Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

18 reviews

elisebrancheau's review against another edition

adventurous funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Violence

Minor: Alcoholism

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

0.5

I somehow made it through the American public school system and college without having The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as my assigned reading. I’ve never had a desire to read it, but I saw that Percival Everett recently came out with James, a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved Jim. I thought I should read the source material it’s referencing before starting that book.

 

Now, I’m normally someone who vehemently defends classics against charges that they’re boring, but I have no defense for Huckleberry Finn. I found this to be an excruciating read. The plot is a bunch of episodic nonsense strung together with lies, incredibly unbelievable coincidences, and general shitty behavior. I didn’t like the characters or the satire. There were a lot of scenes I found to be straight-up unpleasant in their casual violence (also, lots of animal abuse!). Throughout most of the book, I liked Jim’s character and thought that he was actually supposed to be written to subvert racial stereotypes, but by the end, I realized that was just wishful thinking. The racism in this book is a product of its time, sure, but I think we’ve reached the point where we can let this book go as a beloved American classic. 

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Alcoholism, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Child abuse

kreglow's review

adventurous challenging funny hopeful lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Colonisation, Death, Medical content, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Death of parent, Deportation, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, Xenophobia, Drug use, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Child abuse, Classism, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, and Racism

sha's review

adventurous funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Colonisation, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Slavery, Racial slurs, and Racism

amytk's review

adventurous dark hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Gore, Death, Death of parent, Animal death, Alcoholism, Slavery, and Domestic abuse

singalana's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Aluksi irralliselta kokoelmalta sattumuksia vaikuttava romaani nivoutuu lopussa yhteen ehjäksi seikkailukertomukseksi, joka koskettaa monia yhteiskunnallisia teemoja, jotka ovat relevantteja yhä tänäkin päivänä.

Kirjan tapahtumat sijoittuvat noin parikymmentä vuotta ennen Yhdysvaltain sisällissotaa, jolloin orjuus oli voimissaan. Kirjan päähenkilö Huckleberry Finn on lähtöisin kurjista oloista, ja hänen isänsä on väkivaltainen alkoholisti. Kirjan alkupuolella neiti Watson yrittää sivistää Huckia, mutta poika ei sivistyksestä juuri piittaa. Hän karkaa lautalla alas Missisippijokea, seuranaan neiti Watsonin karannut orja Jim. Jim on taikauskoinen, mutta lojaali ystävä. Matkallaan Huck ja Jim kohtaavat huijareita ja epäoikeudenmukaisuutta, mutta myös ystävällisyyttä.

Huckleberry Finnin seikkailut on päältäpäin katsottuna seikkailu- ja veijariromaani, mutta sisimmässään kehitysromaani, joka kuvaa Huckin suhdetta “sivistyneeseen” yhteiskuntaan ja oikein tekemiseen. Yhteiskunnan lakien mukaan Huck tekee väärin auttaessaan Jimiä tämän pakomatkalla, mutta sisimmässään Huck tietää että Jim on hyvä ihminen, eikä halua saattaa tätä takaisin orjuuteen. 

Mark Twainin kirjoitustyyli, etenkin repliikit, ovat usein pitkiä ja polveilevia. Hänen henkilöhahmonsa ovat monitahoisia ja mielenkiintoisia, sekä usein hyvin inhimillisiä kaikkine vikoineen. Kirjan kielenkäyttö ja asetelma tuntuu nykylukijasta rasistiselta, mutta täytyy muistaa että kirja on aikansa tuote, ja teoksen pohjavireenä on kuitenkin kritiikki vallitsevaa yhteiskuntajärjestystä kohtaan. 

Huckleberry Finnin seikkailuja lukiessa voi aluksi erehtyä luulemaan tarinaa suoraviivaiseksi seikkailukertomukseksi, mutta mikäli keskittyy pintapuolisesti vain seikkailuaspektiin, jää paitsi Mark Twainin taitavasta yhteiskunnallisesta kritiikistä. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Violence, Animal cruelty, Blood, Death of parent, Racial slurs, Slavery, Gun violence, Alcohol, Child abuse, Antisemitism, Racism, Alcoholism, and Death

franki7's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I have a lot of complicated and contrary thoughts on this that cannot be described in a short review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Racial slurs, Cursing, Colonisation, Alcoholism, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, and Misogyny

jaimc's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Gun violence, Animal death, Confinement, Death of parent, and Blood

paigeinabook's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Gaslighting, Cursing, Child abuse, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexism, Slavery, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Trafficking, and Violence

obsie93's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Physical abuse