suicide, and even slavery was so fascinating to read and definitely showcased how nuanced such dark topics can become.  

What really spoke to me, however, was how my own actions were called into question. It left me thinking about how pure my intentions are whenever I do anything, and it had me reflecting on my past actions as far as I can remember. It truly made me rethink everything, and if I had ever even acted in a way that was not selfish no matter how selfless it may seem. It made me sit back and think about how, no matter what, deep down there is likely to be a self-serving motivation for every action I take no matter how far I have buried it. 

I truly believe Camus has made use of every single word in this novel, and the translation has done its justice in how compact and raw the hits thrown at the reader are. His philosophies are truly fascinating, and I wish I could peer into his mind just for a moment so I could understand every thought that has ever crossed him.

If you are to read this I would highly recommend taking your time. Do not be fooled by how short it is, because its impact will be lost if you read it too quickly.

Definitely one of the most interesting and powerful books I have read in a while.