Heart of Darkness

Penelope · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:17 am Post subject:

I must hold up my hand and say I have never seen either the film or the follow-up, as I tended to avoid 'war' genre in any form.

I haven't even begun Heart of Darkness because I have been enthralled by the short biography of Conrad at the beginning of my copy. What an amazing person!

My son is going to lend me his copy of the film.

When I say I have avoided 'War Genre' I have read 'All Quiet on the Western Front' many years ago. Also - 'Birdsong' by Sebastian Faulks, which I thought was wonderful and that is the book that is spurring me on to change my reading habits. Also, I was an enormous fan of that old TV series - 'Mash'.

When I tried to read 'Catch 22' - well, it might as well have been in Chinese. I felt as though I had something missing in my experience/psyche. It will be good for me to expand my horizons with your help. Then I might be able to go back to Joseph Heller. Confused

Ophelia · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:25 am Post subject:

Hi Penelope,

I'd say your avatar was worth the struggle.

Penelope · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:20 am Post subject:

Well, thank you Ophelia - I am pleased with it, although of course it isn't Pre-Raphaelite like yours.

Is yours by Burne-Jones? Is it entitled 'Ophelia'? I know there was one called 'Ophelia' but I thought it was of a beautiful drowned girl.

Ophelia · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

Penelope,
My avatar is "Lady of Shalott" by J W Waterhouse.
There is a beautiful "Ophelia" painting, but I thought it would be a touch too gloomy for daily use.

Penelope · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:20 am Post subject:

I used to have the Holman-Hunt version of the Lady of Shallot in her tower, waiting for Lancelot? or was it Gallahad? to ride by., on my living room wall. I do love them (the Pre-Raphaelites).

However - I now have a more cheerful, beautiful lady in blue flowing robes on her bicycle!

MadArchitect · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:46 pm Post subject:

Penelope, "Catch-22" is just a tough read. It's very recursive for the first 150 pages or so, if I recall correctly, but it starts to sort itself out in the last half. If you can make it that far, it starts to reward your effort. It isn't my favorite book, by any means, but it is at least memorable, and I'd probably revisit it.

Penelope · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 5:32 pm Post subject:

Thanky Mad A

I was thinking about 'Catch 22' after posting earlier today. I remember Alan Bleasdale (Playwrite) writing an article about this book in a magazine article.

He said you had to have suffered to understand it. He had read it when he was young and found it opaque, but going back to it in later years, he enjoyed it.

He compared it to a young person reading Eliot's 'Prufrock' and said that you had to be middle aged or old to appreciate that poem. I think I agree with him on that one.

irishrosem · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:12 am Post subject:

Grrrrrrr...Heller....

Penelope, I don’t know if this will help make you look more forward to the book, but I wouldn’t categorize Heart of Darkness as war lit. There’s definitely some violence to it, and the colonialism that we’ve been discussing. But there isn’t any real combat or even much threat of combat. More skirmishes and the random violence you would expect from an untamed wilderness. Though the film definitely incorporates war.

Penelope · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:48 am Post subject:

The Lady of Shalott - I loved is the Tennyson poem.

But unlike you, Irish Rose - I can't quote it. Sad

irishrosem · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:14 am Post subject:

Penelope, I was introduced to the "Lady of Shalott" by Anne (with an "E") Shirley. What a way to find Tennyson. But how dearly I loved those stories as a child. Still do, actually. And watch the movies.

O.K. boys and girls we're less than two weeks away from the start of the official discussion for Heart of Darkness. Does everyone have a copy of the book? I'm looking forward to this.

Penelope · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:27 am Post subject:

Are we sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin...... Razz

Ophelia · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:27 am Post subject:

I've started reading. At first I found it difficult to concentrate, but now I can see there is a lot more to it than I remembered.

Penelope · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject:

Ophelia - Isn't it strange - as we get older, different things become meaningful to us.

This book, I think would have meant nothing to me once. Now it is hurting.

So often though, the author is more interesting than the book!!!

Whilst I am reading this, the author is over my shoulder, watching.

That is supposed to be the sign of NOT good writing. Well, I wish I could do it.

djsgaelic1972 · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:58 pm Post subject: Heart of Darkness

I read Heart of Darkness in high school. It was not the type of book I enjoyed reading in high school. I liked To Kill A Mocking Bird. But in college I took a literary class where we discussed many novels and short stories dealing with colonialism. So I revisited Heart Of Darkness while doing research for a paper.

I am interested in reading it now that I have some distance from school and writing papers. I am encouraging myself to read for joy as well as discussion.

But I did find the novel very hard to get into at first. I will have to unpack all my wonderful novels from that class in order to get my mind around the heart of Darkness again.

I am excited to get back to discussing my passion for the written word.

Penelope · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

I would just like to remind everyone that it is 'Burns Night' on Friday next.

He was a bit of a bugger....but wrote great poems....once translated from Scots dialect....

We are having Haggis with Tatties and bashed neeps (that is haggis with potatoes and swede turnip - mashed together with butter). The haggis is usually pretty awful. It is only acceptable because of the nips of whiskey which are mandatory.

Join us on Friday.....at my house: In spirit at least.....with apologies to our French friends.

Lang may yur Lum Reek!!


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