Rating: 
Summary: the darkness is in your own heart
Review: Conrad's novella describes the scenery in more detail than it does the people. In Europe, the people are nothing more than stereotypes, but the closer you get to Kurtz, the more defined, human, flawed and individual they become. Ultimately, Marlow finds Kurtz a broken, dying man. He also finds that that heart of darkness is not in the center of Africa, but in the center of his own soul.
Rating: 
Summary: A convoluted load of bollocks!
Review: If your idea of a good time is reading a book that feels like it's entirely exposition (eschewing such literary novelties as, say, rising action, or a real climax), then "Heart of Darkness" is for you and stay away from me! The gist of the book is that white people who think they're civilized are actually far more savage than the "barbarians" they try to "civilize." I could've got the same lesson by listening to a Midnight Oil song and gotten on with my life, rather than wading through this detail-drenched, pompously "symbolic" waste of time. I'm not one of those people who insists that a book contain a sex scene or violent act every few pages to keep my attention, but NOTHING HAPPENS in this whole book! We're supposed to be supremely affected by it all. Life's too short for this kind of bombast. -Chris Willie Williams
Rating: 
Summary: Less words, get to the point already
Review: I suppose Conrad is trying to paint a vivid picture with using all these fancy words in one sentence, but as for me, I like straightforward simple sentences. The excess use of adjectives detracts from the story, in my opinion, and makes the book less fun to read. Maybe it's cause this book was written 100 years ago.
Rating:
Summary: A haunting tale!
Review: Inspired by some of his trips to Congo - in which he saw the grim reality of imperialism - and the savage acts of arrogant civilized explorers, Conrad wrote this amazing tale that leads us through the glooming wilderness of Africa into the darkness of the minds of men. Conrad's realistic narrative still stand as a mark of the beginnings of modern literature in the end of 19th century. This great novel tells of the adventure of the explorer Marlow in Africa, discovering the whereabouts of the misterious hunter called Kurtz and the profound and compelling madness that overcame his soul, shattering his joy and plunging him into a grim philosophy of mankind's existence. "Heart of Darkness" walks on the threshold between sanity and insanity: it possesses both the strangeness of a bad dream and the intensity of reality. Conrad's work pulls you right through into the abyssal hearts of men! 25th of August of 1999
Rating: 
Summary: spiritual guide...
Review: We are brought into the book in the middle of the Thames river, who the hell knows what's going on until you reach page 20?! What Conrad has done, is gone into a spiritual search for himself (depicted through Marlow). Civilisation is the body that houses our souls. Civilisation is that set of rules, norms and ethics that society shoves into our diaphragms with huge force. Who am I? Am I a number in society, or what? This is the ever present question that Conrad asked, and through leaving civilisation he left the jail of society. He went into the 'wilderness' to discover the molecules of the soul. Basically, you need to leave your inhabitions and enter into the barbarous being that you are.
Rating:
Summary: Human nature revealed
Review: This book, despite its rather dark theme, is a masterpiece thatshows the depravity of human nature, not unlike LORD OF THE FLIES. Itshows in some sense of reality what the human soul would do when left without the limitations of society. It reveals a side of us that we would rather left hidden; our cruelty to people unlike ourselves, as well as the loss of order once the traditional boundaries are removed. I highly recommend this book to those who want to know more about who we are, beneathth facade we put on every day.
Rating:
Summary: Cannibalism is the key
Review: I think to "unlock" the mystery at the heart of darkness it is necessary to consider the recurrances of cannibalism: The overt act by Marlowe's crew, "Catch 'em. Eat 'em." The metaphoric "eating of Africa" by the whites mindlessly and pointlessly excavating their endless hillside. And finally, with cannibalism as a pivotal conceit, perhaps cannibalism is--in fact--Mr.Kurtz'"unspeakable act," his, "Horror." Heart of Darkness is truly one of the great works of art in our language!
Rating:
Summary: In writing, meaning isn't everything ....
Review: This novel has meaning, it has depth, sure ... I can see that. But just because a story has meaning and depth doesn't mean it's a great one, a great story doesn't just have that, it has to have wonderful execution too, and this one just doesn't make the cut. It's way too wordy, and I get the feeling that it's too pretentious - it's like the author gets all the mind-blowing adjectives he can find and stuffs it down your throat. And I can make other criticisms, but basically it's about the style, the execution. So yeah, I get it - I get what it's trying to say, but it's not an impact, you know? And please don't mistake me for some person who doesn't know how to appreciate fine literature. I love Oscar Wilde, among others. I just think that this might've been great if only he'd reached out in a more effective way. We can't just judge a story to be incredible just because it has incredible meaning. The execution counts for a lot. That's why we have writers, isn't it? To put fantastic thoughts into sentences - GOOD sentences, which justify the depth of the thoughts. PLEASE consider the point I'm making here. :)
Rating:
Summary: Two stars for being short
Review: Boring! I understood the point (darkness within the human soul) but I hate weeding through all the excess writing to get to it. Give your characters some life!
Rating: 
Summary: But let's be honest. . .
Review: Even all the Heart of Darkness adulators must admit: (1) It is a difficult work, and hard even for an intelligent reader to follow. Marlow doesn't give a straightforward narrative - he digresses, he ruminates, he opines, he jumps around in time and space, he omits things (e.g., how does the boat suddenly get fixed at Central Station?). Uncommon patience is definitely demanded of the reader. (2) When Marlow finally does meet Kurtz, it's a letdown, at least the first time through. Kurtz's appearance in the story is limited to only a few pages. What we ultimately learn of him is mainly from what other people say about him. I realize that he's largely a symbol, but for a reader to anxiously anticipate a character for 70 pages and then hardly be allowed to get to know him directly is hard to accept.
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