Having just read..

"The Outsider" by Albert Camus I now understand what he meant by "if you want to be a philosopher, write novels". You can't quite possibly understand this until you've read the book I think.

The entire story seems to rush past you as a reader. I didn't get the impression of being "of" the literary world created by Camus insomuch as an observer with Meursault watching other people partake of it. Meursault's only fault seems to be his unwavering honesty. Everyone around him is challenged by it. In the final scene with Meursault sitting in his cell awaiting his execution, his honesty totally disarms the chaplain of his religious crutches. He rejects the need for a god before his death, with a calm, respectful and straightforward philosophy. Contrast this to the emotional disbelief of the chaplain and you get a sense for the way Meursault deals with everyone in the story.

"The Outsider" totally blew me away. Check it out.