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sncraig01's review against another edition
2.0
Probably a 2.5 for me! It didn’t hit me at all, but i’m sure since I didn’t read it in English class I missed a lot. Some moments were interesting, most were not. I struggled to like it with the treatment and attitude toward Jim. But it was prep for book club!
lizk1's review against another edition
3.0
Actually reading this on my phone. My first ebook. It was a free download, and I'm loving it (both the book and reading it this way).
elrincondelaslectoras's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
geri_x's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Oh I did not enjoy this.
I felt it was too serious for a kids book and too childish for a proper look at morals and society. I appreciated the satirical moments but it dwelled on tangents and side stories so much it really annoyed me. It was a bit of a dissapointment and I dont really understand the hype.
If you want to read it though, I would suggest an audiobook as it makes the old timey language and strong southern dialect a lot better.
I felt it was too serious for a kids book and too childish for a proper look at morals and society. I appreciated the satirical moments but it dwelled on tangents and side stories so much it really annoyed me. It was a bit of a dissapointment and I dont really understand the hype.
If you want to read it though, I would suggest an audiobook as it makes the old timey language and strong southern dialect a lot better.
miaecilla's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wickenden's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful language, wonderful dialog, full of my childhood.
kylehazelton's review against another edition
3.0
Hemingway really liked this book, and I only gave it three stars. Hemingway would probably give it 5 stars, and I think there has been better books since this one.
Is it funny, sure.
Does it approach various topics with the candor and a wit of boy that don't get stung by bees, you betcha.
Did I get the version that is for a major fan of the book in which I felt compelled to look at every note, yes and the jury is still out on how Huck wrote the book though it was probably narrated to someone else who then wrote it down for him.
Strong takeaway is what superfan Ernie Hem already said about the book, you must stop where Jim is stolen from the boys. The rest is cheating.
I just read this to give James by Percival Everett some context.
Is it funny, sure.
Does it approach various topics with the candor and a wit of boy that don't get stung by bees, you betcha.
Did I get the version that is for a major fan of the book in which I felt compelled to look at every note, yes and the jury is still out on how Huck wrote the book though it was probably narrated to someone else who then wrote it down for him.
Strong takeaway is what superfan Ernie Hem already said about the book, you must stop where Jim is stolen from the boys. The rest is cheating.
I just read this to give James by Percival Everett some context.
sinta's review against another edition
3.0
I understand why this is a Great American Novel TM. The vernacular, the picaresque adventurism, the presence of the Mississippi as a character in itself. The grappling with the contradictions and moralities of the time, despite Twain introducing the book with:
“PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.”
As he said later in life, it becomes truly a battle between a good heart and an ill-trained conscience, where heart wins. I also laughed out loud a fair few times.
But then he has to go and bring Tom Sawyer back into it. I KNOW that a generous reading is that it is a self-reflexive jab at the adventurism and how it makes light of slavery and Jim’s humanity. But that feels awful generous. Especially for a man who fought for the Confederates for a bit of fun. But maybe he realised the error of his ways? Maybe…
“PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.”
As he said later in life, it becomes truly a battle between a good heart and an ill-trained conscience, where heart wins. I also laughed out loud a fair few times.
But then he has to go and bring Tom Sawyer back into it. I KNOW that a generous reading is that it is a self-reflexive jab at the adventurism and how it makes light of slavery and Jim’s humanity. But that feels awful generous. Especially for a man who fought for the Confederates for a bit of fun. But maybe he realised the error of his ways? Maybe…
seetasaur's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I appreciate this book much more as an adult than I did when I was 14. The social commentary throughout is much more interesting than Tom and Huck’s hijinks at the end.