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thereadingmum's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I first read this as a teenager having watched one of the movies (I think it was the musical). The famous fence scene being uppermost in my memory.
It was nice reading it again with my 11yo. She was quite reluctant as she's sort of on the edge of outgrowing my reading to her. However, I do the southern accent quite well if I do say so myself and we read it over several months, in bite-size installments.
Our overall comment is "he ah!", which is a typical Chinese Singaporean exclamation of exasperation at boys. He is the epitome of that rascally, egotistical yet so charming small males that cause hypertension in every female he encounters. The upside being that he makes the actual boys we know, much less troublesome and full of mischief.
Yes, the language and dialects are strong, however, I suppose I'm used to it having watched a lot of American media. It is also very much a product of its time. I explained to my 11yo why I wasn't reading a certain word, because despite it being of the time, it still makes me uncomfortable.
I do not suggest reading it to a boy of a certain natural inclination because it will definitely give them ideas!
It was nice reading it again with my 11yo. She was quite reluctant as she's sort of on the edge of outgrowing my reading to her. However, I do the southern accent quite well if I do say so myself and we read it over several months, in bite-size installments.
Our overall comment is "he ah!", which is a typical Chinese Singaporean exclamation of exasperation at boys. He is the epitome of that rascally, egotistical yet so charming small males that cause hypertension in every female he encounters. The upside being that he makes the actual boys we know, much less troublesome and full of mischief.
Yes, the language and dialects are strong, however, I suppose I'm used to it having watched a lot of American media. It is also very much a product of its time. I explained to my 11yo why I wasn't reading a certain word, because despite it being of the time, it still makes me uncomfortable.
I do not suggest reading it to a boy of a certain natural inclination because it will definitely give them ideas!
keepingupwiththepenguins's review against another edition
4.0
My full review of The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can be found on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
As much as he was Tom Sawyer’s side-kick in the first book, Huck is definitely the star of the show. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn was published eight years after The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, and represents – in my mind, anyway – a huge leap forward in terms of Twain’s craft. It was the first major American novel to be written entirely in vernacular English (i.e., in the slang and local colour of the region), and is now considered to be one of the Great American Novels.
I know we're generally down on vernacular writing and whinge that it makes stories harder to read, but Huck Finn actually felt a lot more readable than Tom Sawyer, like Twain had finally hit his stride. The writing was far more engaging and immersive, and I didn’t struggle with the vernacular at all. If you really hate that style of writing, then sure, give this one a miss, but don’t make the mistake of lumping it in the same basket as D.H. Lawrence and his cronies. If you can handle the Southern accents in the movie version of Gone With The Wind, you won’t have any trouble with The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn.
As much as he was Tom Sawyer’s side-kick in the first book, Huck is definitely the star of the show. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn was published eight years after The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer, and represents – in my mind, anyway – a huge leap forward in terms of Twain’s craft. It was the first major American novel to be written entirely in vernacular English (i.e., in the slang and local colour of the region), and is now considered to be one of the Great American Novels.
I know we're generally down on vernacular writing and whinge that it makes stories harder to read, but Huck Finn actually felt a lot more readable than Tom Sawyer, like Twain had finally hit his stride. The writing was far more engaging and immersive, and I didn’t struggle with the vernacular at all. If you really hate that style of writing, then sure, give this one a miss, but don’t make the mistake of lumping it in the same basket as D.H. Lawrence and his cronies. If you can handle the Southern accents in the movie version of Gone With The Wind, you won’t have any trouble with The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn.
heartstopper_3's review against another edition
It was very old and the language was very different which I knew going into it but I didn't think it would make my brain hurt as much as it did.
nikkileyman's review against another edition
4.0
good old classic! loved these, especially the "painting the fence" scene :DD
vixenreader's review against another edition
4.0
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" - 4/5 (A lighthearted, charming read about childhood nostalgia).
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - 5/5 (A subversive, vernacular masterpiece about re-examining one's moral compass and going against inherited social injustice in order to do what is right, even when people always keep telling you that you are wrong).
I am glad to be finally be aquatinted with Mr. Twain, and I cannot wait to read more of his works.
"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" - 5/5 (A subversive, vernacular masterpiece about re-examining one's moral compass and going against inherited social injustice in order to do what is right, even when people always keep telling you that you are wrong).
I am glad to be finally be aquatinted with Mr. Twain, and I cannot wait to read more of his works.
graceyamamoto's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
gwenhwyfar82's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0