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dorothea03's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
I enjoyed the story and I think Mark Twain is really good at writing from a child’s perspective. However, the n-word is used way to much for me to enjoy the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
gaelstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I read the first 30% of this book as an ebook before switching over to this audiobook version. I really struggled to get through the story when reading it and listening made it a lot easier for me. In theory I really liked that it was written exactly how the characters talked, but it made it quite hard for me to read, so I’m glad the audiobook saved the day. I thought the narrator Nathan Osgood did a wonderful job.
The story however was difficult to read for many more reasons. The most obvious reason is the racism and descriptions of slavery. I don’t think it’s bad to read about the realities of what happened, but it was still very painful and hard to get through at times. It was especially hard when Huck was either being oblivious or downright cruel to Jim due to his up-brining of thinking of Black people as property. I know the story is showing how white people were raised but man was it hard to read and not be so mad at Huck. I know Mark Twain was supposedly writing this story to show that this was bad, but he certainly didn’t write Jim or any of the other characters for that matter in a way that completely convinces me of this… I’m very excited to read James by Percival Everett next to hear what Jim has to say about these idiot kids who just don’t get how terrible society is.
However, the two stars I’m giving this story is mostly not for the above reason. I give it 2 stars because I found the plot quite boring and the writing style dragged a lot. There were WAY too many pointlessly detailed descriptions. Also, I can NOT STAND Tom Sawyer at all, and I thought I was safe from him since this is Huck’s book, but then the end section of the story was way to much Tom Sawyer. I was legit screaming at it! I can’t stand that idiotic, insufferable, cruel boy who thinks playing with a man’s LIFE is just some big joke to him, and he never learns anything or changes. Ugh.
The first time I read this story was in 2011. I gave it 3 stars then, so I guess I got something more out of it the first time around, but this time I actively disliked reading it every step of the way.
The story however was difficult to read for many more reasons. The most obvious reason is the racism and descriptions of slavery. I don’t think it’s bad to read about the realities of what happened, but it was still very painful and hard to get through at times. It was especially hard when Huck was either being oblivious or downright cruel to Jim due to his up-brining of thinking of Black people as property. I know the story is showing how white people were raised but man was it hard to read and not be so mad at Huck. I know Mark Twain was supposedly writing this story to show that this was bad, but he certainly didn’t write Jim or any of the other characters for that matter in a way that completely convinces me of this… I’m very excited to read James by Percival Everett next to hear what Jim has to say about these idiot kids who just don’t get how terrible society is.
However, the two stars I’m giving this story is mostly not for the above reason. I give it 2 stars because I found the plot quite boring and the writing style dragged a lot. There were WAY too many pointlessly detailed descriptions. Also, I can NOT STAND Tom Sawyer at all, and I thought I was safe from him since this is Huck’s book, but then the end section of the story was way to much Tom Sawyer. I was legit screaming at it! I can’t stand that idiotic, insufferable, cruel boy who thinks playing with a man’s LIFE is just some big joke to him, and he never learns anything or changes. Ugh.
The first time I read this story was in 2011. I gave it 3 stars then, so I guess I got something more out of it the first time around, but this time I actively disliked reading it every step of the way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
amandabarry95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Alcohol
anna_oreally's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This was a hard read. There were points where the story was a bit convoluted but actually much more difficult is the language and attitudes. Not only the racial slurs but the dehumanisation and infantilisation of Black people. If there’s ever a story that needed retelling by a black author it’s this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
jpgringo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
elisebrancheau's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Alcoholism
fractaltexan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A decent book. I did not expect the liberal use of the N-word, but I digress.
Overall, carrying on from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, we see a story of a boy who finds himself changing in numerous ways, especially in a world of the 1830s American South. It's still full of that childlike-adventurous boy we see a little in Tom Sawyer, but the expanding of his character is interesting. Further, the re-introduction of some of the characters from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an unexpected, but welcome surprise.
Overall, carrying on from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, we see a story of a boy who finds himself changing in numerous ways, especially in a world of the 1830s American South. It's still full of that childlike-adventurous boy we see a little in Tom Sawyer, but the expanding of his character is interesting. Further, the re-introduction of some of the characters from the Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an unexpected, but welcome surprise.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
fanni_b22's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
elixsdgn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Such a cute book, huck is such a funny, loveable character
ofc can be seen as problematic but to me its just a young boy who is very brave and good hearted who was raised in the south.
ofc can be seen as problematic but to me its just a young boy who is very brave and good hearted who was raised in the south.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Slavery