The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark TwainMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I read this a long time ago. I believe I was a teenager. Maybe even younger. For some reason I keep envisioning Mrs. Ridgeway, the old lady who lived next door to us when I was a boy. I think, perhaps, I read it when I was younger.
I do recall a graphic novel in fifth grade that we read of this. I believe my mother was mortified that there was such a thing. Even I recall pausing that we had a “comic” to read; I knew we were better than that.
Anyhow, I love this book. Twain was a master and this was him at his best. I recall enjoying Huck’s adventures along the Mississippi. A free spirit. Something I have never been.
****
In a couple of days I will be sailing on a paddle boat down the Mississippi River much as ol’ Huck did. Time for a re-read. And yeah, much I did not remember. I have a distinct image in my head from when I read this when I was younger. I suspect I had a different image in my head than this read provided.
Huckleberry Finn is a tortured soul who attempts to do right. Tom Sawyer is a boy who messes things up. I think before this read I had the images backwards.
Huck is cared for by the widow. She attempts to make Huck live a straight life. Sensing his father is near, Huck signs his $6,000 over to Judge Thatcher.
Indeed, Huck’s dad does show up drunk, obnoxious, and determined to get his hands on his boy’s money. He takes Huck away from the widow and basically locks him in a cabin in the woods. Huck, being resourceful breaks out and sets it up as though Hick was either murdered or kidnapped. The hunt is on.
On the same night, Jim, the widow’s save runs away. He and Huck hook up on the Mississippi and the adventures begin. One can tell Huck and Jim care for each other. Yes, the language is crass. But the emotions are real.
I didn’t quite get how Huck left Jim to live with Buck and his family for so long. It seems to me he just kind of left Jim. Likewise, I didn’t understand why they took on the Duke and the King as they did. I think they should have broken free of them much earlier. Also, why did they continue south into slave territory? I thought the plan was to turn at Cairo, MO. That was not explained for me to understand.
And then Tom shows up, 1.100 miles from home. Most improbably, methinks, for that age. Tom really bolloxes things up with his overly complicate plans. Huck had the clean, easy plan to break Jim free.
Yes, it all works out in the end (save for the widow). The ending was a bit lazy, I thought.
Fun read and gets me motivated for my cruise.
View all my reviews
