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adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Classics–particularly those containing themes that we have now seen as dated and backwards–are difficult for me to rate. This is no exception. Overall, a chilling exploration into the human psyche using perhaps the most “on the nose” extended-allegory in literature. Worth the read? Yes. Well written? Yes. Dated tropes and prejudice? Yes.
The writing reflects the inherent racism and dated views of a man at the turn of the 20th century. Not a single female character of note. The people of Africa featured in the piece are often referred to as savages or other slurs. That said, the book is well paced–slow, but that’s the point. It’s suppose to be a quagmire of perverse discovery. The writing itself is creative (the use of quotations, narration of Marlow, etc.). Worthwhile, and will leave you thinking about human nature as well as societal development since it's release. Potentially even, what comes in the future and what views we hold today as commonplace that those 120 years from now will rightfully categorize as backwards.
I’d recommend the 1997 Modern Library Edition with a forward by Adam Hochschild. Hochschild is the author of the fabulously written nonfiction account of the Belgian Congo, King Leopold’s Ghost, and rightfully calls out Conrad's failings while placing the piece in important modern context. Additionally, it includes robust endnotes which add further context and food for thought.
The writing reflects the inherent racism and dated views of a man at the turn of the 20th century. Not a single female character of note. The people of Africa featured in the piece are often referred to as savages or other slurs. That said, the book is well paced–slow, but that’s the point. It’s suppose to be a quagmire of perverse discovery. The writing itself is creative (the use of quotations, narration of Marlow, etc.). Worthwhile, and will leave you thinking about human nature as well as societal development since it's release. Potentially even, what comes in the future and what views we hold today as commonplace that those 120 years from now will rightfully categorize as backwards.
I’d recommend the 1997 Modern Library Edition with a forward by Adam Hochschild. Hochschild is the author of the fabulously written nonfiction account of the Belgian Congo, King Leopold’s Ghost, and rightfully calls out Conrad's failings while placing the piece in important modern context. Additionally, it includes robust endnotes which add further context and food for thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Colonisation
As mentioned: this was written at a time of astounding inequality. So much so that even the contemporaneous voices—such as that of Konrad's—freely use racial slurs as standard vocabulary.
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Heart Of Darkness (1899) - Joseph Conrad. Overall score 3.5/5
The 1st half of this book didn't engage me in the same way that the second half did.
The characters were very human and well written and this is one of the strengths of this book. Pairing this with Conrad's eloquent prose paints very vivid scenes and he loves to use these tools often.
The Narrator of this audiobook David Horovitch really elevated the quality of this book with excellent emotional weight in his narration.
It feels like there is so much more for me to dig into on rereads, a critique that follows on from the use of such flowery prose is that things can get confusing in a negative way that doesn't add to the narrative experience.
The 1st half of this book didn't engage me in the same way that the second half did.
The characters were very human and well written and this is one of the strengths of this book. Pairing this with Conrad's eloquent prose paints very vivid scenes and he loves to use these tools often.
The Narrator of this audiobook David Horovitch really elevated the quality of this book with excellent emotional weight in his narration.
It feels like there is so much more for me to dig into on rereads, a critique that follows on from the use of such flowery prose is that things can get confusing in a negative way that doesn't add to the narrative experience.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
The writing style is quite engaging, but I couldn't stomach reading this any further because of how racist and misogynistic the main character is. I get that Marlow is meant to be an unlikeable character, but the way he dehumanises the native Africans and kept calling them the n word made my skin crawl. I suppose it makes sense for the time period, but that doesn't mean I enjoy reading it.
I also don't think this book is a particularly effective critique of colonialism. While the brutality that the Europeans inflict is very obvious, none of the African characters are given the chance to speak for themselves. None of them are even named. Although the story opposes colonialism on paper, in practice, it doesn't do much to empower African people. We only ever hear about them through the eyes of their oppressors, who obviously have a racist view of them already. Instead, the story focuses on the white characters, whose perspectives I'm just not particularly interested in hearing. We already live in a white supremacist world, so I'm just not interested in hearing what a violent racist has to say. I'd rather hear the perspective of the colonised people to be honest.
Overall, I think it's a perfectly adequate story in terms of how it's crafted. It's just not one that I want to read.
I also don't think this book is a particularly effective critique of colonialism. While the brutality that the Europeans inflict is very obvious, none of the African characters are given the chance to speak for themselves. None of them are even named. Although the story opposes colonialism on paper, in practice, it doesn't do much to empower African people. We only ever hear about them through the eyes of their oppressors, who obviously have a racist view of them already. Instead, the story focuses on the white characters, whose perspectives I'm just not particularly interested in hearing. We already live in a white supremacist world, so I'm just not interested in hearing what a violent racist has to say. I'd rather hear the perspective of the colonised people to be honest.
Overall, I think it's a perfectly adequate story in terms of how it's crafted. It's just not one that I want to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Misogyny
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- I got the version that has an intro from Karen Swallow Prior bc I knew I’d need some extra help understanding this book, and I was totally right. Her intro gave me context into the author and where it fits in history. Basically, the first part is narrated an unnamed guy in a boat with a few other guys in a boat just floating away. Then, one of the other guys, Marlowe, tells the longest story ever about his trip into Africa as colonizer going to colonize - or civilize as they said - Africa. He is racist and prejudiced, a product of his own time, but he did question his role as the colonizer as his story meandered on and on.
- The story gave a lot of “what men will do instead of going to therapy” vibes. Seems like Conrad (the author) had a lot of questions and feelings that he needed to process and did it by writing a book about a man who also had a lot of questions and feelings. Conrad wrote the book as three installments to be published in the newspapers so the book is just three long parts. Also, the book isnt long, it just feels long.
- I didn’t love this, but I didn’t intend to. It was a good discipline to read something that wasn’t an easy read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am very compelled by Heart of Darkness, not for it itself, but for the discourse around it. It’s truly fascinating.
Although I can’t denied, the story is masterfully written and well narrated in the audiobook I listened to. It wasn’t this particular one, but the one I found on Spotify had absolutely no voice actor credits and I couldn’t be bothered to search for another hour to find whoever narrated that version. (For anyone interested, it’s the one with a black-and white cover uploaded during the July of 2023.
Although I can’t denied, the story is masterfully written and well narrated in the audiobook I listened to. It wasn’t this particular one, but the one I found on Spotify had absolutely no voice actor credits and I couldn’t be bothered to search for another hour to find whoever narrated that version. (For anyone interested, it’s the one with a black-and white cover uploaded during the July of 2023.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, Trafficking
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Sexism
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cannibalism