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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
It felt like I was reading Robinson Crusoe again— and that is NOT a good thing. It makes sense in a classroom setting to teach this book, but, as a pleasure read, it is a no go. I really tried, but after the halfway point I am done.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think this one does a better job about commenting about racial and social issues at the time this was written (late 1800s) but the continued and heavy use of the n slur makes it a bit hard to read. I understand that it was acceptable back then, but the racist undertones make it clear as to why it’s not acceptable now for non-black people to use it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
At the beginning of the book, the only thing keeping me reading was the fact that it was assigned by my teacher and we had weekly reading quizzes. The story was overly descriptive and drawn-out, and the only exciting moments were very occasional. I rarely find historical fiction interesting, especially novels set in the American countryside. The different Southern dialects made the book even harder and slower to read. However, after I got past this rough patch (about the first half of the book) and felt like I knew Huck and Jim really well, the book was significantly more enjoyable. For some reason, the second half of the book has much more action and adventure. My favorite part would have to be the last few chapters, when Huck and Tom devise an elaborate scheme, cleverly written by Mark Twain.
I only read it for context before I started James.
My feelings about the book summed up in four words: I wanted more Jim.
This book is a classic. You know, I know it, the gnat in the plant in my cubicle knows it. So why was I thirty-one before I read it in its entirety? I had a "problem" in school. While I was happy to read above and beyond what was considered a "cool" amount to read, I practically refused to read what was assigned. My attitude was "Do NOT tell me what to read." This was assigned. Therefore, I did not read (most of) it. I also figured that I knew everything I needed to know about it from one of my favorite movies as an adolescent: The Adventures of Huck Finn - starring a young and adorable Elijah Wood. Read my lips: It is absolutely worth it to read as an adult.
Back to more Jim. As I was reading, I found myself dog-earring like crazy. 95% of these little folds are on pages where Jim is speaking. His wisdom on "half a chile" and loyalty throughout were enough to break my heart. This is not to say that I don't love our narrator. Huck is fantastic. He is a young (and often disobedient) boy, but his thoughts and feelings and insights are phenomenal.
My only complaint is that I felt the last portion with Tom dragged on a bit too long. I actually preferred the way the movie handled it with climaxing with the duke and the king. However, this part did drive it home (even with it being too darn long) when they were "playing" prisoner with Jim when slavery would have be the worst imprisonment of all.
Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.
This book has every damn right to be a classic.
4.5 but rounding to 5
This book is a classic. You know, I know it, the gnat in the plant in my cubicle knows it. So why was I thirty-one before I read it in its entirety? I had a "problem" in school. While I was happy to read above and beyond what was considered a "cool" amount to read, I practically refused to read what was assigned. My attitude was "Do NOT tell me what to read." This was assigned. Therefore, I did not read (most of) it. I also figured that I knew everything I needed to know about it from one of my favorite movies as an adolescent: The Adventures of Huck Finn - starring a young and adorable Elijah Wood. Read my lips: It is absolutely worth it to read as an adult.
Back to more Jim. As I was reading, I found myself dog-earring like crazy. 95% of these little folds are on pages where Jim is speaking. His wisdom on "half a chile" and loyalty throughout were enough to break my heart. This is not to say that I don't love our narrator. Huck is fantastic. He is a young (and often disobedient) boy, but his thoughts and feelings and insights are phenomenal.
My only complaint is that I felt the last portion with Tom dragged on a bit too long. I actually preferred the way the movie handled it with climaxing with the duke and the king. However, this part did drive it home (even with it being too darn long) when they were "playing" prisoner with Jim when slavery would have be the worst imprisonment of all.
Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.
This book has every damn right to be a classic.
4.5 but rounding to 5
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes