Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

An entertaining and endearing read for an audience of all ages. Children can relate and say "I do that!" and adults can marvel at the charm of youth and reminiscence on their own childhoods.

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tindemakela's review against another edition

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adventurous funny medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

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super_jane19's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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hjb_128's review against another edition

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adventurous fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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timmytunter's review against another edition

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adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Mark Twain's “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a classic tale of childhood wonder and adventure. Through the eyes of young Tom, we are transported to a world of youthful escapades, where the line between reality and imagination often blurs. Tom's adventures encapsulate the essence of childish rebelliousness and the allure of fantasy and escapism.

One of the standout aspects of the book is Twain's ability to capture the innocence and curiosity of childhood. Tom's adventures are a blend of mischief and heroism, from exploring caves to witnessing a murder, making the story both thrilling and endearing. We also catch glimpses of adult hypocrisy and societal norms, offering a critique of the world from a child's perspective.

However, reading the book today, certain elements can be incredibly jarring. Twain's depictions of Native Americans, African Americans, and women reflect the biases and prejudices of his time. These portrayals are troubling and serve as a reminder of the pervasive racial and gender discrimination in post-slavery 19th-century southern America. Twain's language and characterizations reveal his societal biases, which can be uncomfortable for modern readers.

Despite these issues, Twain's narrative is not without its merits. His droll and self-aware sense of humour shines through, particularly in quotes like this favourite of mine:

[Tom] had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. If he had been a great and wise philosopher, like the writer of this book, he would now have comprehended that Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.

This quote encapsulates Twain's cleverness and insight into human nature, highlighting his ability to find profound truths in simple, everyday observations.

Overall, while “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” offers a delightful and adventurous story of childhood, it is essential to approach it with a critical eye, recognizing the dated and prejudiced elements that reflect the time and society in which it was written.

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ggcd1981's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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joshkiba13's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I listened to the William Drufis recording, and he did a wonderful job bringing Mark Twain's work to life. His voice as narrator was whimsical and boisterous enough to well match the well exaggerated and hyperbolic prose Twain adopted to portray the mind and personality of young mischievous boys. His voices for Tom himself and for Huckleberry Finn were done well too.

The story reminded me much of The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt, due to the aforementioned exaggerated and hyperbolic adventures of adolescent boys. It was a fun and mostly lighthearted story that made me chuckle several times while listening.

I understand that the sequel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, is a tad more serious in nature (just like Okay For Now, the sequel to The Wednesday Wars was) and I'm excited to read that soon. I really enjoyed a lot of Twain's word choice, so hopefully the prose in the sequel is similar to this one. If not, I'm sure I'll still enjoy it.

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willow_the_wisp's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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