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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
23.
"They went off and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn't no use for me to try to learn to do right; a body that don't get started right when he's little ain't got no show - when the pinch comes there ain't nothing to back him up and keep him to his work, and so he gets beat. Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on; s'pose you'd a done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad - I'd feel just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? I was stuck. I couldn't answer that. So I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time." (156)
"They went off and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn't no use for me to try to learn to do right; a body that don't get started right when he's little ain't got no show - when the pinch comes there ain't nothing to back him up and keep him to his work, and so he gets beat. Then I thought a minute, and says to myself, hold on; s'pose you'd a done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad - I'd feel just the same way I do now. Well, then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? I was stuck. I couldn't answer that. So I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time." (156)
adventurous
slow-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:
Yes
adventurous
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I skipped over the part of adolescence where you read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But I wanted to read James by Percival Everett, so I figured it’d be best to read Huckleberry Finn before doing so.
Mark Twain does an excellent job of capturing the voice of his characters and there were many, many parts of this book that were bitingly funny. Some of it was a little drawn out for my taste. Some of the hijinks, especially with the Duke and King, felt repetitive. Same with Tom Sawyer (more on him later) toward the end. I wish Jim would’ve been given more of a perspective and I enjoyed the parts of the book where he was not pushed off into the shadows.
Of course, lots to say here about the books commentary on racism, slavery, class, money. I could see Huck’s gradual journey to see Jim as something more than an enslaved person. I appreciated the piece where Hick struggles with his desire to help Jim based on everything he’s been raised to believe as true. I do feel, thought, that of course the focus is more on how Huck feels, rather than Jim and his experiences. I’m curious to see how James addresses this “journey”.
I feel like Huck’s realization was stunted by Tom toward the end though which was frustrating. By the way……..what in the world is wrong with Tom Sawyer?!?! I swear, that last several chapters of this book had me desperately wishing someone, preferably Jim or Huck, would punch him square in the mouth. I won’t read Tom Sawyer now. I think I’d end up throwing myself out of a window.
I’m excited to read James now and hear this story again from a different perspective!
Mark Twain does an excellent job of capturing the voice of his characters and there were many, many parts of this book that were bitingly funny. Some of it was a little drawn out for my taste. Some of the hijinks, especially with the Duke and King, felt repetitive. Same with Tom Sawyer (more on him later) toward the end. I wish Jim would’ve been given more of a perspective and I enjoyed the parts of the book where he was not pushed off into the shadows.
Of course, lots to say here about the books commentary on racism, slavery, class, money. I could see Huck’s gradual journey to see Jim as something more than an enslaved person. I appreciated the piece where Hick struggles with his desire to help Jim based on everything he’s been raised to believe as true. I do feel, thought, that of course the focus is more on how Huck feels, rather than Jim and his experiences. I’m curious to see how James addresses this “journey”.
I feel like Huck’s realization was stunted by Tom toward the end though which was frustrating. By the way……..what in the world is wrong with Tom Sawyer?!?! I swear, that last several chapters of this book had me desperately wishing someone, preferably Jim or Huck, would punch him square in the mouth. I won’t read Tom Sawyer now. I think I’d end up throwing myself out of a window.
I’m excited to read James now and hear this story again from a different perspective!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes
Just reread. Loved every bit until they ran into the duke and the king. Then it felt like a bit of a caper. Loved the river and rafting descriptions again though. First half is 4.5 stars maybe.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted