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mmcloe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I somehow managed to avoid this in my American high school education but I'm glad that I'm able to encounter this book for the first time with a fairly critical and practiced eye.
I have a lot of respect for Twain's almost-anthropological approach to depicting dialect (though Jim's was way too over the top sometimes) and the odd little ins and outs of a rapidly shifting American society/understanding of childhood. I think this novel is a serious benchmark in ushering in of a new mode of American prose distinct from the high Romanticism of the books which came earlier.
Twain's attempt at being not racist towards Jim provides an incredibly illustrative example (intentional or otherwise) of how Blackness is (mis)represented through the narrative force of white writing. I'd be interested to see a novel written from Jim's perspective.
I have a lot of respect for Twain's almost-anthropological approach to depicting dialect (though Jim's was way too over the top sometimes) and the odd little ins and outs of a rapidly shifting American society/understanding of childhood. I think this novel is a serious benchmark in ushering in of a new mode of American prose distinct from the high Romanticism of the books which came earlier.
Twain's attempt at being not racist towards Jim provides an incredibly illustrative example (intentional or otherwise) of how Blackness is (mis)represented through the narrative force of white writing. I'd be interested to see a novel written from Jim's perspective.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Death and Violence
scheettm's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Father is a tramp
And Huck Finn is a big scamp
The N-word for DAYS.
And Huck Finn is a big scamp
The N-word for DAYS.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
I can't believe that this is considered a childrens book and children actually read this in schools.
It's so blatantly racist. The n-word alone is used around 219 times and racial stereotypes a reproduced constantly.
It's so blatantly racist. The n-word alone is used around 219 times and racial stereotypes a reproduced constantly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
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
2.75
Title: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Author: Mark Twain
Genre: Classic
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: December 1884
T H R E E • W O R D S
Satiric • Mature • Colourful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the South pre-civil war, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn tells the story of Huck Finn's escape from an abusive father struggling with alcoholism, and his adventurous travels down the Mississippi with runaway slave Jim. It explores themes of identity and race, of racism and freedom, of right and wrong.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have a complicated relationship with classics, where I want to read them all, but rarely get much enjoyment out of them. It was time for me to give another classic a go, this time The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the experience wasn't all that enjoyable. Oftentimes, I couldn't get passed a lot of the language, and some of the over-the-top scenes. I didn't find myself absorbed in the story and passages often felt long-winded and drawn out. I think it is safe to say classics are definitely not my jam, but chances are I'll continue to pick them up every so often.
What I will say is there is definitely value to this book in a historical context, making in an important book for readers. I am convinced my experience would have been different if this had been assigned reading to dissect and discuss, as opposed to picking it up for the simple pleasure of reading.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• classic lovers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I couldn't bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn't think about nothing else."
"If you tell the truth you do not need a good memory!"
Author: Mark Twain
Genre: Classic
Rating: 2.75
Pub Date: December 1884
T H R E E • W O R D S
Satiric • Mature • Colourful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Set in the South pre-civil war, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn tells the story of Huck Finn's escape from an abusive father struggling with alcoholism, and his adventurous travels down the Mississippi with runaway slave Jim. It explores themes of identity and race, of racism and freedom, of right and wrong.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have a complicated relationship with classics, where I want to read them all, but rarely get much enjoyment out of them. It was time for me to give another classic a go, this time The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and the experience wasn't all that enjoyable. Oftentimes, I couldn't get passed a lot of the language, and some of the over-the-top scenes. I didn't find myself absorbed in the story and passages often felt long-winded and drawn out. I think it is safe to say classics are definitely not my jam, but chances are I'll continue to pick them up every so often.
What I will say is there is definitely value to this book in a historical context, making in an important book for readers. I am convinced my experience would have been different if this had been assigned reading to dissect and discuss, as opposed to picking it up for the simple pleasure of reading.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• classic lovers
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I couldn't bear to think about it; and yet, somehow, I couldn't think about nothing else."
"If you tell the truth you do not need a good memory!"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Slavery, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny
shayna_hadassah's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse and Racism
Minor: Alcoholism
clapyourshands's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcoholism and Child abuse
Minor: Islamophobia
bobbybluech's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- 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: Cultural appropriation and Injury/Injury detail
hckilgour's review against another edition
I could not get through this book. I went in thinking, yeah loved Tom Sawyer, this’ll be the same. Nope.
To start with, this one is in first person. Ok not a huge deal, but it changes the narration style drastically. And Huck is not that great of a narrator.
The other hard thing is that because this book is set in Missouri and Huck is barely educated, well he speaks that way. And since he’s the narrator, the whole thing can get hard to read. Not to even mention when Jim starts talking it’s like…. How can anyone understand this.
I also just found the story lacking in excitement. The only real exiting thing was Huck faking his death.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs
gavaughn24's review against another edition
i read this for school and i 🎶DID NOT LIKE IT🎶
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery