This is an absolutely amazing book for any reader of any age! Although the dialect & wording are a little difficult to understand & comprehend at first, after you get used to Twain's writing, it goes smoother. The lessons in this book regard racism, slavery, friendships, prejudices, moral dilemmas & decisions, & being loyal as well as honest to yourself. ( )

The dialect in this book can make it difficult for modern readers and especially teenagers to read. The book is classic Twain. Reading this book helps one to realize the ignorance of prejudice. The characters are fun and memorable. There is much to be learned from the situations and actions of the many characters portrayed. ( )

yes...yes I know this is a classic. This was an okay book. I loved parts of it, but found so many chapters to be painfully slow that I eventually gave up within hours of making it to the end. Overall a fair-good book. It couldn't capture my interest like I had hoped. ( )

“We never stopped running till we got home” (Twain 107).

In the Roman Catholic Church, a child becomes a morally responsible adult at 14, while in the Jewish faith a boy becomes a man at the ripe age of 13. Children frequently find themselves at this point, on the cusp of maturity, ready to make their way into the adult world. Despite apparent eagerness, it is often difficult to look at a child barely in his teens and see a grown person. And yet, these young people are no longer innocent, for as they age, they learn and grow morally, intellectually, and physically. Oftentimes, young adults will find themselves trapped in limbo, consistently making both foolish and wise decisions. In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the protagonist, Huck, finds himself in just this predicament. As Huck and his friend Jim subconsciously live by a cyclical existence, Huck’s relationship with Jim allows him to be both a morally conscious young man and an irresponsible boy.

Throughout Huck’s journey, he finds himself constantly running, without “[losing any] time…but just [shoving] off for the big water as fast as ever [he] could” (116). As Huck runs to the “big water”, he is trying to grasp his growing maturity. The water represents a sense of adulthood, and truth. The Mississippi River constantly brings new adventures and experiences, making him feel “mighty free and easy and comfortable” as he grows into his own opinions and newfound freedom (116). Furthermore, the river physically brings Huck closer to adulthood by exposing him to opportunities to prove his maturity through the rectitude of Huck’s motives. Huck wrestles with the decision to return Jim to slavery, but in the end his own virtue wins out and is unable to send him back to captivity (91). In this way Jim inadvertently tests Huck’s morality, and Huck proves to be up to that challenge.

Regardless of Huck’s development towards becoming a man, he is constantly “[looking] over [his] shoulder” back towards the juvenile boy he was (107). Despite his growth, the story comes full circle as Huck “never stopped running until [he] got home” (107). The word “home” connotes familiarity and childhood that Huck finds tempting, even as he tries to grow up. There is no doubt that Huck makes progress, but by the end of the book, he cannot help but return to his childish whims and indulgences. As Huck tries to save Jim a second time, he “[waltzes] in on” an elaborate and callow scheme to free Jim despite much risk (233). Huck casually approaches the idea that the plan may “get [them] all killed” showing the boyish nature that has returned to his demeanor (107). His invincible and foolish attitude unravels the progress he had made thus far in the novel. This tug and pull is centered on Jim, and decisions that will invariably affect his life. Huck’s sophistication is therefore manifested in the decisions he makes concerning Jim’s fate.

Incidentally, Catholicism follows the belief that all people are born with Original Sin. Due to this, Huck attempts to rid the “original sin” of his society’s views from himself by running away from home and society. Still, it is often difficult to rid oneself of the past. Huck admits that he “liked the old ways best”, which is manifested in his falters back to society’s ideals and childish ways (15). Similarly, it is often difficult for a Catholic to be completely reborn after Baptism. It is not uncommon for a Catholic to fall back into a cycle of sinning and repenting, going back and forth as Huck has. This is indeed the reason that Twain viewed religion as hypocritical. However, it is only human to make mistakes, and as one grows and matures, it isn’t so difficult to stay on the right path, as Huck discovers. After much trial and error, Huck has the potential to find enough maturity in himself to flee from his past or “home” to find a new one that suits him better, finally breaking the cycle. Although “[he] liked the old ways best, [it was] getting so [he] liked the new ones, too, a little bit” (15).

I read this once about ten years ago. I remember thinking it was alright but that Twain wasn't an author I was ever really going to explore on my own.

My, how the times have changed. This book was amazing. It was absolutely hilarious (I couldn't stop laughing at the end when the whole scheme was revealed to Aunt Sally) and yet it had just the right amount of the brutality and cruelty of the time showing through. The atmosphere created was perfect.

This is a very character driven story. Plot-wise, it kind of mirrors life (Twain was a realist) in that it doesn't really go anywhere. Events happen and the characters develop because of it, but there's not really an "ultimate event" at the end. Well, there's sort of one but it was completely pointless in the end. I loved Huck's development from spouting off what he was taught to making his own decisions.

I loved this book so much that I bought seven or eight other books by Mark Twain before I even finished this one and I cannot wait for them to get here!

5 stars! ( )