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burgermind's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Excellent novella, if you enjoy the classic style mixed with early modernism. Needless to say, it's quite marred by the racism of the colonial era, treating Africans as mere scenery and only begrudgingly granting them humanity. Behind the setting itself this book stands as a visionary existential question, which remains potent even if it pales in comparison to a masterpiece like Moby dick, a book which Conrad claimed to dislike.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Sexism
brianh414's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
natalie001's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
asotun's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Wanted to read it after listening to an actor talk about how Joseph Conrad describes the pathetic, sleazy, pale evil of "normal people". Read about the evil of resource exploitation and conniving White men.
But couldn't get over the fact that this book was neither anti-racist, nor materially anti-colonial. And definitely strong traces of misogyny, which some research about Joseph himself confirmed. So it put me off.
I would say there is better literature on the same themes that I'd enjoy reading more. But if you really want to, it's a super short book so you wouldn't lose much. Some passages are very vivid.
But couldn't get over the fact that this book was neither anti-racist, nor materially anti-colonial. And definitely strong traces of misogyny, which some research about Joseph himself confirmed. So it put me off.
I would say there is better literature on the same themes that I'd enjoy reading more. But if you really want to, it's a super short book so you wouldn't lose much. Some passages are very vivid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Misogyny and Cannibalism
isabelle_boknert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
En komplicerad bok att recensera. Den är full av rasism, men ses av många som en kritik mot kolonialismen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
Moderate: Death and Fatphobia
Minor: Cannibalism
nathanjhunt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
This was my 39th book finished in 2023.
Read as part of a duo with The Secret Sharer.
Hands down the most boring fiction book I've ever had the misfortune to read. Its only redeeming feature was its short length.
The writing style is horrendous. There was absolutely no need for a narrator. I don't know whether it was just my edition, but the pages were just a wall of text. The paragraphs were completely random, and it was so hard to follow who was saying what.
This book is trash, it doesn't deserve a longer review.
Read as part of a duo with The Secret Sharer.
Hands down the most boring fiction book I've ever had the misfortune to read. Its only redeeming feature was its short length.
The writing style is horrendous. There was absolutely no need for a narrator. I don't know whether it was just my edition, but the pages were just a wall of text. The paragraphs were completely random, and it was so hard to follow who was saying what.
This book is trash, it doesn't deserve a longer review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Colonisation
anastasiakd's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.5
Honestly, this was a disgusting read. I understand for the time it very much exposed a lot of the horrors of the ivory trade but even its protagonists are wrought with colonialism, racism, and sexism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation
Moderate: Cannibalism
flowerbinsh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Read for my history class.
what the hell was this,,,,not only is it just a book of racism with absolutely no critique, it's just so boring good lord. i'm so glad to be done with this.
what the hell was this,,,,not only is it just a book of racism with absolutely no critique, it's just so boring good lord. i'm so glad to be done with this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Racial slurs
moscat's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
His was an impenetrable darkness.
Oof! This is very good, and I'm glad I waited until I knew more of the history of the Belgian Congo to read it (although I don't think it's necessary by any means).
I think it's definitely important to distinguish between Conrad's voice and Marlow's. The depiction of the native Congolese is racist, but Marlow's commentary is (I believe) intended to highlight the brutality and mistreatment, not to endorse the colonial perspective of primeval savagery. Though there are still valid criticisms to be made.
Kurtz is an Eldritch being, a rotting numen at the heart of the European presence. And it is the Europeans who are the darkness in the heart of Africa, not the unmapped places or the native people, but the brutal greed and supremacy. The capitals of Europe, those sepulchral cities, are as dark - or darker - than 'darkest Africa'.
And as contemptuous as Kurtz is, the company - with its nameless factotums - has no qualms about reaping profits until he is deemed 'unsound'. Capitalism is, and always will be, amoral.
Oof! This is very good, and I'm glad I waited until I knew more of the history of the Belgian Congo to read it (although I don't think it's necessary by any means).
I think it's definitely important to distinguish between Conrad's voice and Marlow's. The depiction of the native Congolese is racist, but Marlow's commentary is (I believe) intended to highlight the brutality and mistreatment, not to endorse the colonial perspective of primeval savagery. Though there are still valid criticisms to be made.
Kurtz is an Eldritch being, a rotting numen at the heart of the European presence. And it is the Europeans who are the darkness in the heart of Africa, not the unmapped places or the native people, but the brutal greed and supremacy. The capitals of Europe, those sepulchral cities, are as dark - or darker - than 'darkest Africa'.
And as contemptuous as Kurtz is, the company - with its nameless factotums - has no qualms about reaping profits until he is deemed 'unsound'. Capitalism is, and always will be, amoral.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Colonisation
lindsaywalsvick's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism