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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.
andrew61's review against another edition
3.0
An incredibly difficult read which at times felt like wading through treacle. Whether that is Conrad's prose style or my inadequacies I don't know but certainly I struggled with the book.
However there is within the story much of interest as we meet jim, a young merchant shipman who having grown up the son of a clergyman seeks adventure on the seas. Unfortunately one of his first trips sees him become scapegoat as a storm leads to crew abandoning the boat The Patna leaving hundreds of muslims going on pilgrimage stranded in the hold. during the subsequent inquiry he meets the narrator Marlow who befriends him and through Marlow we follow Jim's later adventures which see him flit from job to job as his infamy follows him before landing on a Eastern peninsula where he is treated as the 'Lord' of the title before a band of pirates take battle with the natives.
The prose is dense but the story is an interesting one particularly as it has so many similarities to 'heart of Darkness' in its picture of a white man who becomes god like to the natives he invades, yet it is the corruption of the white invaders that ultimately destroys. Similarly Marlow is narrator of both books and the narrative seems to follow much of Conrad's own life story.
Certainly I've read Heart of Darkness a couple of times and found the style difficult although recall The Secret Agent as being more accessible.
An interesting read and certainly I am perhaps more interested in the writers life than venturing any further into his writing.
However there is within the story much of interest as we meet jim, a young merchant shipman who having grown up the son of a clergyman seeks adventure on the seas. Unfortunately one of his first trips sees him become scapegoat as a storm leads to crew abandoning the boat The Patna leaving hundreds of muslims going on pilgrimage stranded in the hold. during the subsequent inquiry he meets the narrator Marlow who befriends him and through Marlow we follow Jim's later adventures which see him flit from job to job as his infamy follows him before landing on a Eastern peninsula where he is treated as the 'Lord' of the title before a band of pirates take battle with the natives.
The prose is dense but the story is an interesting one particularly as it has so many similarities to 'heart of Darkness' in its picture of a white man who becomes god like to the natives he invades, yet it is the corruption of the white invaders that ultimately destroys. Similarly Marlow is narrator of both books and the narrative seems to follow much of Conrad's own life story.
Certainly I've read Heart of Darkness a couple of times and found the style difficult although recall The Secret Agent as being more accessible.
An interesting read and certainly I am perhaps more interested in the writers life than venturing any further into his writing.
hpuphd's review against another edition
I wonder how much Conrad’s friendship and working relationship with Ford Madox Ford influenced The Good Soldier, a later novel, which I sort of think might be smoother in its technique of conveying the processes of perception. I had never read Conrad’s classic and I liked it, but Ford’s novel seems more absorbing.
closetpirate's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
AB/PB|🇬🇧
The only thing good about this book is the title.
This was so unbelievably boring. I really don't like a whole book told by a narrator, it's confusing and feels unreliable.
Even if you put a gun to my head I couldn't tell you the plot of the book. So many words, so little story.
I restarted it when I put it away for a while hoping it would interest me but alas.
But hey, maybe it's me
The only thing good about this book is the title.
This was so unbelievably boring. I really don't like a whole book told by a narrator, it's confusing and feels unreliable.
Even if you put a gun to my head I couldn't tell you the plot of the book. So many words, so little story.
I restarted it when I put it away for a while hoping it would interest me but alas.
But hey, maybe it's me