ŷ������

Greg wrote: "Elekis wrote: "I think Huck Finn may have been a fantastic book back in the day...but its had its time!!!"

Eleksis, EXACTLY!!! Finn is simply no longer relevant. period."

If racism is no longer relevant, then I agree with you. I happen to think it is relevant.

To all: A final and telling comment: Ralph Waldo Emerson and other American writers issued a call, in the mid 1800s, for an "American author" to represent this new country. Few authors bothered to think about true "Native Americans", hence, thousands of years of true American history was simply neglected in favor of TwainTrash. Sad.

Greg wrote: "To all: A final and telling comment: Ralph Waldo Emerson and other American writers issued a call, in the mid 1800s, for an "American author" to represent this new country. Few authors bothered to ..."

For North American literature, I would suggest: Wooden Leg, Black Elk Speaks, House Made of Dawn, and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. I am quite ignorant of Central and South American literature.

I would not say that I "can't stand" MT but I'm not much of a fan. I read Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (as well as Jumping Frog) because they are among the American novels that we are "Supposed" to read. The writing was great, however, I didn't like stories of either, very much. I was raised in Oklahoma in the sixties so being a young boy free in the great outdoors is my idea of heaven. I was very disappointed. For much better writing with not so much disappointment, read Steinbeck. East of Eden, Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men are three of the best written books I've read but might leave you feeling a little depressed.

Re Rick's suggestion on Steinbeck: Also, you might consider "Tortilla Flat" by Steinbeck, and "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" by B. Traven, which I think you may have reviewed already.

David wrote: "Re Rick's suggestion on Steinbeck: Also, you might consider "Tortilla Flat" by Steinbeck, and "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" by B. Traven, which I think you may have reviewed already."
I read somewhere that the movie Cannery Row was based on both Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat but I've only read CR although my dad once told me TF was better. I love Steinbeck's prose so I'm sure I read it one day; I'll put it on my list now. Thank's for the reminder.

For a laugh, read Mark Twain's review on Last of the Mohicans.

Mark Twain is the king of irony. The idea that people want to call his children's classics dumbed down is hilarious. Do they think he wrote with a modern English classroom in mind?

I agree, Daisy.

Rick wrote: "I read somewhere that the movie Cannery Row was based on both Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat but I've only read CR although my dad once told me TF was better. "

I believe the movie is based on Cannery Row and the sequel, Sweet Thursday (one of the only sequels I like better than the original.)

Michael wrote: "Rick wrote: "I read somewhere that the movie Cannery Row was based on both Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat but I've only read CR although my dad once told me TF was better. "

I believe the movie is ..."
The entry for the movie in Wikipedia says that you are correct and if it's in Wikipedia, you know it's right.

Rick wrote: "...The entry for the movie in Wikipedia says that you are correct and if it's in Wikipedia, you know it's right.."

I had no idea your humor was so terrific! You do homage to Mark Twain with that comment.

I have taught Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" every year since I started teaching in 1969 and consider it one of, if not the best, American novel ever written. My students learn so much about what America really is from the journey of Huck and Jim. Sadly, America has not changed very much at all since the book was written. Twain is brilliant! I cannot fathom anyone not loving Huck-a truly unforgettable character...

Charlie wrote: "I have taught Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" every year since I started teaching in 1969 and consider it one of, if not the best, American novel ever written. My students learn so much ab..."

I agree completely, Charlie. It's astounding that this novel is still banned from schools in parts of the country. One of the greatest novels ever written, and as Hemmingway observed: "All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn."

Charlie wrote: "I have taught Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" every year since I started teaching in 1969 and consider it one of, if not the best, American novel ever written......."

Agreed. For me, it is the brilliant depiction of life and language on the river that I most enjoy, along with the relationship of Jim and Huck, and how that friendship forces Huck to a crisis of conscience which is one of the most powerful in all literature.

In my honors english class in high school we have been forced to read this novel, and it so far has been terrible. My teacher flocks to it like a dog to a bone. Sure it was used to make a statement about racism and freedom, but it was done in such a manner that it was thoughtless. The symbolism is so in your face it lacked any air of sophistication. My teacher talked SO highly of this "masterpiece". Im sure Twain has other works that are much better. But this one feels so eclectic while you read it, its more like a rough draft. I understand that it was one of the first american pieces of literature, but come on. Its one big mockery. I understand that Huck Finn has some mental conflict. wow. Oh my lord! A flat character has a conscience! I can enjoy period pieces, but this is almost unreadable. When I think of literature, I tend to think of complete words, rather than such colloquial speaking that its like trudging through quicksand to get through, just so you can read a book that ends up being a disappointment. I think teachers love it so much because it has such surface level ideas that its easy to teach. I think the novel receives too much praise. Maybe its good when you aren't forced to waste 3 months of your time in class, analyzing the most minuscule details. I can't wait for him to ruin shakespeare, mythology, and many other things i used to enjoy.

Haze wrote: "In my honors english class in high school we have been forced to read this novel, and it so far has been terrible. My teacher flocks to it like a dog to a bone. Sure it was used to make a statement..."

Yikes.

Holy crAP... BITD "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" were considered *children's books* (or what you'd call "YA"today) ... I think I was like 10 or 12 when I read them... WTF? This is an *honors* English class?? I shudder to think what the regular standard non-"Honors" class is reading...

My guess is your tweezerbeak "Teacher" has glommed onto HF as a form of "virtue signaling" to prove how non-racist he is. So what you could do is come up with a carefully crafted thesis on how the book *promotes* "Racism" instead of "Raising Awareness" of it, and publicly unleash *that* on this critter at an opportune time . I predict a total meltdown as both of its brain cells fry on overload... .

Sometimes I damn near (but not quite) wish I was back in high school knowing what I know now... I would be torturing my teachers mercilessly, armed with my (now belated) knowledge of how fg STUPID they *really* are.

Duane wrote: "Holy crAP... BITD "Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn" were considered *children's books* (or what you'd call "YA"today) ... I think I was like 10 or 12 when I read them... WTF? This is an *honors* ..."

Huckleberry Finn was written for adults, according to Mark Twain himself, and especially for adults who harbored racist attitudes. Please explain how the novel promotes racism, Duane, when it so clearly reveals the fallacy and moral bankruptcy of bigotry. Judging from your post, you may not be quite so brilliant as you believe.

Gary wrote: "This is one of the best articles I have come across. Keep up the good work. Terrarium Tv Apk download"

What good work, Gary? And what's an Apk?

Perhaps all the haters should stick to Ulysses.

Amen. Or even Finnegan's Wake. A little Pynchon might soothe one's critical fervor as well.

David wrote: "Amen. Or even Finnegan's Wake. A little Pynchon might soothe one's critical fervor as well."

Excellent choices...

Please explain how the novel promotes racism, Duane, when it so clearly reveals the fallacy and moral bankruptcy of bigotry.

I'm not going to do the guy's homework for him - it's up to HIM to finger out how to construct an argument that it promotes racism.

See... (for those of you from Rio Linda) (or in actuality, probably 90% of victims of the modern educational system), I'm posing a *debating* question here. The question gets posed, "Does Huckleberry Finn Promote Racism?" and two teams get assigned, one to support the "Yes" position and one to support the "No" position. I'm telling the guy, assume the "Yes" position and inflict that on the idiot of a high-school teacher, and I'll wager he goes ballistic... non-linear... cuckoo-for-cocoa-puffs... and lunges for the Prozac bottle.

But, you see, all of this is probably lost on everyone reading this because debating as an objective skill is now deprecated, since it might decondition The Children from just swallowing and regurgitating whatever the media and the Left (But I repeat myself) says is "Right"... .

Scott wrote: "David wrote: "Amen. Or even Finnegan's Wake. A little Pynchon might soothe one's critical fervor as well."

Excellent choices..."

But that would take all the fun out of hating on MT!!

Michael wrote: "What good work, Gary? And what's an Apk?"

( um, Gary, he's undoubtedly got an IPad,IPoon, etc... interesting app though)

I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. Maybe someday I will find him to be an enjoyable read, but that day sure isn't today.

Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. Maybe someday I will find him to be an enjoyable ..."

What did you try to read?

Scott wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. Maybe someday I will find him to..."

I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and wasn't extremely impressed. I tried The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Life on the Mississippi. I could finish neither of them, unfortunately.

Cheyenne wrote: "Scott wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. Maybe someday I wi..."

Perhaps you could try one of his travelogues. His best selling book was actually The Innocents Abroad. This is the book that brought him to international attention. Or, if you prefer something controversial, Letters From the Earth - not published in his lifetime as his daughter Clara withheld it from publication. I published an audio book (on librivox) of The Innocents Abroad.

Cheyenne wrote: "Scott wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. Maybe someday I wi..."

Huckleberry Finn is an immersion in the Missouri plantation culture of the 1840's and 1850's. The language, in particular in dialog, is rich with the slang and vernacular of that time. So you have a good reason to be bogged down.

For what little this is worth, the fate of Jim, and Huck's role in that fate, is the key ingredient that moves the story along. If you can focus on that, then the language may present fewer difficulties for you.

Jon wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "Scott wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter execution. M..."

Actually, I quite appreciated the authenticity and use of the vernacular. It did get heavy from time to time, I must admit, but I appreciated it. The story had its moments, but overall, I just think it felt dragged on. I think books of that subject matter have difficult shoes to fill as it is, and so it's not surprising when one falls a little short.

I would like to give him another chance, but I think he is one of those authors that you have to be in the mood to read.

Cheyenne, I submitted 3 different impressions of Twains books on GR, 2 of which are under discussion; and I have to agree with you pretty much. Huck was not that easy for me to get through, because of my waning stamina, but I remembered that it was a pioneer work and influenced almost every major American writer henceforth. Like Tom Jones and Joseph Andrews by Fielding, I believe Twain's books are required reading for those of us who want grounding in the canon of Western Literature.

Cheyenne wrote: "Jon wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "Scott wrote: "Cheyenne wrote: "I have had a lot of difficulty trying to get into Twain's writing. I think it's a combination of the style and lackluster subject matter ..."

I have another perspective that you can consider when you are up to the challenge. Think of the role that social role-playing has in the story. To me, that is the crux of Twain's point. He wants the reader to play the role of Huck as someone who rejects the social game-playing he sees around him, and so he escapes to the river as an outlet of escape. But the river has its own hazards, of course. And it carries him to the many kinds of swindles we play upon each other. He cannot totally escape it. And eventually he sees that Jim is also a victim of the same game-playing, and that they must support each other to escape those constant games.

The worst game of all is the pretense of "civilization" which keeps slaves enslaved and invoking Christianity in the name of preserving that slavery. And he rightly rejects that, by the end.

This is just my own perspective, of course.

An absolute classic writer, his unique writing style and otherwise comical sense of humor really has a way of bringing the reader back to a more carefree time in history.
Each reader has their own favorite writer and although Mark Twain isn't my favorite writer, he's certainly in the runner up and will always remain in my home library for at least as long as I live.

I have never read a great novel that collapses so greatly as does "Huckleberry Finn" does after Jim is captured. Tom Sawyer's appearance just makes it worse. Tom is downright tedious. Twain should have ended the book with Jim's imprisonment and left it with Huck's dilemma.

Michael wrote: "I have never read a great novel that collapses so greatly as does "Huckleberry Finn" does after Jim is captured. Tom Sawyer's appearance just makes it worse. Tom is downright tedious. Twain should ..."

The ending has upset many readers and provoked heated arguments among scholars. Here's an interesting article from Scientific American, arguing that the ending makes total sense from a psychological point of view.

Links aren't allowed, so look up "Is Huckleberry Finn's ending really lacking? Not if you're talking psychology." by Maria Konnikova

I just read through a couple of pages of this conversation and all I have to say is wow. The world's getting stupider and stupider.

Bob wrote: "I just read through a couple of pages of this conversation and all I have to say is wow. The world's getting stupider and stupider."

It took you a couple of pages of ŷ������ reviews to figure that out? ;)

@Darren “Carefree time in history��? What about the period was carefree? Slavery, genocide, rampant racism, child abuse, scarlet fever, smallpox, subsistence pay, women and minorities not being allowed to vote? It’s a charming story but the times were hardly carefree.