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leahgustafson's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
My primary motivation for reading Huck Finn was because James has been one of my most anticipated books of 2024. I figured if I was going to ever pick up Huck Finn again, now was the time.
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I’m pretty sure this was summer reading homework in high school. Without any discussion, I’m not sure what I would have really gotten out of it at that point…probably nothing. I am really glad I chose to revisit it now, though!
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While you definitely don’t have to read Huck Finn prior to reading James, it has given me some context/insight that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. I also think the comparison between the two perspectives is extremely thought provoking and will lead to great discussion (especially for book clubs, buddy reads, etc).
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I was pleasantly surprised by the readability of Huck Finn. It reads like an adventure story, and yet, it explores some BIG themes—slavery, humanity, morality, religion, etc. I also love how this story is told through a (poor, uneducated) child’s eyes. The cruelty, ugliness, and hypocrisy of this time in our country’s history is glaring as Huck repeatedly questions and struggles to make sense of the world around him. All of the “good/moral” members of society condone slavery, and Huck grapples with what might be “wrong” with himself for seeing Jim’s humanity and wanting to help him. As an elementary teacher and a mom, I find this really fascinating! It is important to mention, of course, that Huck doesn’t always make mature choices and doesn’t always treat Jim with respect.
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There are some characters that I found pretty unlikeable and I questioned their purpose, but all in all, I’m glad I read this one and enjoyed it more than I thought I would!
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Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
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I’m pretty sure this was summer reading homework in high school. Without any discussion, I’m not sure what I would have really gotten out of it at that point…probably nothing. I am really glad I chose to revisit it now, though!
•
While you definitely don’t have to read Huck Finn prior to reading James, it has given me some context/insight that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. I also think the comparison between the two perspectives is extremely thought provoking and will lead to great discussion (especially for book clubs, buddy reads, etc).
•
I was pleasantly surprised by the readability of Huck Finn. It reads like an adventure story, and yet, it explores some BIG themes—slavery, humanity, morality, religion, etc. I also love how this story is told through a (poor, uneducated) child’s eyes. The cruelty, ugliness, and hypocrisy of this time in our country’s history is glaring as Huck repeatedly questions and struggles to make sense of the world around him. All of the “good/moral” members of society condone slavery, and Huck grapples with what might be “wrong” with himself for seeing Jim’s humanity and wanting to help him. As an elementary teacher and a mom, I find this really fascinating! It is important to mention, of course, that Huck doesn’t always make mature choices and doesn’t always treat Jim with respect.
•
There are some characters that I found pretty unlikeable and I questioned their purpose, but all in all, I’m glad I read this one and enjoyed it more than I thought I would!
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
qqjj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
kcc810's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
1.5
The story is hard to follow, rambling, too much dialect. The middle third is mildly funny I guess, but the racism and racial language are so heavy it feels difficult to tolerate. Most of the characters are incredibly flat and lack dimension. Tom Sawyer in the last third is one of the most obnoxious characters ever written. Risking someone’s life and freedom for child’s play? Not the entertaining story you might expect from a story that I’ve heard proclaimed to be anti-slavery. Twain seems very tied to his time, this novel is anything but timeless. If you want to read it for a glimpse into a period in history, I’d still suggest you choose another novel that focuses less on childish folly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
idesofmarch's review against another edition
adventurous
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: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse and Gun violence
celery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
amandabarry95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Alcohol
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: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse
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: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
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: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse
amalas_bookstop's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
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
2.75
I enjoyed Hucks perspective just a little bit more than Tom’s, however the language was still hard for me to read. I am very glad I finished it, I won’t pick it up again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent