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requiredreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“The Horror! The Horror!”
These words from Kurtz summarize the impact of unrestrained brutality by European colonialists on the people and countries of the African continent. And the words summarize the self-assessment Kurtz offers of his own misshapen soul in light of the horrors he committed. Problematic today and to be read with a large grain of salt in terms of its racial politics, this novel’s prose still transports the reader into a powerful narrative dimension unlike much else I’ve read before.
These words from Kurtz summarize the impact of unrestrained brutality by European colonialists on the people and countries of the African continent. And the words summarize the self-assessment Kurtz offers of his own misshapen soul in light of the horrors he committed. Problematic today and to be read with a large grain of salt in terms of its racial politics, this novel’s prose still transports the reader into a powerful narrative dimension unlike much else I’ve read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
scorpi07's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
2.0
I listened to this one to fulfill the prompt: A book I should have read in high school.
I’m not sure why they were teaching this in high school. I guess the storytelling style (a narrator retelling Marlow’s narration) is interesting and the prose itself is well written and artfully packed with metaphors. However, with all of the options out there, this is a poor book choice to critique colonialism, or to suggest imperialism is bad. Marlow is racist and doesn’t grow much, and the objectification of black people is pervasive throughout the book. Gross.
I’m not sure why they were teaching this in high school. I guess the storytelling style (a narrator retelling Marlow’s narration) is interesting and the prose itself is well written and artfully packed with metaphors. However, with all of the options out there, this is a poor book choice to critique colonialism, or to suggest imperialism is bad. Marlow is racist and doesn’t grow much, and the objectification of black people is pervasive throughout the book. Gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
Moderate: Terminal illness
mikarala's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book made me feel stupid.
I think it has something to do with the narrative framing, as a story Marlow was speaking aloud in-text, but while I would follow individual passages, I felt like I was losing track of the overall narrative. Overall, this was a much more difficult read than I anticipated for a novella that barely clears the 100 page mark.
However, there were some individual passages and reflections on life and human nature I found absolutely stunning. Conrad was clearly a master of the English language, and it shows here. His ability to build atmosphere is chilling. This is what bumped my rating up from 2 stars.
Finally, a note on the racism in this novel: the white characters are not meant to be sympathetic, at least from my reading, but I think it's fair to argue that the narrative is not critical enough to make that clear. Kurtz is a violent megalomaniac and Marlow a feckless opportunist (sometimes interpreted as a proxy for well-intentioned English colonialism, I think his own insensitivity and lack of sympathy for the enslaved Africans shines through), and they are both clearly agents of colonialism, but I do think the integrity of the story suffers severely because Conrad doesn't give us enough on part of the colonized. You can interpret this as a story showing the moral degradation caused by European colonialism and imperialism in Africa, but frankly I understand not taking that lesson away because the text is never so straight-forward about it.
I think it has something to do with the narrative framing, as a story Marlow was speaking aloud in-text, but while I would follow individual passages, I felt like I was losing track of the overall narrative. Overall, this was a much more difficult read than I anticipated for a novella that barely clears the 100 page mark.
However, there were some individual passages and reflections on life and human nature I found absolutely stunning. Conrad was clearly a master of the English language, and it shows here. His ability to build atmosphere is chilling. This is what bumped my rating up from 2 stars.
Finally, a note on the racism in this novel: the white characters are not meant to be sympathetic, at least from my reading, but I think it's fair to argue that the narrative is not critical enough to make that clear. Kurtz is a violent megalomaniac and Marlow a feckless opportunist (sometimes interpreted as a proxy for well-intentioned English colonialism, I think his own insensitivity and lack of sympathy for the enslaved Africans shines through), and they are both clearly agents of colonialism, but I do think the integrity of the story suffers severely because Conrad doesn't give us enough on part of the colonized. You can interpret this as a story showing the moral degradation caused by European colonialism and imperialism in Africa, but frankly I understand not taking that lesson away because the text is never so straight-forward about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
thebookishtriangle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
2.75
I struggled with this book having had such high hopes for my first reading of Campbell’s fiction given his infamy as a storyteller and notoriety regarding the hero’s journey. The first thing I did was Google “Joseph Campbell Racist” & will definitely fall down the rabbit hole of various essays and articles on the topic of just how problematic this novel is. I understand the modern backlash and wrestled with my resistance throughout. All that being said… there is some beautiful writing in this novela and I think it’s important to read things that challenge you on occasion. In addition this was written in a very different time and I am grateful to live now instead.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, and Colonisation
ladybugwrites's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I honestly only read this book because I have to for uni, and wasn't even sure I'd bother with a review.
And I won't give a good one, just say that this book had be almost fall asleep countless times and it's probably the most problematic book I've ever read. It's not worth it.
And I won't give a good one, just say that this book had be almost fall asleep countless times and it's probably the most problematic book I've ever read. It's not worth it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Misogyny and Terminal illness
gxsobes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Cannibalism
196books's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Xenophobia
Moderate: Sexism and Violence
luis0n7i's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism
b_caligari's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation
Moderate: Gun violence, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Cannibalism, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury