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challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Huh? I am so confused about what I just read. That has to be some of the most verbose and constipated writing I have ever read. I could barely understand what the point of the book was. If it wasn’t so short, I would’ve DNFed it very fast.
I can give it credit for its historical importance, as one of the first writings by a white author to bring attention to the deplorable horrors, genocide and violence of colonialism in Africa. However, this doesn’t mean it was good. In fact, I would hazard to say it was more dehumanising to the people it was attempting to uplift. What was even more perplexing was that the very man who had committed atrocities, that the whole plot line was apparently centred around, was then heralded as some kind of god, hero or virtuous man after his death, instead of the despot he was.
I don’t know, maybe I was simply not paying enough attention because I was severely bored, but I do not get it.
I can give it credit for its historical importance, as one of the first writings by a white author to bring attention to the deplorable horrors, genocide and violence of colonialism in Africa. However, this doesn’t mean it was good. In fact, I would hazard to say it was more dehumanising to the people it was attempting to uplift. What was even more perplexing was that the very man who had committed atrocities, that the whole plot line was apparently centred around, was then heralded as some kind of god, hero or virtuous man after his death, instead of the despot he was.
I don’t know, maybe I was simply not paying enough attention because I was severely bored, but I do not get it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Murder, Colonisation
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Murder, War
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood
Minor: Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
- Had high hopes for this book initially given its (at the time) progressive views on imperialism & colonialism
- It was overall still SUPER racist & the author really put a lot of effort into trying to sound profound
- I think it’s probably a good book to read in terms of literary analysis, but can be difficult to get through because of its harsh themes & general structure
- TONS OF QUEER UNDERTONES
- Tons of blatant racism & sometimes graphic descriptions
- Probably wouldn’t read again for pleasure
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Colonisation
challenging
sad
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery
dark
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Boring. Painful to read. Very slow paced. Very long for no reason. Colonialism is shown as so good....
Conrad’s descriptions and depictions of black people are dehumanizing to their core. No black character in this book feels real, feels like a person we may empathize with and care for. It is in the descriptions of Kurtz’s black mistress, of the slave-boy whose only contribution to the narrative is the line “Mistah Kutz, he dead” - Conrad does not share our empathies. Africa is a primitive, uncivilized, immoral landscape.
Conrad’s descriptions and depictions of black people are dehumanizing to their core. No black character in this book feels real, feels like a person we may empathize with and care for. It is in the descriptions of Kurtz’s black mistress, of the slave-boy whose only contribution to the narrative is the line “Mistah Kutz, he dead” - Conrad does not share our empathies. Africa is a primitive, uncivilized, immoral landscape.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence, Colonisation
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Important read about the horrors of slavery in the Congo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, Violence
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery