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allytron3000's review against another edition
4.0
Moving and powerful. Very dark. An amazing use of language.
harrygwg's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
alisarae's review against another edition
First off, this reminded me so much of [b:The Poisonwood Bible|7244|The Poisonwood Bible|Barbara Kingsolver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1644073807l/7244._SY75_.jpg|810663]. The similarities are uncanny; Kingsolver must have done it intentionally.
In The Poisonwood Bible, one of the white characters grows to understand and embrace their Congolese neighbors as not only fellow humans, but also as a culture with rhythms that are intentional and make sense. In the Heart of Darkness, this never happens. The Congolese remain literally in the background and never grow beyond descriptions of beasts, savages, devils, cannibals, jungle entities etc. The main character only expands his understanding of Kurtz, a white man held in such reverence by both the Europeans and the Congolese that he is described as a cult-like deity.
One of the main themes is futility. Everything from the doctor who takes starting measurements but can never take ending measurements to compare them with, to the message runners who run back and forth carrying messages about needing bolts but never carry the bolts themselves, to the multiple scenes of purposeless gunfire. The ivory trade itself is inherently useless: ivory is sold to make delicate decorations in the "women's world," described multiple times as a protective bubble to keep women from experiencing the reality of the world. Even the riches that ivory could fetch remain unmanifested: Kurtz dies in poverty despite being the most renowned & productive ivory hunter in the country, the Russian harlequin sent a bit of ivory out as repayment but material goods seem to matter little to him and he chooses to live his life as a nomad, and the top company officials in the Congo decorate their office-huts with masks stolen from the Congolese—mud huts and masks show off their prestige, but presumably even the lowest-ranking Congolese man also has that.
The writing is dense, evocative, impenetrable, dark, eerie, disorienting..... really captures the sensation of being in the depths of a jungle.
*Puts on art critique hat* About the illustrated version: I liked the artistic style and it makes for a beautiful book, but I think the artist got too stuck on specific figures and many illustrations were simplistic in a lazy way (like the artist was getting tired of the project and just hammering through it). Nearly all the illustrations were stuck at either a full-body, full-skull, or a mid-distance landscape—why not zoom in or zoom out for variety? The recurring motif of an ouroboros to symbolize futility of progress in the face of infinity (I suppose) could have been explored in different ways, like the penrose triangle, or perhaps some motifs from Congolese art. A rule we had in illustration 101: no hearts, no skulls. It's obvious, boring, and the lowest-hanging fruit. If I were the art director, I would have pushed for at least half the skull illustrations to be something else. Think memento mori—decaying fruit and flowers, flies and worms, vultures, shadows to show the day is ending. So in summary, it could have used someone to question and push the compositions a bit more.
In The Poisonwood Bible, one of the white characters grows to understand and embrace their Congolese neighbors as not only fellow humans, but also as a culture with rhythms that are intentional and make sense. In the Heart of Darkness, this never happens. The Congolese remain literally in the background and never grow beyond descriptions of beasts, savages, devils, cannibals, jungle entities etc. The main character only expands his understanding of Kurtz, a white man held in such reverence by both the Europeans and the Congolese that he is described as a cult-like deity.
One of the main themes is futility. Everything from the doctor who takes starting measurements but can never take ending measurements to compare them with, to the message runners who run back and forth carrying messages about needing bolts but never carry the bolts themselves, to the multiple scenes of purposeless gunfire. The ivory trade itself is inherently useless: ivory is sold to make delicate decorations in the "women's world," described multiple times as a protective bubble to keep women from experiencing the reality of the world. Even the riches that ivory could fetch remain unmanifested: Kurtz dies in poverty despite being the most renowned & productive ivory hunter in the country, the Russian harlequin sent a bit of ivory out as repayment but material goods seem to matter little to him and he chooses to live his life as a nomad, and the top company officials in the Congo decorate their office-huts with masks stolen from the Congolese—mud huts and masks show off their prestige, but presumably even the lowest-ranking Congolese man also has that.
The writing is dense, evocative, impenetrable, dark, eerie, disorienting..... really captures the sensation of being in the depths of a jungle.
*Puts on art critique hat* About the illustrated version: I liked the artistic style and it makes for a beautiful book, but I think the artist got too stuck on specific figures and many illustrations were simplistic in a lazy way (like the artist was getting tired of the project and just hammering through it). Nearly all the illustrations were stuck at either a full-body, full-skull, or a mid-distance landscape—why not zoom in or zoom out for variety? The recurring motif of an ouroboros to symbolize futility of progress in the face of infinity (I suppose) could have been explored in different ways, like the penrose triangle, or perhaps some motifs from Congolese art. A rule we had in illustration 101: no hearts, no skulls. It's obvious, boring, and the lowest-hanging fruit. If I were the art director, I would have pushed for at least half the skull illustrations to be something else. Think memento mori—decaying fruit and flowers, flies and worms, vultures, shadows to show the day is ending. So in summary, it could have used someone to question and push the compositions a bit more.
em_and_ems's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
I did not realize this was an origin inspiration to Apolocyse Now which I had watched some months prior. I will admit I feel as though this book was too short to encapsulate the true depth it was attempting to convey.
Our time with Mr Kurtz is so short but we are told so much about him. I feel as though the descriptions do not match due to the underdeveloped nature of seeing Mr Kurtz in action.
Our time with Mr Kurtz is so short but we are told so much about him. I feel as though the descriptions do not match due to the underdeveloped nature of seeing Mr Kurtz in action.
juulisbad's review against another edition
1.0
I actually don't even know what to say. This was the hardest read I'd ever had because it was so boring and senseless
enchantedbibliophile's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It disturbs me that we as a human race can be so cruel towards each other.
At a later stage I will re-read this book, in a more enlightened frame of mind. Because this time around I was not ready for harsh topics so blatantly stated.
I can see why this is seen as a Modernist masterpiece
At a later stage I will re-read this book, in a more enlightened frame of mind. Because this time around I was not ready for harsh topics so blatantly stated.
I can see why this is seen as a Modernist masterpiece
penguin_emperor_of_the_north's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could forget that a book is considered a classic because it colors my opinion.
I'm not sure if I was impressed by this book or if I am just pleased with myself because I think I know what it's about. Or, I'm not sure if I disliked some parts or if I'm just refusing to understand a hundred year old book. And maybe I'm just stressing myself out about something that doesn't matter? Hard to say, hard to say.
"Everything belonged to him - but that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. (p72)"
I think that was the theme that struck me most. This idea that being isolated from the pressure's of civilization (at one point, the experience of being shot at on a steam boat on the Congo is contrasted with life in London where the butcher and policeman are always close) leads to people's moral degradation when they lack the pressure to do what's right.
So, the imperialists can abuse and enslave the natives or Kurtz can establish himself as a god when they're isolated from social pressure. Like how a lot of morality can be driven by social pressure rather than a desire for the good. Reminds me of the stereotype of Victorian prudishness about any difficult subject. I suppose that it was easier to do the wrong thing when there was a taboo against discussing it.
The downside of this book was that some parts of the plot just happened. The book prioritizes its message or theme more than explaining what's going on. Maybe it's that Victorian prudishness but I'd like to know what exactly Kurtz is up to, what's going on with these worship rites? and how'd he convince the locals to worship him?
Even if he did show up with a gun and iron and whatever, I'd think that the first time that malaria knocked him on his butt that the locals would cotton on that Kurtz is mortal. Definitely by the second time.
Anyway, I first read this in high school and I was expecting an adventure story then so I finished it and just thought, 'what the heck?' So, I'm glad I re-read this, I was much more appreciative of the nuance and what the book was going for this time around.
I'm not sure if I was impressed by this book or if I am just pleased with myself because I think I know what it's about. Or, I'm not sure if I disliked some parts or if I'm just refusing to understand a hundred year old book. And maybe I'm just stressing myself out about something that doesn't matter? Hard to say, hard to say.
"Everything belonged to him - but that was a trifle. The thing was to know what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. (p72)"
I think that was the theme that struck me most. This idea that being isolated from the pressure's of civilization (at one point, the experience of being shot at on a steam boat on the Congo is contrasted with life in London where the butcher and policeman are always close) leads to people's moral degradation when they lack the pressure to do what's right.
So, the imperialists can abuse and enslave the natives or Kurtz can establish himself as a god when they're isolated from social pressure. Like how a lot of morality can be driven by social pressure rather than a desire for the good. Reminds me of the stereotype of Victorian prudishness about any difficult subject. I suppose that it was easier to do the wrong thing when there was a taboo against discussing it.
The downside of this book was that some parts of the plot just happened. The book prioritizes its message or theme more than explaining what's going on. Maybe it's that Victorian prudishness but I'd like to know what exactly Kurtz is up to, what's going on with these worship rites? and how'd he convince the locals to worship him?
Even if he did show up with a gun and iron and whatever, I'd think that the first time that malaria knocked him on his butt that the locals would cotton on that Kurtz is mortal. Definitely by the second time.
Anyway, I first read this in high school and I was expecting an adventure story then so I finished it and just thought, 'what the heck?' So, I'm glad I re-read this, I was much more appreciative of the nuance and what the book was going for this time around.