I was first introduced to Albert Camus in high school, by my French teacher. We were studying his play, Les Justes, but I became captivated by Camus’ themes. At the time, I was working at the Stampede as a parking lot attendant. Each night, I would spend hours in my quiet parking booth, reading. The Stranger, I devoured in one glorious evening! The traffic was so calm and still, my supervisor offered to send me home early, an invitation I usually accepted, but I declined. I didn’t want to leave and disrupt the flow of the book!

I was in university when I read The Myth of Sisyphus, trying to figure out my post-degree plans. Much later, it came up as one of our items of inspiration at the Gorilla House. Two years ago, my father started reading it, and I found myself working its themes into the narratives of one my own projects.

Sometimes, our relationships with good books take on a life of their own.