Product Description
There are many editions of Lord Jim. This educational edition was created for self-improvement or in preparation for advanced examinations. The bottom of each page is annotated with a mini-thesaurus of uncommon words highlighted in the text, including synonyms and antonyms. Designed for school districts, educators, and students seeking to maximize performance on standardized tests, Webster’s paperbacks take advantage of the fact that classics are frequently assign… More >>
#1 by John Boland on February 2, 2010 - 12:04 pm
This is one of the worst books in the world—in my humble opinion! OK, I’m in the minority. Most of the reviewers LOVED the book. I think this book is a waste of beautiful words! Yes, Conrad had a beautiful English vocabulary. But, the “story” is “encrusted” with so many words you’ll tire of it after awhile. OK, try the book, but now, at least, you won’t feel as I did, “What’s wrong with ME that I don’t like this book.” You won’t feel “alone” in your reaction. I think “Heart of Darkness” is a much better book. Comments? boland7214@aol.
PS: As of 1-15-07 I see that I have ZERO “yes” votes for my review. That’s “mean”. I’m just giving my honest reaction. You don’t have to agree with me but why not give me a break for spending the time and energy just to write my thoughts—-thoughts which MIGHT help someone….maybe not you….but someone. Thanks.
Rating: 1 / 5
#2 by Paul Duer on February 2, 2010 - 2:46 pm
Ugh. This might have been a good book if it were half the size, but Conrad strains to keep the plot going amid the endless descriptions of sea, sky, and the characters’ states of mind. Move along, move along! This ancient icon may be a monument to Conrad’s mastery of his second language, and it may be a tragic psychological exploration of the universal heroic destiny (or something equally dense), but listening to it doesn’t exactly keep you on the edge of your seat.
Rating: 2 / 5
#3 by Sean K on February 2, 2010 - 4:17 pm
I debated whether or not I should write a review. After all, I only read the first 70 pages or so, after which I decided to stop slogging through this tedious novel. However, since I assume most people who would buy and read this book are doing it for their own enjoyment, I felt complelled to chime in, although I’m clearly in the minority. However, I must add in my defense that this book was initially criticized by his contemporaries as a short story that just kept rambling on with no apparent purpose, a criticism I find valid.
The premise sounds fascinating – the journey of a young seaman who attempts to reconcile his dishonorable past. It sounded like it would be an interesting tale about the conflict between heroics and harsh reality. However, in the delivery of the story, I lost all interest shortly. The main problem I see is in the vivid descriptions and imagery. This, or course, is usually a good thing. However, Conrad seems to go into such great description of every little detail that it distracts from the main story. It seems that Conrad could have been just as effective by using half of the words. The non-sequitur narrative also makes it a bit more difficult to follow, although I think this could have been effective if the narrative would have been more concise and to the point.
However, rather than merely blasting away at “Lord Jim,” I will at least give one alternative – “Heart of Darkness”, also by Joseph Conrad. Read my take of this in my other reviews. This is a much more interesting and more enjoyable read than “Lord Jim”, and about half its length. Plus, it offers a more poignant picture of Imperialism and its ideals (or lack thereof).
Perhaps I will give it another go in the future, but until then I would recommend you give “Lord Jim” a pass and spend your money and time on another novel, perhaps “Heart of Darkness.”
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on February 2, 2010 - 4:19 pm
I am a Sophomore being forced to read this difficult and virtually impossible book for class. It’s downright dull and far too difficult for me to comprehend while I’m trying to make deadlines at a pace of 3 minutes a page! Joseph Conrad should have tried speaking English!
Rating: 1 / 5
#5 by Anonymous on February 2, 2010 - 4:49 pm
Just after the first few pages I was already a little confused. I think just because I don’t think I have ever read a book that was told in third person. Eventually you get used to it, and the fact that his descriptions of almost everything is both extremely detailed and long, perhaps a little too long. I think Conrad just wants us, the reader, to know exactly what is going on and to be focused on the story. Most of Jim’s story is told by a fellow seaman(a captain) named Marlow who Jim met at a meeting where Jim loses his hopes and dreams of becoming a “hero of the sea”.
Jim is a young man who has big plans to become a sea captian, but after pushing through the ranks and becoming chief mate he makes a bad mistake. The ship he was currently boarded, “the Patna”, became damaged and without thinking Jim and the rest of the crew abandoned the ship leaving innocents stranded on the boat. This mistake costs Jim his life as a seaman. This is where he meets Marlow, who seems to take interest in Jim. Marlow assists Jim in finding a new way to live in Patusan, where people begin to look up to Jim as their leader.
In my opinion I don’t really think we are suppose to think of the story as what is so great but looking at Jim the character as what is. I think Jim is a little to full of himself and everytime the memory of the Patna arises he hides in fear like a coward. He thinks he is superhuman for stopping a bandit in his little town. He needs to realize that heros are only in fairy tales.
I rated the book three stars because it was a good story, but the book for me was a little too confusing and way to long of a book to get the story he was telling across to everyone. Overall, if your looking for a something to do everynite before you go to sleep then I recommend this book to you.
Rating: 3 / 5