Reader discussion: Lord Jim

Public reader discussion about Lord Jim in the WeRead Catalog by Joseph Conrad.

One of my favorite Joseph Conrad lines from LORD JIM; these words have stayed with me ever since first reading them years ago, occasionally popping in my head at the most random moments.

By CuriousLibrary15

It feels like we all wander around—famous or nobody—chasing whatever we can make, even if it’s just enough to eat. And somehow it seems like every one of us has to go back and “answer” for ourselves, like we’re showing up to give a report. You come home to your family, your friends, the people you owe or you love… but even if someone’s alone with no ties at all, even if home doesn’t really mean anything, they still have to face whatever lives in the place itself. Like the land has this quiet presence there—almost like a friend, a judge, and something that pushes you to think.

Is there any general consensus on the meaning of Apocalypse Now?

By PantherSky

I finally watched *Apocalypse Now* (I saw the first theatrical cut, but I might check out the Redux or Final Cut later) and I really did enjoy the way it looks and feels—like it’s totally crafted to be this nightmarish, dreamlike thing that just drags you into that awful mood. It even reminded me of *Aguirre, the Wrath of God*, which I love. But I honestly couldn’t pin down a consistent theme. The ending especially left me like… what am I supposed to take from this? Is it really about the horror of war? Is it actually anti-war or anti-imperialist like people claim? Or does it come off as pro-war somehow? Is it more like *Aguirre*—like nature crushing the stuff humans try to build? Is it about how war pushes people into madness, like with Kurtz? Was Kurtz actually insane, or is the movie asking if he might be the only one thinking clearly? Or is it basically just a “this is Vietnam” experience type of film? Or is it all of those things? Or none? Part of me thinks great art doesn’t have to have one clean message, so the “it’s an honest experience of Vietnam” idea could fit. But I don’t give it points just because it’s ambiguous, and I’m also kind of annoyed by the “war is hell” explanation—like for something this big and mysterious and ambitious, that feels a little too familiar. So yeah, I’m mostly wondering: do people (especially critics) mostly land on the same interpretation, or is it all over the place? And if there is some agreement, what exactly do they agree on? I’m also curious to hear other interpretations, even if they don’t all match up.

Recommend me books by Joseph Conrad that aren't Heart of Darkness

By papernotices

I really enjoyed this book, and I’m curious to check out more of his work.

Nostromo by Joseph Conrad: A Short Review

By mercyteacup90

Nostromo was kind of in the “really good, but also just okay?” zone for me. Like, I can see why it’s a classic, and some of it is super strong, but I didn’t completely love it either. It takes place in this made-up Republic of Costaguana, which I think is meant to feel a bit like Panama / Latin America under all that colonial-capitalist pressure. The politics are messy and violent and basically never stop, and honestly the exact government changes weren’t the most gripping part to me. They do feel pretty thought out and believable though. What I liked more was how the book looks at what keeps all that chaos going, both in terms of the people involved and the bigger economic/social stuff behind it. I think it helps to read the characters more like types or roles than like fully normal people. They do have personality, sure, but I didn’t find most of them that compelling as people. Charles Gould, for example, is this stiff English mine guy tied up with the capitalists and the government, and he has his own layers, but he’s still basically a man of the mine. The Montero brothers feel like another round in the country’s cycle of flashy, dangerous politics, where ambitious men can drag everybody into disaster for ego and power and money. Don José Avellanos is the respectable old patriot type, with all the suffering and honor attached to him. And then Nostromo himself is sort of the guy who holds everything together for the powerful, the person doing the dirty work on the ground. He wants glory and to be more than just useful, but in the end the big interests just move past him. That part is depressing, honestly. He gets a little recognition, a tiny raise, and that’s about it. It’s his own luck and desperation that finally give him a chance to do more. The ending is where it clicked a bit more for me, because I started seeing the mythic side of it. Nostromo feels like one of those heroic figures pushed around by bigger forces, except here the “gods” are capital and revolution and the people above him basically send him off into danger and expect results. He does the dangerous tasks, proves himself, and helps shape this whole new order, but the reward is still pretty hollow. And then, like some tragic hero, he ends up dying in a stupid domestic way when he should’ve been safest. So yeah, overall I thought it was interesting and smart, but not always the easiest or most engaging read.

Conrad - Lord Jim or Nostromo?

By sharpRough1645

Hi everyone, The title basically says it— I really enjoyed *Heart of Darkness* and *The Secret Agent*. Between the two, which one would you suggest, and what made you pick it?

Recommendations for adventure films set in the British empire that I haven’t seen yet?

By HeatherFinds2

I’m trying to find adventure movies that take place in the British empire / colonial kind of settings—like India, parts of Africa, Mandatory Palestine, that sort of thing. War films are fine too (or anything with a war element) as long as it still has that adventure vibe, like Zulu or Lawrence of Arabia. I’d really like older stuff, ideally 1960s or earlier. I’ve already watched: Elephant Boy (1937), Gunga Din (1939), The Four Feathers (1939), Jungle Book (1942), King Solomon’s Mines (1950), The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Zulu (1964), She (1965), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Passage to India (1984).

What's a "hard to read" book that you didn't find to be so?

By Verse-Lavender

I always keep hearing about books that are super hard to get through but supposedly worth it. For a while I put off reading *100 Years of Solitude* because everyone acts like it’s a struggle, but a few days ago I saw it on sale at a local bookstore and thought, “fuck it, I’ll try.” Ended up not being able to stop—read it over the course of a few days and finished it. Honestly, I think it might be the best novel I’ve ever read. I didn’t feel like it was a chore at all, which is pretty much the opposite of what people usually say online.

Nostromo: The good, the bad, and the ugly

By Reed-Footnote

I know people have already said a lot about this book, but I figured I’d toss in my own thoughts. What I liked: Conrad’s writing is insanely good. Like, “this is just smooth and effective” good. The setting is a huge deal in the story, and somehow I never really felt confused about where things were happening. He makes the whole place feel real, from the big picture down to specific spots, and even how everything connects as the characters move around. Also, the best part for me was how Nostromo changes—at first he’s basically only shown through other people, and then when you finally see him directly it’s not a great first impression. The whole scene where he can’t pay the woman back and just gives her his shirt buttons made him come off arrogant and kind of dismissive. But then later it flips, and I kept finding myself weirdly rooting for him. It’s not that he suddenly becomes “good,” it’s more like he’s the only one not really getting swallowed by money the way everyone else does. By the time the book gets to the part where he gives in, I actually went back and felt this weird fondness for the earlier stuff I’d judged harshly. That contrast stayed with me. What I didn’t like: for all the showing, there’s also a lot of telling. A lot of the time you’re basically told what the characters feel and why they act the way they do, which made it feel more like a lesson built out of types than real people. And then it kind of got boring for long stretches because of that. Also, the tone shifts were pretty jarring. Early on it feels like a political thriller, then it turns into some kind of swashbuckling adventure, and then toward the end it turns into this sentimental love-story vibe. The transitions felt abrupt, and it made it harder to believe I was actually living inside the world instead of just reading a book. The not-great part: I read fiction to enjoy myself, and this mostly wasn’t enjoyable. It feels like it drags through what should’ve been a wrap-up around the end of the second section, and just when I wanted it to be over, the third part starts up again like “nope, we’re continuing.” I genuinely think I would’ve liked it a lot more if it had been cut down. Overall: I didn’t like it much the first time I finished it. But after sitting with it, the whole idea of how some people aren’t pushed into being “slaves to money” but basically volunteer for it—yeah, that stuck with me. So I’m glad I read it for that reflection. Still, I don’t think I’ll ever go back to it, and I’d hesitate to recommend it to anyone who doesn’t have patience for a slog.

Best narration of "Lord Jim"?

By InkMountain26

I’ve been getting into audiobooks for creative writing, and a bunch of them keep bringing up Joseph Conrad’s *Lord Jim*. I want to listen, but there are just so many different uploads—same-ish length, tons of different narrators, and wildly different prices. I don’t mind paying a bit more if the reader is really good, and I’m specifically looking for the unabridged version. Has anyone here tried it and has a favorite narrator? Even if you haven’t listened to *that* exact copy, if you’ve heard their voice before and know they’re solid, I’d love to know.

Where to start with Conrad?

By zenithValley

I’m a high school student in India, and I’ve been working through western classics for a bit over two years now. I think I should finally try Joseph Conrad, especially because I’ve been really into Victorian-style writing. From what I’ve heard, Lord Jim and Heart of Darkness are probably his most popular books, but I’m not sure which one to start with. Also, are there any short stories I should read first, or does it matter? For reference, the last novel I read was The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot, and I honestly loved it. It didn’t feel too hard to get through, so I feel like I can handle something more dense than that.

I'm reading the Bokklubben 100 as a project. As I pass the halfway mark, I would like to share some thoughts.

By late_otter

I studied Philosophy in college, but I also took Art History and French Lit (plus a bunch of literature classes). I’ve always felt like I knew enough to not be totally clueless about books, but I’m definitely not the kind of person people call “well read.” I basically wanted to fix that, but also didn’t know where to even start. If I’m left to my own devices, I’d just end up stuck in 19th-century novels and rereading stuff like Homer. Not exactly a balanced plan. And after living through all the Canon Wars back in the late ’80s/early ’90s, I was wary of “here’s the canon” lists. Like yeah, that old Great Books idea wasn’t the answer, but I still think some books are better than others—I just didn’t trust the lists that feel like they come from a couple journalists or some favorite former professor. So I went with the Bokklubben World Library thing. It seemed like a decent mix of voices but still had a “best books” vibe. Then I didn’t even follow the order—did a random sort, marked a dozen as already read, and started. I also made rules so it wouldn’t become some weird endurance challenge: I’ll usually do one “junk” book (like SF) for every serious one, and I’ll usually pair serious literature with a serious non-fiction. I’m not trying to grind through all 100 in a row. And I’ve reread some I barely remembered (or just because I love them—looking at you, Iliad). So yeah, it’s taking time. Anyway, I’m at 51 out of the 100, and here’s what I’m noticing: - The list has a pretty clear Scandinavian/Germanic tilt. I guess that’s at least better than another list being super English-language, but still. Like, would anyone outside Scandinavia really put Pippi Longstocking in the “best of all time” category? I didn’t hate it, but I also wouldn’t recommend it to adults. - My favorite non-reread so far: Middlemarch. I found the writing a little roundabout, like it hides its little jokes and then hits you with them, but it’s still amazing. I’d recommend it with no hesitation. - I finally read Pride and Prejudice, which I’d been meaning to get to forever. It was basically as good as people say. - I’ve also realized I don’t really click with German Modernism. Two Thomas Mann books and Musil’s The Man Without Qualities basically convinced me of that. - But then I read Hunger by Knut Hamsun and… it was a great novel. His later stuff is gross and his ideas are truly evil, which sucks, and I’m pretty sure the list’s bias shows there too. I loved it, but I feel bad about it. Still, I’m glad I read it. - I hated Wuthering Heights in high school for the same reasons I hate it now. The characters’ motivations are still baffling, and the whole story still feels absurd. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - On the flip side, after enough Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, I get why people praise them as top-tier psychological novelists. And honestly, I think Austen hangs right there with them. - Les Misérables is ridiculously long (like, War and Peace level long). I don’t know how nobody warned me. It’s like nobody told them to cut the digressions back then. - A few similar things got wildly different reactions from me: Decameron was just charming, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales was awesome once I figured out how the Middle English is supposed to sound, and 1,001 Arabian Nights is long and also kind of racist in a way I didn’t see coming. - Shortest so far: Pippi Longstocking. - Longest so far: the unabridged Arabian Nights—three volumes, took me 10.5 weeks. I’m not a slow reader. I’m worried Proust might beat that later, though. Also Musil’s A Man Without Qualities took me almost 8 weeks, and that was before you even count the errata stuff. - Beloved: brilliant, but holy wow it’s depressing, just like advertised. - The Sound and the Fury was easier than I thought, especially after reading As I Lay Dying. I reread that first section after finishing, and I was really relieved it didn’t turn into some miserable struggle. - Lord Jim was harder than I expected. I thought it’d be more like straightforward adventure prose with existential angst sprinkled on, but no—it’s more deliberately complicated. Curious what you think. Also here’s the list of what I’ve already read so far (51 total)…

So much Joseph Conrad...but I want more!

By WandersParcel1972

So the full Joseph Conrad set from The Folio Society is 17 books, and each one has twelve linocuts by Francis Mosley. That’s something like 220 images total, counting the covers, all done over nine years (1996–2005). Pretty wild. Outside the big set, I think Folio put out a few Conrad picks before and after—three before, then two since. Two Tales of the Congo (1952) is the one with “Heart of Darkness” and “An Outpost of Progress,” and Almayer’s Folly (1962) came next, followed by Nostromo (1984). More recently we’ve had Heart of Darkness (2014) and The Secret Agent (2019). I’ve done quick video comparisons for most of these, and I just put up the Heart of Darkness one earlier this week. If anyone wants it, here’s the link: https://youtu.be/n1baL07CQ7Y Anyway, I keep wondering what Conrad book (if any) Folio might update next. Lord Jim would probably be the obvious answer, but I’m not sure there’s much push for modern Conrad editions at this point. It feels like the newest releases end up on sale/clearance pretty quick, and they seem more focused lately on meeting the demand for Science Fiction and Fantasy. I will say I feel pretty lucky to have the full 17-volume Conrad set, even though none of the copies are super rare or expensive. I *should* probably grab the original Folio edition of Almayer’s Folly too, just so I can finish my comparison project—but honestly, fresh Conrad releases sound way more exciting to me right now. Then again, I’m not sure I’m not just the only one who feels that way.

Finally able to enjoy Conrad

By Bottle66

I’ve been trying for years to get into Joseph Conrad, and I just couldn’t make it work. The whole thing with quotes inside other quotes, plus the characters kind of circling around instead of getting to the point, used to drive me nuts. But somehow now that I’m listening, I’m actually enjoying it. I’m about halfway through *Heart of Darkness*—next I’ll try *Lord Jim*. Has anyone else had that kind of switch with an author, like it’s annoying to read but way better to listen to?

[deleted by user]

By listens_song1983

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Looking for a novel or book set at sea

By CafeSleepy90

Basically, I’m looking for a novel set at sea—kind of like the title says. I don’t have any real experience being out there, so I figured reading something might be a good way to pick up some of the basic terminology and just generally understand how life works on a ship. I think I’d get the most out of something modern or at least pretty recent, but I’m not totally sure. I usually go for non-fiction, though I’m also into “fiction” that feels very grounded in real events. My all-time favourite is McMafia, so if there’s any crime or underworld stuff mixed in, I’d probably be into that too. I like writers like Hemingway, Orwell, and Hunter S. I’m not the most well-read, but I’ve enjoyed a lot of classics when I studied them at uni, so maybe there are some must-reads that fit. I also remember Darwin writing something about being at sea, and that sounded interesting—though I’m not sure it’s the vibe I want. I guess the main things I’m after are: entertaining, something I can learn from, and easy enough to keep my attention (that part’s usually the hardest for me).

Reccomended works on Joseph Conrad

By listens_song1983

I’m just starting on Conrad and wanted to ask what critical books people recommend. I already have that 2017 biography, *The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World*—but is there anything else I should grab? I’m especially looking for stuff that’s more literary analysis / theory. Also, I’m kind of curious where Conrad fits with other modernists like Joyce and Eliot—are they similar in approach, or totally different?

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

By wise_lake

I’ve put spoilers in the best way I can—hope that’s fine. I finished this a couple weeks ago and I’m still kind of surprised at how much I liked it. It really stuck with me, and I keep thinking about it since then. It’s definitely dense and there were parts that felt like a slog, especially in the middle, but it ended up being totally worth it. The bit where Marlow says goodbye to Jim right before he heads off to Patusan is the one I can’t shake. The writing there just hits so hard—everything about it made me go, “oh wow, Conrad really is a master,” I think. I also loved the way it’s told, because we don’t really get Jim’s inner thoughts at all. It’s all this kind of broken-up story Marlow is telling after the fact, and it makes Jim seem sort of mysterious. I honestly wanted to be sitting there in the room with Marlow as he tells it all, like I could just hear it firsthand. The biggest thing I took away was that making a mistake doesn’t have to be the end of the story. The world doesn’t just decide who you are forever—you can move on and remake yourself. Jim doesn’t let it turn him bitter or angry, even when things go bad, and Brown feels like what Jim might’ve been if he’d taken a different path. Yeah, I know I’m rambling, but it felt really human underneath all the heaviness, and I just loved it.

What classics are a must read?

By Stone_Brown1977

Hey everyone—I'm not really a big classics person, so I’m curious what books people think are basically must-reads. I know it’ll depend on the person, but I was hoping there’s some kind of general consensus. Also, who here actually reads a lot of classics? It feels like most people are more into newer stuff. I remember an English professor I had who refused to read anything by an author who was still alive.

Youth - Joseph Conrad

By Quill-Dualism

I recently grabbed a Joseph Conrad collection from a second-hand shop—it has Youth, Heart of Darkness, and Typhoon—in large part because I wanted Heart of Darkness. But I figured I’d try the 51-page story “Youth” first to see what his style is like, and wow. It’s seriously gorgeous. I only really started reading in the middle of last year, so I don’t have that many books total (like around 22), and “Youth” is the first fiction thing I’ve given 5 stars to. I kinda hate that I don’t see people talk about this one much—mostly I just hear about Heart of Darkness, Lord Jim, and Victory. It’s also free online, so I’d definitely recommend it. It’s pretty easy to get through too, as long as you can tolerate the seaman terms and all the boat stuff. I’m really curious what other people think.

Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

By SharpThyme

This is awesome—any idea what the pages actually look like?