Although plagued by an atrocious translation, I couldn’t not enjoy this novel. It’s an existentialist, slightly absurdist tale of disenchantment with life, feeling like a stranger in society, feeling like life has been lived to its max and it’s just about surviving after this point. It’s about a lack of purpose and the unrelenting feeling of uneasiness in one’s realisation that that’s the case. 

The feeling of nausea can be read as depression, extreme detachment combined with dissatisfaction and also feeling trapped. The allegory built through the plot is so effective. Antoine’s relationship with Anny, his vague longing for her and their ultimate confrontation was super climactic. She is very much underdeveloped as you might expect, but still manages to utter some of the most poignant words about trauma, love, lost chances. 

The juxtaposition with the autodidact, whose experiences and personal philosophy have made him love mankind is also quite inspired. Despite his efforts, the autodidact is ultimately shunned for his association with socialism and what are seen by others as homosexual tendencies. Through Antoine’s eventual compassion for him we understand his own struggle, feeling so distanced from society, but also the ugliness of society itself, which rejects those it doesn’t consider conformant with the unspoken rules, even when said rules are alienating and lead to hardship for everyone. 

Anyway, it’s a solid novel, very much in the realm of Camus and Dostoevsky. Good stuff.