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gcw30's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.5
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
Penance is useless. If you don't feel guilty, you won't do it. If you feel guilty, it won't be enough.
lanceschaubert's review against another edition
3.0
I honestly remember very little about this book SAVE but for the quadruple quotes.
That's right.
This book is full of people quoting people quoting people. And at times it looks like this.
Shannon, at trial, said, "So I was walking down the street and overheard Lord Jim say, 'Yeah, they're a bunch of jerks who are the kinds of people to walk straight into a bar and shout, "If any of you wants to fight, you come up to me and call me, 'You snollygoster lickspittle smellfungus.'"'"
And so on.
Which, I mean, if nothing else that's ambitious.
Three stars because I remember nothing else. I might give it another try, but then again...
That's right.
This book is full of people quoting people quoting people. And at times it looks like this.
Shannon, at trial, said, "So I was walking down the street and overheard Lord Jim say, 'Yeah, they're a bunch of jerks who are the kinds of people to walk straight into a bar and shout, "If any of you wants to fight, you come up to me and call me, 'You snollygoster lickspittle smellfungus.'"'"
And so on.
Which, I mean, if nothing else that's ambitious.
Three stars because I remember nothing else. I might give it another try, but then again...
donnaadouglas's review against another edition
2.0
'Lord Jim' is a novel about overcoming misfortune. It's titular character is involved in the unfortunate sinking of his ship at the beginning of the book, and spends the rest of the book trying to escape his past and build his future.
I found this book to be a little confusing at times. It's hard to figure out who's speaking to who, and the overabundance of side-stories distracts from the chronology of the central story, and often I had to read back in order to remind myself where and when the action was taking place.
I also discovered around chapter 16 that I hadn't a care in the world as to the fate of any of the characters, but I couldn't understand why. Perhaps I just don't know enough about the business of the sea.
I did like Conrad's use of imagery in this book, however. He was able to create very rich descriptions of people and places, and due to this I am still excited to read some of his other works in the future.
I found this book to be a little confusing at times. It's hard to figure out who's speaking to who, and the overabundance of side-stories distracts from the chronology of the central story, and often I had to read back in order to remind myself where and when the action was taking place.
I also discovered around chapter 16 that I hadn't a care in the world as to the fate of any of the characters, but I couldn't understand why. Perhaps I just don't know enough about the business of the sea.
I did like Conrad's use of imagery in this book, however. He was able to create very rich descriptions of people and places, and due to this I am still excited to read some of his other works in the future.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
I did this one as an audiobook (but *NOT* the version goodreads implies - they 'combined' editions and the audio version I listened to is gone. It's the version from librivox.org - if you haven't heard of it, but like audio books, I recommend the site - free versions of public domain books).
The version I listened to is downloadable at http://www.archive.org/details/lord_jim_librivox
Anyhoo, I listened to many sections twice, because my mind wandered, because Conrad can be like that for me, but I followed everything, and...
I don't think I get it. What's supposed to be the good part of this that makes it a classic? It's OK, I guess. I need someone to tell me what makes it good.
I added a star (would have been two instead of three), because of the reading. Stewart Wills' reading is perfect for an audio book - lots of good inflection...he keeps it just the right energy...but he doesn't try to make it into a one-man play starring Stewart Wills. It's still Conrad's writing that's front and center.
(As a cf., I tried Lord Jim as an audio book from my library, and that guy's voice was so affected - and constantly affected in different ways - that I couldn't finish it).
The version I listened to is downloadable at http://www.archive.org/details/lord_jim_librivox
Anyhoo, I listened to many sections twice, because my mind wandered, because Conrad can be like that for me, but I followed everything, and...
I don't think I get it. What's supposed to be the good part of this that makes it a classic? It's OK, I guess. I need someone to tell me what makes it good.
I added a star (would have been two instead of three), because of the reading. Stewart Wills' reading is perfect for an audio book - lots of good inflection...he keeps it just the right energy...but he doesn't try to make it into a one-man play starring Stewart Wills. It's still Conrad's writing that's front and center.
(As a cf., I tried Lord Jim as an audio book from my library, and that guy's voice was so affected - and constantly affected in different ways - that I couldn't finish it).
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
4.0
A great Conradian work, exploring identity and roles.
momomo's review against another edition
3.0
Part character study, part colonial adventure story, this masterfully written narrative is told in such a drawn-out and convoluted way that it's often more frustrating than enjoyable.
lukre's review against another edition
5.0
Conrad being Conrad: making you wonder what the hell is going on and all the while amazing you with his writing.
Miles ahead of Secret Agent, but not as perfect as Heart of Darkness
Miles ahead of Secret Agent, but not as perfect as Heart of Darkness
mbondlamberty's review against another edition
3.0
Another book I read for AP English and again another book I enjoyed studying more than reading it.
So much to be learned about the context of the book and the conditions in the world at the time. Not as memorable as Conrad's other work and it is hard to say I liked this given all the things that took place but still something that I do not regret having read.
So much to be learned about the context of the book and the conditions in the world at the time. Not as memorable as Conrad's other work and it is hard to say I liked this given all the things that took place but still something that I do not regret having read.