A review by duarshe
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

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.
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