The Adventures of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn ★★☆☆☆
Mark Twain
Genre(s) | Classic, Children’s, American
Goodreads Rating | 4.07
Humpo Show Rating | 2.00
Published | 1876
Publisher | Wordsworth Classics
I don’t DNF many books – in fact, this is the second DNF book review I have EVER reviewed (American Sniper, the other), and I even managed to finish The Catcher in the Rye! The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn is a book that I took no pleasure in reading, and it was a big struggle. The writing style was heavy going and it prevented me from enjoying anything that many readers have liked for generations.
Having become accustomed to taking the language of a particular era with a pinch of salt – Ian Fleming’s James Bond books contain many 1950s misogynistic and racist language that white men would espouse – and this book, published in 1876 has plenty use of casual racism, which I managed to read past, thus showing that this particular point was not the reason for my aversion to the story.
Like Catcher in the Rye and A Rebel Without A Cause, I just couldn’t relate to the characters and their decision-making, which was topped off by the writing style causing me to be ambivalent to Tom and Huck’s story. Maybe I have found a genre which doesn’t appeal to me- American Children’s/YA Classics, with a particular focus on an unrelatable protagonist.
I presume this book may be studied in the U.S. quite a bit, so my American followers may have a difference of opinion regarding this book, and I welcome your thoughts on it…
The Humpo Show | Richard
rwh92.wordpress.com 
Aren’t they two different books? I love “The Adventures of Tom Sawyers”. A lovely, entertaining book, and a true classic. I know many passages by heart.
I have a classic edition that has both in one book. Is this a book you studied at school?
Not at all. It is a book which I used to read when I was a kid. It had a lasting impression on me. It is full of adventure and there is also sweet romance in there. To say it is racist, is like to say so many classic novels written in that period were racist. I mean, these books were written in particular times. It is too easy to judge them now. Though I loved Tom Sawyer, I was much less impressed with Huckleberry Finn one.
Ah ok, just trying to figure out what the British equivalent may be.
Yeah, although it’s not nice to read those sorts of things, they have to be taken with a pinch of salt- like the James Bond books that I am currently working my way through.