Reviews

i don't know how to feel about this book.

im pretty "pc" or whatever, but i knew what i was getting myself into when i was assigned this book from my English class.

can i see why so many people adore this book, yes.

do i completely adore this book, too, no.

this book id describe as a racist anti racist book, which served its purpose for the target audience when it was first published, but i don't think it's a good novel for the present day to learn about race. it's not a good novel about it. it is, though, a fun adventure book with characters and suspense to keep you hooked, but i think it shouldn't be used today for commentary on racism.

its time to choose other more complex books about race to educate students.

to read this book now, is to be aware of how much time has changed, and how this novel is really a well written adventure book, but shouldn't be ur favorite anti racist story.

emceeawkward's review against another edition

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funny fast-paced

4.5

niallgoulding1's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-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? N/A

4.25

I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to.

Really loved Huck as a character. At his core, he has a sense of right and wrong that is way ahead of his time. For a book written in 1884, the relationship between Huck and Jim is startling. Its run through with mutual love and respect.

I actually found Huck's wrestling with his conscience to be very profound. It showed in an honest way how bad things become normalised in societies. Huck was clearly distressed by the fact that aiding a runaway slave went against everything every adult had ever told him. It was stealing, it was a sin, it was a crime. Yet he was able to reconcile that with his gut knowledge that aiding Jim was the right thing to do.

The book obviously shows its age in many ways. Can't blame anyone who finds the copious use of the n-word an insurmountable barrier. The book could have been shorter as the "king" and "duke" section is forgettable. And the end is an old-fashioned deus ex machine. Yet despite all that, I'm glad I read this before diving into James

lynnmarie78's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gooberjk's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny 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

4.0

burkbooks's review against another edition

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2.0

I only read this so that I could have a better understanding of James when I read it. I didn't really love reading this novel. I finished it and I wasn't bored to tears or anything it just wasn't a very enjoyable read either.

joallott's review against another edition

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adventurous dark lighthearted slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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