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startjpw23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Colonisation, Mental illness, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Classism, Death, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The story is told from the perspective of someone listening to Marlow recount his unusual adventure into the African jungle, encountering for the first time people native to the continent and entirely different in looks and behavior from people he's encountered in the past. While it's a mission of discovery, Marlow is very clear-eyed that the trading company is in the business of exploiting the land and its people via the harsh reality of brutal colonization back in the 19th Century. The language used to reference and describe the African people is rough, but since this book was written in the 1800's, it's likely accurate for the time.
There are periodic bouts of action, and while the majority of the story is a recounting of one person's past experience, it was engaging to hear the descriptions of Marlow's experiences and reactions. The pace didn't feel slow and Marlow was not a bad guy, evident by the way in which he acknowledged working for the trading company, but his words seemed to infer that he felt it was not good for Africa to be exploited for profit. Many times in Marlow's story when he talked about the African landscape and people, it sounded like he was in awe of what he was seeing, with very little disdain, if any.
When the story finally reaches the point where Captain Kurtz is found, the tone becomes much more lively due to Marlow's interactions with the Russian trader, easily one of the most animated and endearing characters in the story. This man has been living on his own and surviving in the jungle, and may be a little off kilter, but has a good heart and is able to provide Marlow with valuable insight into what's happened with Captain Kurtz.
The myth of Captain Kurtz has engrossed Marlow and finding the man consumes him entirely. Not a lot of detail is given about their time together, but it makes a decided impression on Marlow. By the conclusion of the story, the reader will have taken a journey with Marlow and understand why the adventure has haunted him for many years after.
I listened to the audiobook and although it sounds like an older CD recording that's been spliced together, the audio is clear and the narrator, Scott Brick, does sound like he could be Marlow. This lends to the audiobook being a good choice since Heart of Darkness is actually someone recounting a story they were told by someone else sitting out one night on the deck of a ship.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Colonisation
Moderate: Mental illness
glittery_witch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, and Mental illness
rory_john14's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Cannibalism, Grief, Colonisation, Death, Hate crime, Slavery, Violence, Body horror, Blood, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Moderate: Gore, War, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Classism, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Genocide, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, and Religious bigotry
mushrooms23's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Gun violence, War, Suicide, Racism, Slavery, Racial slurs, Murder, Misogyny, Mental illness, Violence, and Physical abuse
frankie2j9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Mental illness
b_caligari's review
- 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
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Slavery, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Gun violence, Terminal illness, and Grief
Minor: Cannibalism, Death of parent, Misogyny, Sexism, and Fire/Fire injury