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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Exactly the primer I was looking for before reading James.
My enjoyment was extremely sporadic. In some sections, I was in utter glee, loving the wit and shenanigans and social commentary. In many others, I was just praying for the story arc to end or for a narrative diversion. I am sure that read with one eye planted in the time of its publication, this book will be absolutely wonderful, but from a modern POV, it is very very aged.
After the release and subsequent success of "James" by Perceval Everett in 2024, I decided to pick up The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Like most, I was very aware of this classic, but I had never had the impetus nor the reason to read it.
I started this book on 01 January, and it was a welcomed start to my reading in 2025. What immediately hit me was the prevalence of racist and derogatory language. I should have expected it, but there is something incredibly jarring about seeing such horrid and vile words written on a page. It is of course of its time, and the repulse I felt clearer demonstrates how far we've come (albeit, not far enough). I also suspect that Twain uses this language to poke fun at society at the time.
This book lives up to its name, it is full of adventure. The plot is constantly moving, much like the river on which Huck and Jim (and a few others along the way) float and drift. On raft on which they reside is the constant anchor point of the story. Whilst nominally a children's book, there are some important themes here to explore. For me, these include, friendship, commitment, kindness and the innocence of childhood, overlayed against a backdrop of unrelenting prejudice, racism and corruption.
The prose and dialogue of the novel is such an interesting point. At times, this is hard to follow and digest, but perhaps that is deliberate. Jim's dialogue, expression and language is notably different, lending to this idea of "otherness". Given Twain's satirist leanings, I have no doubt that he deliberately deployed this method to deride the racist views of the time. There is humour here too, specifically with the "duke" and "king" who, on many occasion come across as bumbling fools, often outsmarted by Huck.
I'm very fond of this book. It has been a while since I read something like this, and it was very refreshing to read. I can see why the book remains so popular and revered to this day. Perhaps I thought I'd like it more than I did, but it still warrants a 5 star rating.
I started this book on 01 January, and it was a welcomed start to my reading in 2025. What immediately hit me was the prevalence of racist and derogatory language. I should have expected it, but there is something incredibly jarring about seeing such horrid and vile words written on a page. It is of course of its time, and the repulse I felt clearer demonstrates how far we've come (albeit, not far enough). I also suspect that Twain uses this language to poke fun at society at the time.
This book lives up to its name, it is full of adventure. The plot is constantly moving, much like the river on which Huck and Jim (and a few others along the way) float and drift. On raft on which they reside is the constant anchor point of the story. Whilst nominally a children's book, there are some important themes here to explore. For me, these include, friendship, commitment, kindness and the innocence of childhood, overlayed against a backdrop of unrelenting prejudice, racism and corruption.
The prose and dialogue of the novel is such an interesting point. At times, this is hard to follow and digest, but perhaps that is deliberate. Jim's dialogue, expression and language is notably different, lending to this idea of "otherness". Given Twain's satirist leanings, I have no doubt that he deliberately deployed this method to deride the racist views of the time. There is humour here too, specifically with the "duke" and "king" who, on many occasion come across as bumbling fools, often outsmarted by Huck.
I'm very fond of this book. It has been a while since I read something like this, and it was very refreshing to read. I can see why the book remains so popular and revered to this day. Perhaps I thought I'd like it more than I did, but it still warrants a 5 star rating.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
3.5/5
It was a nice book, but I didn't like the ending bit.
It was a nice book, but I didn't like the ending bit.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting that this is considered a classic. The "kings" was a slightly surreal twist in the tale. Glad I've read it, not one I will go back to. Read it so that I could read James next from the other perspective.
adventurous
dark
funny
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:
Yes
Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is often rightly praised as a superior sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, delving into deeper themes of morality and freedom. The story of Huck and Jim's journey down the Mississippi River is a quintessential American adventure, full of excitement and poignant moments. However, the novel is not without its flaws. The pacing can lag in the middle sections and the pervasive use of the racial slur can be jarring and off-putting for modern readers. Still, the power of Huck’s moral awakening and the enduring strength of the central narrative secure the novel’s place as a foundational, if complicated, work of American literature.
funny
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes