Good sea and adventure stories. ( )

It's been quite a while since I've read this book. Upon reading it again, I realize my memories of its events were somewhat inaccurate so it was nice to approach it with older eyes. What strikes me most this time around, moreso than when I read it the first time (which was more about contemplating Kurtz's evil) is the stark racism, which isn't necessarily surprising given the time and culture in which it was written, but unnerving all the same. The book went faster this time around, and the evil didn't seem quite so breath-taking as it once did. While I used to find Marlow's long-awaited encounter with Kurtz the best part of the story
(and it still is pretty tense), I now find Marlow's final encounter with the "Intended" the most fascinating--that roiling anger of humoring someone when you consider to be sole the possessor of "true" knowledge. Good stuff. (PS--I acutally haven't read The Secret Sharer yet...bad English major!!) ( )

I found a copy of this book in a bathroom on the Josh C Stennis while deployed on a westpac in 2004 and I can say that it is a higher grade of reading material then you typically find in places like that - this book absolutely stunned me because of the language. There is no a single word that isn't perfectly placed. In 12 words Conrad says as much as i could in a page. And as I understand it the dude only learned English late in life and produced this masterpiece? I had never read writing like this before - somehow perfect technical efficiency and also an evocative poem simultaneously. The themes of this book are my absolute favorites - madness, desperation, and faith. For a long time I called this my favorite book. ( )

This book is on so many "must-read" lists that I thought perhaps there was something wrong when I really didn't like the book. Then, I learned that my book club unanimously hated it. Yes, there is some value to reading the book, but don't start unless you are ready for a slog. ( )

This book is on so many "must-read" lists that I thought perhaps there was something wrong when I really didn't like the book. Then, I learned that my book club unanimously hated it. Yes, there is some value to reading the book, but don't start unless you are ready for a slog. ( )