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ingread27's review against another edition
5.0
I never read Tom Sawyer when I was younger. But am I ever glad I read it now. Well, listened to it, that is. The narrator was Nick Offerman and the combination of his incredible performance and the words of Mark Twain was entirely a match made in heaven. The sheer word choice in each sentence of prose was a pleasure to listen to. I love reading classic fiction for that return to eloquence and variety of phrases and words. Current literature just has a totally different sound, which is good in its own right. But classics are so named for a reason. They encourage me to search within myself for more interesting word choices.
And the dialogue between the young boys often made me smile. It had all the awkwardness of young boys, sometimes full of bravado, sometimes innocence. Nick's delivery of these conversations was perfect.
Some of the language and treatment of minorities can be challenging to listen to, but it is also historically accurate in that people of that time, in those small towns, spoke that way (and sadly some still do) and therefore it remains part of the experience.
Now I can't wait to read Huck Finn soon too.
And the dialogue between the young boys often made me smile. It had all the awkwardness of young boys, sometimes full of bravado, sometimes innocence. Nick's delivery of these conversations was perfect.
Some of the language and treatment of minorities can be challenging to listen to, but it is also historically accurate in that people of that time, in those small towns, spoke that way (and sadly some still do) and therefore it remains part of the experience.
Now I can't wait to read Huck Finn soon too.
inaguddle's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
smusie's review against another edition
4.0
Of course it's an American classic and all that. But having re-read Huckleberry Finn first for some reason, I was struck by how cutesy Tom Sawyer is in comparison. Still great fun to read, but next to it Huck Finn is sublime.
ula_mizhir's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jamiecrook's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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 against another edition
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
nkotek's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
greevianguy's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the little stories that all link together format. Characters were cute, and you can't help but enjoy the setting.