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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: Slavery, Gun violence, Racism, and Racial slurs
weavedreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Racism
sidjtu's review against another edition
Farcical plot, dated themes, racist attitudes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse
vkce23's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
So difficult to rate this book with modern standards. An engaging adventure story with horrendously outdated racist language and a society that is hard to read through. The bones of it are fun and the adventures improbable, but you get past that. The treatment of slaves and the language used is pretty tough. I read this in preparation for James by Percival Everett and I can’t wait to move to Jim’s perspective. I can imagine in Everett’s hands it will be refreshing and insightful. But for a book written in the 1880s, Huckleberry Finn is surprisingly easy reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
emmavardy2's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
How is it possible to rate this classic? I read it in parallel with James by Percival Everett. I struggled to engage with it not least with the overt racism.
Is this a book that is pro or anti slavery. I really have no idea and there much been written on it. Definitely of it's time and love or loathe part of American fiction history.
Should definitely come with trigger warnings as so much racist language. An infanticide account of slavery at times, mocking or a clever critique?
Read it certainly but go in with your eyes open and prepare to be shocked as you should be. And definitely read James by Percival Everett.
Is this a book that is pro or anti slavery. I really have no idea and there much been written on it. Definitely of it's time and love or loathe part of American fiction history.
Should definitely come with trigger warnings as so much racist language. An infanticide account of slavery at times, mocking or a clever critique?
Read it certainly but go in with your eyes open and prepare to be shocked as you should be. And definitely read James by Percival Everett.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism
duarshe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
So I've explained a lot of times my problems of speed and lack of attention span while reading classics, and that's the reason why I combine reading the book with listening to the audiobook. With The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn it was no different, but listening to the audio was not only a good idea because it helped me get through it faster, but also because it added to the experience of the Southern accent and the characters' sassiness and attitude. I loved Huck's coming-of-age story in this book and the climactic moment in which, by deciding to save Jim after he's been sold by the king, he is also deciding to choose his own personal values apart from the ones that his society has been telling him to be the correct ones. It is obvious that, while still being able to see past Jim's race and being loyal to him, there are many moments in which we still see present the racist prejudices of the time that have become intricate in the people of the period. Needless to say Jim has become one of my favourite characters of all time. He was both a fatherly figure and a friend to Huck, and his loyalty and love for him were constantly present from the beginning of their journey till the end (just as Huck growing love for him). And, even when Tom Sawyer made him waste his precious time to fulfill the kid's romantic and fantastical plans and schemes to help him escape, he was always an angel about it and even gave up the opportunity to be finally free to be able to save Tom's life. I swear Tom Sawyer had me at the edge of the sit every single page, that kid needs some serious reality check (although he was hilarious, I'll give him that). Literally, what do you mean he was free all along? Without a doubt, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn might be one of my favourites classics to date, which I actually didn't see coming.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse
emmacb's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A real adventure, I really enjoyed the parts where they were floating down the river as trying to imagine something so far out of my experience was a lot of fun. It was also an interesting peek into life at the time from an admittedly somewhat quirky kid's perspective!
However, the use of the n word was, once again, a LOT. I gave some serious thought to putting this book down but after reading about it a little I decided to finish it (mostly in private because I was terrified of someone reading it over my shoulder)!
One particularly interesting article mentioned how this book was both racist and anti-racist. Now the content is definitely pretty racist but at the time of it's writing it was controversial for being so 'abolitionist' which is one of the better demonstrations of 'context of the time it was written' I've seen.
That said, I think all the articles I read were by white people so need to try harder to find some own voices perspectives which may change my thoughts.
However, the use of the n word was, once again, a LOT. I gave some serious thought to putting this book down but after reading about it a little I decided to finish it (mostly in private because I was terrified of someone reading it over my shoulder)!
One particularly interesting article mentioned how this book was both racist and anti-racist. Now the content is definitely pretty racist but at the time of it's writing it was controversial for being so 'abolitionist' which is one of the better demonstrations of 'context of the time it was written' I've seen.
That said, I think all the articles I read were by white people so need to try harder to find some own voices perspectives which may change my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse