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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
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
I get why it’s a classic, especially how it explores the historical context of that era. It’s definitely an interesting book to write about race and class, etc. But the ending was not very good, and Tom Sawyer’s presence really takes away from the narrative. I also didn’t enjoy the endless environment descriptions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence
Minor: Animal cruelty, Death of parent
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a classic adventure as Huck Finn and Jim the slave search for freedom. Freedom is the theme of this book Jim is trying to escape slavery, Huck is trying to escape growing up under rules and his father's tyranny, and Pap, Huck's father, wants freedom from the government. Huckleberry Finn takes place before the Civil War but Twain wrote the novel 25 years after—the novel balances light and good fun with the darkness of death and child separation. The heart of the novel is Huck Finn and Jim's relationship. I was shocked at how few scenes they had together. Huck does his own thing while Jim has to stay on the raft. I was also shocked that Huck is not always down with the plan to free Jim he has real doubts about it until he decides at the end. I also forgot Tom Sawyer was in this book at the end, and it was a huge plot point. Tom Sawyer is in this book as much as Huck Finn was in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The pacing of the book is good thanks to smaller chapters. As a reader, I felt the immediacy of getting Jim out of the South but Jim and Huck get turned around so much it is the driving plot but also an afterthought. The ending of this book was way different than I thought, and it is frustratingly funny thanks to Tom Sawyer. I will say I liked The Adventures of Tom Sawyer quite a lot, but in this book, Tom Sawyer is pretty annoying. He gets in the way of Jim and Huckleberry's relationship. Huck Finn is a story assigned in high school and I did not read all of it just parts (I was not a good student or a reader). I felt I knew the story because of the excellent The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn starring Elijah Wood and Courtney B. Vance, but that adaptation took serious license and cut out the last 25% of the book. I did see the Ron Howard version as a kid which I believe is more faithful, but not as memorable. I wanted to read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to appreciate James by Percival Everett which I will read next month. I do like to read at least one classic novel a year as well. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published on February 18, 1884.
Plot Summary: This story follows immediately after the events of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huck Finn is staying with the Widow Douglas and has to go to school and dress properly. The Widow Douglas is not his official guardian but Huck Finn's father is a drunk deadbeat, that's rumored dead by some but others say he is heading to town because he heard of Huck Finn winning treasure. Pap, Huck's father does come back and goes to the courts to get Huck back. They do but his dad blows it by getting drunk several times. Pap gives up on the courts and kidnaps his son from the Widow Douglas, Huck is a little okay with this because he doesn't like going to school, but his father gets drunk and beats him. Huck is also locked in a room every time his father leaves sometimes for 3 days at a time. After one scary night with Pap, he decides to run away. He had been sawing and loosening floorboards for a while, so one night he escaped, killed a pig, stages the blood to look like he got murdered, and escaped. He hid a raft when out fishing with Pap and took it upriver. He picks a deserted island but finds an escaped Slave named Jim. Huck and Jim have known each other for some time. Jim belongs to the Sister of the Widow Douglas. Jim explains that he ran away while the town was looking for Huck's body. Huck and Jim live out on the island for a while, and Huck learns of a 200-dollar reward for Jim. Huck goes into town dressed as a girl to find out that the reward is so high because they believe Jim murdered Huck. Huck also finds out about a group of hunters that are heading towards the island Huck and Jim have been living on to capture Jim. Huck and Jim make it out but soon meet with two con artists the Duke and the King. They plan to rob and steal while using Huck for multiple schemes. Huck tries to foil their plans while escaping with Jim, but the Duke and the King have other plans.
What I Liked: The Huck and Jim relationship there's real love there. Jim is willing multiple times to throw away his freedom to protect Tom and Huck. I loved that Huck pranks Jim into thinking he dreamed of getting separated from each other and later in the story Jim, Huck, and Tom prank a fellow slave to believe something was a dream. I like the scam the King and Duke play on the town after their horrible performance and use the crowd's energy to cause a buzz. Huck's unique saying like, you scared the livers and the lights out of me. I used this phrase when my wife said something, and she was tickled at it and asked me to repeat it. I loved that Tom who reads all kinds of adventure books has rules that a prisoner must follow. Like making friends with an animal, be it a snake, rat, or spider. It just must happen it is in all the books. There is another rule about writing on the wall, making his mark. Pap's drunken rant on the government is great. He makes no worthy points and everything he is for is horrible. The feud scene mirrors the real Hatfield's and McCoy's feud that would be ongoing when Twain wrote the book. The Huck Finn in the women's clothing scene was pretty funny and when he gets caught the woman, she explains what it is like to be a woman and all he was doing wrong. I do like that a recurring gag is Huck forgetting whatever false name he gives to hide his identity. I did enjoy the quiet moments when Huck and Jim just enjoyed nature and the night sky. I liked that Twain added how the church would use its influence and tell children they would go to hell if they helped a slave escape.
What I Disliked: Tom Sawyer is super annoying. I liked the character a lot in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer but he's just in the way. The ending finally reveals the reason he is there which is funny but I think this book would be better if Tom Sawyer was not at the end. Tom Sawyer got in the way of the Jim and Huck Relationship. I hate that we missed seeing the Duke and the King getting caught, tarred, and feathered. Chapter 33 used the N-word a lot almost after every sentence that was hard to get through. Huck is defending Jim but also claiming ownership by saying "My N-word".
Book Recommendation: The Adventures of Huck Finn is an American classic. It was written at a time when certain words were used to demean others. The book can be a difficult book for that reason. Is the message of breaking away from societal norms and following your conscience of how other people should be treated more than that horrible word is used. I'm glad I read the book and am looking forward to reading James by Percival Everett. There's a big opportunity to add to the character of Jim that is all heart, but I did wonder what is in his head. I recommend my followers check out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Rating: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 4.6 out of 5. Overall I liked The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn over The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They are both great works. Tom Sawyer is the easier read of the two books.
Plot Summary: This story follows immediately after the events of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Huck Finn is staying with the Widow Douglas and has to go to school and dress properly. The Widow Douglas is not his official guardian but Huck Finn's father is a drunk deadbeat, that's rumored dead by some but others say he is heading to town because he heard of Huck Finn winning treasure. Pap, Huck's father does come back and goes to the courts to get Huck back. They do but his dad blows it by getting drunk several times. Pap gives up on the courts and kidnaps his son from the Widow Douglas, Huck is a little okay with this because he doesn't like going to school, but his father gets drunk and beats him. Huck is also locked in a room every time his father leaves sometimes for 3 days at a time. After one scary night with Pap, he decides to run away. He had been sawing and loosening floorboards for a while, so one night he escaped, killed a pig, stages the blood to look like he got murdered, and escaped. He hid a raft when out fishing with Pap and took it upriver. He picks a deserted island but finds an escaped Slave named Jim. Huck and Jim have known each other for some time. Jim belongs to the Sister of the Widow Douglas. Jim explains that he ran away while the town was looking for Huck's body. Huck and Jim live out on the island for a while, and Huck learns of a 200-dollar reward for Jim. Huck goes into town dressed as a girl to find out that the reward is so high because they believe Jim murdered Huck. Huck also finds out about a group of hunters that are heading towards the island Huck and Jim have been living on to capture Jim. Huck and Jim make it out but soon meet with two con artists the Duke and the King. They plan to rob and steal while using Huck for multiple schemes. Huck tries to foil their plans while escaping with Jim, but the Duke and the King have other plans.
What I Liked: The Huck and Jim relationship there's real love there. Jim is willing multiple times to throw away his freedom to protect Tom and Huck. I loved that Huck pranks Jim into thinking he dreamed of getting separated from each other and later in the story Jim, Huck, and Tom prank a fellow slave to believe something was a dream. I like the scam the King and Duke play on the town after their horrible performance and use the crowd's energy to cause a buzz. Huck's unique saying like, you scared the livers and the lights out of me. I used this phrase when my wife said something, and she was tickled at it and asked me to repeat it. I loved that Tom who reads all kinds of adventure books has rules that a prisoner must follow. Like making friends with an animal, be it a snake, rat, or spider. It just must happen it is in all the books. There is another rule about writing on the wall, making his mark. Pap's drunken rant on the government is great. He makes no worthy points and everything he is for is horrible. The feud scene mirrors the real Hatfield's and McCoy's feud that would be ongoing when Twain wrote the book. The Huck Finn in the women's clothing scene was pretty funny and when he gets caught the woman, she explains what it is like to be a woman and all he was doing wrong. I do like that a recurring gag is Huck forgetting whatever false name he gives to hide his identity. I did enjoy the quiet moments when Huck and Jim just enjoyed nature and the night sky. I liked that Twain added how the church would use its influence and tell children they would go to hell if they helped a slave escape.
What I Disliked: Tom Sawyer is super annoying. I liked the character a lot in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer but he's just in the way. The ending finally reveals the reason he is there which is funny but I think this book would be better if Tom Sawyer was not at the end. Tom Sawyer got in the way of the Jim and Huck Relationship. I hate that we missed seeing the Duke and the King getting caught, tarred, and feathered. Chapter 33 used the N-word a lot almost after every sentence that was hard to get through. Huck is defending Jim but also claiming ownership by saying "My N-word".
Book Recommendation: The Adventures of Huck Finn is an American classic. It was written at a time when certain words were used to demean others. The book can be a difficult book for that reason. Is the message of breaking away from societal norms and following your conscience of how other people should be treated more than that horrible word is used. I'm glad I read the book and am looking forward to reading James by Percival Everett. There's a big opportunity to add to the character of Jim that is all heart, but I did wonder what is in his head. I recommend my followers check out The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Rating: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain 4.6 out of 5. Overall I liked The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn over The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. They are both great works. Tom Sawyer is the easier read of the two books.
Couldn't get absorbed. Read the sparknotes summary. I appreciate the intended message of the novel - but haven't the patience for the chaotic story.
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed it more than Tom Sawyer! I find it a little hard to know what was cutting satire and what was boy's own adventure - I think the deeper reading perhaps eluded me. But enjoyed reading it in parallel with James (Percival Everett), and perhaps my opinion will change once I've finished the latter.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this before reading James by Percival Everett so I could have context. I probably would have gotten more out of it if I had read with my eyes because I honestly only half-listened and therefore was quite a bit confused. The narrator was excellent, though.