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jamiecrook's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mxunsmiley's review
Mark Twain, yes, we all have to read him. He's one of the quintessential all-American authors. This is my first book of his I've read and I definitely see why he is celebrated but of course, like all American classics, it's mired by racism. I feel like here, though, it's more insidious because while it has the overt racist stereotype, it's also backdropped by the obligatory anti-Blackness which acts as its precedent.
I felt like the first half of the book was where Twain really shone his brightest. His writing is very fun, very deliberate, sometimes extremely funny. The dramatics of Tom and his friends, typified by their youth, are so entertaining. At the same time, it's hard to stop thinking about how deeply removed, yet simultaneously inextricable, it is from the society of the time--there are subtle references to the racial hierarchy, but what I'm trying to get at here is how it's clear that the whimsy of Tom's adventures is relegated to boys like him and no one else, which sometimes makes it hard to enjoy the narrative.
Of course, Injun Joe is the least subtle example of racism in this book. He is a graverobber, plots revenge against white men, and everyone fears him. But it's only when it's revealed why he is so vengeful that the anti-Blackness of the book is given direct evidence: he compares the way he was treated to how they'd treat a slave, as he was "horsewhipped" in public like one. Aside from this, Huck mentions how he had the trust of a slave because he didn't act like he was above him and ate with him, though clearly by admitting this he proves that he does indeed feel that way because he did say something to that very effect soon after. I point this out because it's very hard to overlook and enjoy the book. It's hard not to think like a teacher and wonder how I might teach this book to reveal how deeply racism was ingrained in people even like Mark Twain, lauded as a satirist, satire as we all know being used often to reveal hypocrisy of society and its mores. This book was written to appeal to boys like Twain, of course, who didn't have to and never thought twice about the way Black people were treated around him, referring to them so flippantly while they have their fun adventures.
I think of all the different ways I'd rewrite the plot as well. I did enjoy the first half of the book a lot; the latter half's overt racism made it a lot harder to sit through. His writing is very good, though, so I was still engaged, but I think of all the ways that Twain could have gone with the plot... but maybe I am expecting too much from a 19th century white man!
I felt like the first half of the book was where Twain really shone his brightest. His writing is very fun, very deliberate, sometimes extremely funny. The dramatics of Tom and his friends, typified by their youth, are so entertaining. At the same time, it's hard to stop thinking about how deeply removed, yet simultaneously inextricable, it is from the society of the time--there are subtle references to the racial hierarchy, but what I'm trying to get at here is how it's clear that the whimsy of Tom's adventures is relegated to boys like him and no one else, which sometimes makes it hard to enjoy the narrative.
Of course, Injun Joe is the least subtle example of racism in this book. He is a graverobber, plots revenge against white men, and everyone fears him. But it's only when it's revealed why he is so vengeful that the anti-Blackness of the book is given direct evidence: he compares the way he was treated to how they'd treat a slave, as he was "horsewhipped" in public like one. Aside from this, Huck mentions how he had the trust of a slave because he didn't act like he was above him and ate with him, though clearly by admitting this he proves that he does indeed feel that way because he did say something to that very effect soon after. I point this out because it's very hard to overlook and enjoy the book. It's hard not to think like a teacher and wonder how I might teach this book to reveal how deeply racism was ingrained in people even like Mark Twain, lauded as a satirist, satire as we all know being used often to reveal hypocrisy of society and its mores. This book was written to appeal to boys like Twain, of course, who didn't have to and never thought twice about the way Black people were treated around him, referring to them so flippantly while they have their fun adventures.
I think of all the different ways I'd rewrite the plot as well. I did enjoy the first half of the book a lot; the latter half's overt racism made it a lot harder to sit through. His writing is very good, though, so I was still engaged, but I think of all the ways that Twain could have gone with the plot... but maybe I am expecting too much from a 19th century white man!
astratton1027's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
greevianguy's review
4.0
I liked the little stories that all link together format. Characters were cute, and you can't help but enjoy the setting.
sophieb2315's review
5.0
Okay, obviously this is a review on how good it was. I first read this book when I was nine, I loved it. Mark Twain is a amazing writer who wrote magnificently throughout a time period I didn't really know much about when I was nine! I really did like how Mark Twain wrote Tom's personality, his recklessness and sneakiness just made the book.
gooberjk's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the first half of book is just fun and stupid. second half is darker but still enjoyable.
kcrouth's review against another edition
5.0
How great to read this classic tale again after recently touring Samuel Clemens boyhood home of Hannibal MO where the story was born! Now on to Huck Finn!