Take a photo of a barcode or cover
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
dark
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
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
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, Xenophobia
This book is so miserably racist and slow. I remembered hating it in high school and thought maybe age will have made me more patient. But no. I know there are deeper themes to explore, but I just can’t bear reading 115 pages of observations on the “maddening” and “savage” country and it’s peoples from an unrepentant colonizer’s perspective. 0 out of 10. Will not read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
It just didn’t really click for me. This may be because I’m not a huge fan of older literature or because it was both rushed and too slow paced at the same time. Just not for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery
challenging
dark
mysterious
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation
challenging
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Cannibalism
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Overall the anticipation of meeting Kurtz builds up an unsettling amount of mystery and suspense. I actually don't think the character in the book quite lives up to his reputation unlike in the film adaptation, Apocalypse Now. Nevertheless a good read and a fascinating anti-Colonial piece of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Colonisation