It is very methodical. Starting out on why you shouldn't kill yourself, as a real debate. And yes all the arguments have been made before. He tries to build up from first principals. I think he tried to walk a fine line between the physical suicide and the philosophical suicide.

The Stranger is good, but I have trouble stick with his other works past the first few chapters because of the tedious and boring aspects you mentioned.

I was never a fan of French literature to begin with, so that might have something to do with it.