An unpleasant read - Rated 
I found this a rather disappointing read, especially after all the favourable reviews and publicity surrounding the book. I found it wanting for a plot, and the writing style rather off-putting. I gained absolutely no pleasure from reading this book, and I certainly won't recommend it to anyone.
one of the greatest masterpieces of literature - Rated 
an illuminating, profound, tragic trip at the heart of human nature. it is a book to be read and pondered. it is not easy reading (though it can grip your attention from beginning to end and you can read it a single afternoon) but it is highly rewarding reading.
Dull and undeserving of its high reputation - Rated
I found this very dull all through and, despite its high literary reputation, it did not evoke any chords in me. Of course, by modern standards, some of the language is racist, but I am used to this from writers like Haggard and am well able to see this in its historical context.
'The Emperor's New Clothes', no less... - Rated
Arriving at this page, inspired, enthused by Coppola's cinematic masterpiece 'Apocalypse Now'? Or maybe from the documentary 'Hearts of Darkness - A Filmmaker's Apocalypse'? Eager to learn more? maybe drink at the fountain from which perhaps the greatest piece of cinema, was born? Think again. What we have here is purely and simply a VERY mediocre novella, a work that was written not by a writer, but by a Mariner with a typewriter - a hobbyist. On no account could or should this be taken as a seminal work of either fact or fiction, and I wish those who are forever trying to have this work classified as such a literary milestone would find a real cause to champion. I mean why is this one of the supposed greats? Is it original? No! Well written? No! Does it have well-drawn characters? No! an intriguing plot, perhaps? No. Does it use language in a new or creative way? No. Does it re-define the novella? No! Does it have potential to influence, either in style or content, the works of other writers? No! - then what? What is it that reverberates so loudly? If not the work then the noise of the crowd surrounding the pedestal - eager for a glimpse of the masterpiece that (they have been told) is so revered, so special.
Between the pseudo-intellectual and the literary professor's attempts to 'interpret' this work (for interpret read: paint it their colour) there is nothing hidden, nor magical here, no genius lies between the poor structure and the even worse punctuation. A simple tale, nothing more. Had one not know Conrad actually ventured to the African Continent, one could have easily mistaken his poorly drawn figures, his stereotypical characters as being the stuff of a boyhood imagination - too many comics and children's novels read under the blanket with a torch...
The only extra-ordinary factor here is the fact that Coppola, in his undisputed genius, took this simple, fragmented tale of no real literary worth and from its inspiration produced a moment in cinematic history which will never again be glimpsed, a peak never again scaled. That is the only thing one need be in awe of here.
Addendum
Anyone who adds more weight or reads into this flimsy story more than is either present or visible needs to ask themselves the following question "Have I seen Copolla's film 'Apocalypse Now'" - if your answer is 'yes' then quite clearly you are transferring the depth and clarity of that masterpiece and overlaying it on this very unsubstantive text. What you have done is to confuse an essentially non-eventful, poorly penned novella with perhaps the best piece of cinema ever recorded. You are deluded. I wish 'intellectuals' would stop their pointless musings over such poor works as this and let it drift into the past where it belongs. Why some works get unfairly labelled as 'keep, don't throw away' whilst other perfectly fine texts get 'consign to history' stamped on them is quite beyond me. In elevating such a non-starter to such heights totally distorts the surroundings and makes it doubly difficult for better written, more original works to get the audience they rightly deserve.
Dark Heart - Rated
I first read Heart of Darkness in my teens. Thirty years on, it has chilled to the bone, again.
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