Heart of Darkness

[MadArchitect]

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]

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]

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.

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.

Yet, they both made watery ends of it.

There is a willow grows aslant a brook,
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream.
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them.
There on the pendent boughs her crownet weeds
Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke,
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up;
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and endued
Unto that element. But long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

Hamlet, (4.7.137-154)

Every time I see your name, Ophelia, I think of that passage. Now, the question is: did I remember that by rote; or did I look it up? During my schooling, I had two instructors who assigned Shakespeare memorization coursework, which, as far as I know, was rare for the states at the time I was a student. I remembered most of it, but I had to look it up for 100% accuracy. Thankfully, I usually have my Shakespeare anthology on hand.

...the Lady of Shallot in her tower, waiting for Lancelot? or was it Gallahad?

No, you're right, as I recall. It's Lancelot.

[Penelope]

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

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

[irishrosem]

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]

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

[Ophelia]

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]

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]

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]

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!!