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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Re-read this book after 25 years while reading James by Percival Everett.
Read to enhance my experience with James by Percival Everett which I think it will. I enjoyed co-reading along with academic reviews of the text - definitely enlightening and helped me understand the broader literary context. I chuckled a few times with commentary on the monarchy and religion but I did not personally enjoy this. That said it is 150 years old.
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
At least this one was more tolerable than Tom Sawyer. Fuck that little punk. Twain is a very accessible writer. It’s rare that a book written so long ago is still so easy to read. Although, the amount of N-bombs dropped in this book was shocking. I know it’s a product of its time, but Jesus Christ. I tandem read this one on e-book and audio, and I was concerned while driving around with this audio playing in my car. I was scared someone would hear it and turn to see a white lady in a Subaru with racial epithets blasting from her stereo. What am I gonna shout? “ITS FOR RESEARCH! I’M AN ALLY, I SWEAR!” I’m glad to be done with it. I could have stood for half as many “adventures.” It started to feel redundant. But now I’m all geared up to read Percival Everett’s “James,” for which I’m on the library hold list. I’m infinitely more excited to read that one. I love a retelling that flips a canonical text on its head.
adventurous
Pretty good for a classic! Actually somewhat engaging in terms of pacing etc. Of course it's a super important book for the times, so I'm not going to rate it, because it just wouldn't be fair to compare it to what is the standard two centuries later:).
This book was a really hard read for me! I found the language and style very difficult to get into.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
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:
Yes
3.5 - This book was a slog for me, I ended up listening to the audiobook version narrated by Elijah Wood in order to finish it, but overall I really struggled to follow the dialect sometimes. I’m glad I read it though as I wanted an idea of the story for when reading the book James (re-telling from the POV of Jim)
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated