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erin_enlightened's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lilium_s's review against another edition
5.0
So many moments made me laugh out loud.
Mark Twain really did manage to take me back to what it's like to be a child again, both superstitious and brave, going on adventures and wondering how growing up changes you so.
Mark Twain really did manage to take me back to what it's like to be a child again, both superstitious and brave, going on adventures and wondering how growing up changes you so.
buddha_chic's review against another edition
3.0
I read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer way back when, so it was interesting to reread Twain's most famous work as an adult. I honestly felt like this story grew on me as I got further into it. The beginning was a bit much for me, with Aunt Polly's fussing and Tom's silly antics....and then some things got REAL. The tone of the book changed and became more solemnly about loyalty, love, friendship, and survival skills - not excluding mental fortitude in times of crisis. Is it weird that I think of this less as a children's book now? I mean, it's a classic either way. (3.5/5 stars.)
mgbrownley's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jon_thereader's review against another edition
3.5
I read this after Huck Finn which is the wrong order, but I liked this one more for sure. Tom Sawyer is definitely more middle-grade and the n-word is thrown around much less in this one. Also the stakes of the adventures are much lower while also being pretty interesting.
Tom Sawyer takes place in a made up town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Tom lives with his Aunt Polly and just gets into mischief. He plays pirates, robin hood, etc. but also does a few things that make the town conduct search parties for him. I appreciate that he and Huck Finn stay true to themselves in both books and it’s cute that both boys talk about things they admire about the other in their own stories.
I definitely see how this is part of the American literary canon.
Tom Sawyer takes place in a made up town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Tom lives with his Aunt Polly and just gets into mischief. He plays pirates, robin hood, etc. but also does a few things that make the town conduct search parties for him. I appreciate that he and Huck Finn stay true to themselves in both books and it’s cute that both boys talk about things they admire about the other in their own stories.
I definitely see how this is part of the American literary canon.
cosmicvulture's review against another edition
This is one of those books I always feel bad about never having read. I thought I had a really basic knowledge of the story from being alive in America (also because of Wishbone), but actually I am pretty sure I knew the entirety of each story already. Overall delightful and maybe the first Twain I’ve read? Easy to see why his work endures.
Now onto huck finn so I can read James
Now onto huck finn so I can read James
nenation's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.5
Read this in preparation for reading James and it hasn’t aged well. I didn’t find the characters likeable and because of that I was not invested or engaged with the story. The Amazon classics narrator was fantastic and was what helped me get through this.
amberkraken's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
0.25
I found this book slow, dull and racist.
Not one I'll be recommending.
With the hype around Percival Everett's James, I thought I would (re)read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn before embarking on that journey.
I wasn't 100% sure if I read this as a child. The story is so famous and parodied that I definitely knew quite a bit of it already. Unfortunately the writing was uninspiring and 100 pages of reading is no more enjoyable than reading: Three boys thought dead, stay in hiding so they can attend their own funeral. I can see why this book was a failure when first published.
Not one I'll be recommending.
With the hype around Percival Everett's James, I thought I would (re)read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn before embarking on that journey.
I wasn't 100% sure if I read this as a child. The story is so famous and parodied that I definitely knew quite a bit of it already. Unfortunately the writing was uninspiring and 100 pages of reading is no more enjoyable than reading: Three boys thought dead, stay in hiding so they can attend their own funeral. I can see why this book was a failure when first published.