I didn't actually finish this book as I found it too difficult: multiple narrators, boring, and never sure just who said what.I didn't actually finish this book as I found it too difficult: multiple narrators, boring, and never sure just who said what....more
The first 20% was gripping and with excellent characterization, but the rest was a bit difficult to read and overly long.
The narrator, a western EngliThe first 20% was gripping and with excellent characterization, but the rest was a bit difficult to read and overly long.
The narrator, a western English teacher (the western eyes) knew too much, and it was a bit distracting to have an all-knowing narrator who is actually a character in the story.
The protagonist, Ramuzov, clearly went a bit crazy in the end but that wasn't explored adequately, and I found the ending rather incomplete....more
A good book: a tad boring during first half, but truly gripping in the second half; usual great character development and gifted prose. I never understA good book: a tad boring during first half, but truly gripping in the second half; usual great character development and gifted prose. I never understood just what the bomb wielding clowns were trying to achieve. The protagonist, Verloc, being the kingpin of a terrorist cell, but allegedly working for someone with government connections....more
Very long winded, but an excellent book that reminds me of G Elliot's 'Daniel Deronda', with lots of depth characterisation, many side stories, and woVery long winded, but an excellent book that reminds me of G Elliot's 'Daniel Deronda', with lots of depth characterisation, many side stories, and wonderful prose.
This is one of his best books and I think it a major classic, with Conrad one of the best novelists of his era. ...more
Should be called 'Adventure' as that is the romantic sentiment of the story - not romantic sexual love. Very interesting story, and very gripping at tiShould be called 'Adventure' as that is the romantic sentiment of the story - not romantic sexual love. Very interesting story, and very gripping at times....more
Different to most of Conrad’s books, and written in collaboration with another great author, Ford Maddox Ford.
A story about a romantically obsessed yoDifferent to most of Conrad’s books, and written in collaboration with another great author, Ford Maddox Ford.
A story about a romantically obsessed young writer, who slavishly follows the wishes of a very politically ambitious lady who is from the 4th dimension � that was the science fiction pretension. However, there was no need to invoke a different dimension as she was not especially perceptive and merely wanted to take over the world, just like any ‘normal� sociopath might.
Well written but just didn’t do the business for me. ...more
A longish book with a good story and excellent prose, however, I found it difficult to read and hence the 3* rating: 1. I found the Nested Narration ovA longish book with a good story and excellent prose, however, I found it difficult to read and hence the 3* rating: 1. I found the Nested Narration overly complicated and poorly executed, with the overall narrator mostly quoting the effective narrator, Marlow, who is frequently quoting dialogue. This combined with poor dialogue organization and punctuation, made the whole thing a tad confusing. 2. By the standards of English language usage that I grew up with, just after WW2, the author misuses pronouns. Frequently he uses a pronoun for page after page, and even into a new chapter, which I found tedious and confusing, especially as thanks to the poor organization and punctuation of the dialogue that made it difficult to really know who said what, and hence I was often unsure just who principle was that the pronoun referred to anyway!
I know that many of the 19th century English classics also had what now seem strange methods of punctuation, however, this book is the most difficult book that I have read - if only Fowler's had been available then.
NB. I read a Kindle version and these often have typos and other more serious errors. The printed versions may be better?...more
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