Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

208 reviews

thebookishtriangle's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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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. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism

Minor: Death, Slavery, Xenophobia, Colonisation

mrx99's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Colonisation

mxsaramx's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious slow-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

bahskfldkt's review against another edition

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism

orinthebard's review against another edition

0.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia

maricasement's review against another edition

2.25

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I picked this audiobook up because it was one of the shortest one in my Mother's library. Kenneth Branagh is amazing, as is to be expected, but the contents weren't as enjoyable as his performance. Conrad's descriptions are captivating and definitely set the scene for the story, which was something I really enjoyed. But this book is still a product of it's time and uses a lot of racist language and is very colonialist in its messages. It might be an interesting study, but I wouldn't read it again or particularly recommend it to people.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief

Minor: Animal cruelty, Cannibalism

agnesiana's review against another edition

2.25

dark medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Colonisation

Moderate: Sexism, Cannibalism

ladybugwrites's review against another edition

1.0

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: Complicated

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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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia

Moderate: Slavery

Minor: Misogyny, Terminal illness

bookish_skies's review against another edition

1.75

dark mysterious reflective slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Colonisation

librarymouse's review against another edition

1.5

challenging dark reflective 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: Yes

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I don't know if I want to rate this. I'm reading it for a class. There's some interesting parts to it, and a lot to write about, but it would be a stretch to say that this is an enjoyable book. I'm glad I'm reading it in grad school, rather than in highschool like a lot of my peers were required to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Colonisation, Classism