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A review by leahgustafson
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
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!
•
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