Heart of Darkness (original 1902; edition 1990)

"The horror! The horror!" ( )

I have never hated a book more. It was just. Awful. Plain and simple. I've never encountered a less accessible text where nothing happens. One star is generous. ( )

This is by far one of my favorite books that I have ever read. Had we not had the class discussions to decipher the minute details, then I would have been completely lost but what I did gain from it I loved. This book was the first book that really got me thinking about human nature and the way we work as a species and civilization. I began to wonder if civilization is simply spinning its wheels and claiming progress, rather than actually working towards a goal. I also thought about if, I myself, would become like Kurtz if I was left with my thoughts as we was. This is a truth that I don't feel I am prepared to face just yet. Regardless, this book is at the very top of my list of 25 because of how artfully Conrad was able to integrate symbols into a story that had a very minimal plot. The plot itself could be summed up in a few sentences, but the meanings behind those words are what make this book great.

Beautifully written, rich, rich imagery, totally absorbing.

I really don't want to waste anything about it for anyone, except to tell you to please read it. It won't take you long and it's entirely worth it. One, perhaps slightly odd, thing I will note is that the narrative style really reminded me of F. Scott Fitzgerald, in particular The Great Gatsby. I'm not sure why, given that the subject matter and time period are so vastly different - I think it's the dynamic between the two male leads. ( )

Extraordinarily good. I expected many things of Heart of Darkness but I didn't expect the odd flash of humour (black though it may be) and the immense readability of this enthralling tale. To be honest I was a bit nervous, not generally taking to allegorical works. This swept me along with the genius of the narrative--I was as enthralled as Marlowe's ship-mates, and could hear every word falling from his lips in the darkness of the Themes estuary. Just over 110-years-old, the writing remains fresh and engaging. More fulsome review to come, when I have the book to hand.

Something to note is that this edition comes with copious footnotes (plus Conrad's 'Congo Diary'). While it was tiring to look things up all the time, I think that added a lot to my reading experience. My housemate doesn't remember his copy of Heart of Darkness, when he studied it a decade of so ago, having those notes. It may be worth seeking out an edition that does. ( )