Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel by Mark Twain, first published in the United Kingdom in December 1884 and in the United States in February 1885. Commonly named among the Great American Novels.
The book is noted for its colorful description of people and places along the Mississippi River. Set in a Southern antebellum society.
Huckleberry Finn ("Huck" to his friends) is a boy about "thirteen or fourteen or along there" years old. He has been brought up by his father, the town drunk, and has a difficult time fitting into society. (327 pages)

I’ve read that twice, once in high school and once in my fifties. There were parts that offended me the first time and that I found hilarious the second time.

I’m reading this for the first time. The story seems ok, but I really dislike all the dialect which makes parts of it almost impossible to read. The book description indicates this is to distinguish between characters. Is anyone else finding this book hard work? I’ve read almost 30% so far.

I’ve read Huckleberry Finn three times - once in my junior year of high school, then twice in college for American literature classes. I enjoyed the story probably more each time. The novel is very much a product of its time. Twain wrote it with colloquial language from Huck’s point of view. Reading proper English may be easier in processing the story, but the colloquial speech he wrote Huck Finn with makes the story more true to the person telling the narrative and to the characters who talk - especially those who speak with the southern drawl or those characters who are uneducated and do not know proper English. I have wondered before if stories that are written with the southern dialect thrown in there are more difficult to understand for those who are unfamiliar with the speech, though. I have grown up hearing (and even speaking) variations of the southern dialect, which could make reading it more comprehensible for me and others in my situation.

Samantha wrote: "I’ve read Huckleberry Finn three times - once in my junior year of high school, then twice in college for American literature classes. I enjoyed the story probably more each time. The novel is very..."

That’s very interesting, Samantha. Thank you for your thoughts on this. I’m impressed you have read it 3 times, you must know the book very well.

Trisha, I’ll be honest. The third time I skimmed the book and underlined key parts. Thank you, though. I’m glad you appreciate my insight. I do know the story pretty well by now and will pop in here again, despite that I’m not rereading it again currently.

I finished this today but was very disappointed. I much prefer other books by Mark Twain. This one, although I suppose is of its time, seemed particularly racist. The use of some words, completely unacceptable now, wasn’t surprising in the context of a book written a long time ago. Unlike some readers, I didn’t find the story funny - instead it seemed very sad.

I read this one a few years ago and enjoyed the relationship between Huck and Jim, but the arrival of Tom Sawyer on the scene ruined the book for me. It seemed to be tacked on and wasn't funny.

I agree about Tom Sawyer. Plopping his character in Huck’s story and the little misadventure they have regarding Jim feels out of place. It’s almost as if Twain felt the story needed a little something more and ran out of ideas. Overall, I have enjoyed the story a bit more each time, especially as I have understood the historical context more every time I have read it thus far.

I think I read somewhere that Twain took a break about half way through and then returned to it many years later. I did feel the difference when I read it.

Trisha wrote: "I’m reading this for the first time. The story seems ok, but I really dislike all the dialect which makes parts of it almost impossible to read. The book description indicates this is to distinguis..."

I highly recommend an audio book. It erases all of that problem because you are hearing it instead of translating in your mind.

Kelly wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I’m reading this for the first time. The story seems ok, but I really dislike all the dialect which makes parts of it almost impossible to read. The book description indicates this i..."

Thank you, Kelly. I’ve never used any audio books, but it seems a good idea to try.

I wish Twain had spared us the (view spoiler)[deus ex machina ending (hide spoiler)].

Eugene wrote: "I wish Twain had spared us the [spoilers removed]."

Agreed. It didn’t seem quite his style, for one thing.

I really enjoyed this book, despite it making me uncomfortable. The southern accent and vernacular is a major part of why I liked it. It couldn't have transported me so efficiently without it. My first introduction to it was many years ago in a high school literature class. We had a class debate on whether it should be read for school given the strong racist language and how it could make students of color feel to hear it read aloud in class or be part of required reading at home. I didn't think it should be required, but also not banned. The class/school voted it in and so it was read. I would drift away to the Mississippi and lose myself in the story, but be jolted out of it just as quickly by the language. It was a difficult back and forth and produced quite a bit of stress. Even with the understanding of the times and the context. As an adult, it is easier to compartmentalize.

It is important to know the background and the times an author is writing in, so that we can understand where he is coming from. But it still can make you uncomfortable when certain issues come up, or certain language is used.

We are offering this as a new read for some and maybe a re-read for others.

Who is in for this Classic read from Mark Twain for the month of November?

Thank you, Lesle. I am reading it for the first time in November.

I read all the comments in this thread and now I'm really looking forward to the read to see what I feel about it.

I hope you enjoy it, Shaina. This is definitely one of those books that you have to read with keeping in mind it’s a product of its time - in this case, largely the time it’s written about.

Hi everyone! thank you Lesle,
funny you brought up this now that I'm only a few chapters away from finishing The Adventures of Huck Finn, I've always intended to pick up this one after reading Tom Sawyer when I was young.. I'm enjoying it

P.S. I recommend the audible version narrated by Elijah Wood, his performance is superb!

Shaina and Nora I am happy you are excited about reading this one and your more than welcome!

I'm all in for Huckleberry Finn. This'll be the third time I'll have read this. And just finished rereading Tom Sawyer to refresh the memory.

Huck Finn is a special book. I’ve grown to like it more over the years. I love how simply Twain wrote it but with such meaning and deep messages.

Has anyone started on this great Classic of Mark Twains?

Not yet, Lesle. There are so many books I want to read this month. I read it once before without enjoying it much, but want to read it with the group & understand it better this time.

When reading this book, understanding US history of that time period helps in better comprehension of the story itself and the characters’ motivation.

Lesle wrote: "Has anyone started on this great Classic of Mark Twains?"

Up to chapter XXVI. Just a great read!

I'm glad you're enjoying it, Gilbert! Huck Finn has also made it onto banned and challenged lists many times since its publication for various reasons including use of southern dialect, use of racist terms, and talking of slavery. Here is an interview from PBS about the banning of Huck Finn.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...

I finally started this book today. I have reached chapter 8. It has been interesting so far. A lot of action, unlike Tom Sawyer that didn't pick up till later.

Huck Finn is one adventure after another with a lot of philosophical questions about morality but on Huck’s level. His questions are easy to understand on the surface. The huge hurdle with this book is placing yourself in the time period Huck and Jim live.

Just finished. Great writing, of course.
Not to give anything away, but Tom Sawyer's imagination for rescuing Jim is based on many of the romance novels he read. There is a similarity here to The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox in how the characters depend on novels to deal with their reality.

I almost feel like Tom’s entrance into this novel is Twain jumping the shark. Tom adds a lot of fun to the end, but it almost doesn’t seem necessary.

Samantha, I so agree with you. Tom wrecked the ending, for sure! It wasn't funny and downright mean at times.

Rosemarie said:

Samantha, I so agree with you. Tom wrecked the ending, for sure! It wasn't funny and downright mean at times.

I absolutely understand the point being made here by you and Samantha, but wonder whether what is being described is a bug or a feature. What I mean by that is that I believe Twain intends the reader to perceive Tom’s actions as thoughtlessly cruel. Even in Tom Sawyer , where he often comes off as a likable rapscallion, there’s often something amoral about the way the title character navigates through life. He doesn’t really share Huck’s empathy for others.

I think you have a great point, Canavan. Throwing Tom into Huck's story felt like jumping the shark to a degree, but also Tom always pulls Huck morally astray and the situation with Jim is no different. Maybe Tom was Twain's way of letting the reader discover whether or not Huck has changed or by how much based on Tom's influence on him after his long journey.

I have The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn sat on my bookshelf but I'm a bit apprehensive of reading it because I haven't read Tom Sawyer yet (don't own TS).

Should I read Tom Sawyer first or does it not matter?

Samantha said (in part):

Throwing Tom into Huck's story felt like jumping the shark to a degree, but also Tom always pulls Huck morally astray and the situation with Jim is no different. Maybe Tom was Twain's way of letting the reader discover whether or not Huck has changed or by how much based on Tom's influence on him after his long journey.

I think that observation is on target, Samantha. Huck is morally at his best when it’s just him and Jim on the river. It’s a bit of a tragic irony that Huck never really sees the essential truth of this. He continues to mistakenly see himself as “bad” whenever he acts in accordance with his inner moral instincts as opposed to immoral societal laws and norms.

Neil asked:

Should I read Tom Sawyer first or does it not matter?

This is just my opinion, but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to read Tom Sawyer before reading Huckleberry Finn . If you wanted to read the former, however, there is a free electronic version available on the Gutenberg web site; see here.

I have to agree with Canavan. Huck Finn can be read on its own without having read Tom Sawyer first. You get a good idea of the kind of person Tom is from his little stint at the end of Huck Finn. He's the kind of character that doesn't require much introduction, and Huck introduces himself well at the start of his book.

Thanks to Canavan and Samantha. I've had Huck Finn sat on my bookshelf for a couple of months whilst I sorted getting a copy of Tom Sawyer. Since you're both saying that reading TS first is not prerequisite then I'll jump straight into HF.

Thanks!

I started this at last! When I read it before I didn’t like it, but this time I decided to try the audiobook. Narrated by Elijah Wood, it is much more accessible than written dialect & I am enjoying it so far.

That sounds like a good version to listen too,Trisha. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.

I finished reading this today, mostly using the audiobook. The narration was wonderful & made it much more enjoyable than when I read the book previously.

I'm glad you enjoyed the audiobook, Trisha. I can imagine Elijah Wood doing a great narration of the book.

Trisha wrote: "I finished reading this today, mostly using the audiobook. The narration was wonderful & made it much more enjoyable than when I read the book previously."

I so happy you enjoyed it so much more this time around!

A little update. I’ve just had breakfast & missed Elijah Wood’s company! After resisting audiobooks for ages, I’m hooked & will have to get more.

Samantha wrote: "I'm glad you enjoyed the audiobook, Trisha. I can imagine Elijah Wood doing a great narration of the book."

Yes, he was wonderful & brought the book to life. As you know, I’ve struggled to understand dialect before but when it’s spoken it is amazing.