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shardaunei's review against another edition
4.0
I can't believe it! I actually "read" (I borrowed an audiobook from Libby) Tom Sawyer now after all these years. It was pretty funny.
I understand why people wanna ban this book nowadays, but it was written for its time. Words and thoughts have changed. With that being said, it wasn't outright offensive to be banned. If you don't like it, don't read it.
I understand why people wanna ban this book nowadays, but it was written for its time. Words and thoughts have changed. With that being said, it wasn't outright offensive to be banned. If you don't like it, don't read it.
cassiakarin's review against another edition
5.0
My second son was due to be born in one week... We were considering the name Sawyer but I hadn't yet read about the boy we were naming him after- Tom Sawyer- other than in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. So I plugged in the audio during a hospital visit... The introduction alone convinced me that I wanted to associate my son with this literature. Mark Twain writes, "Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt, and thought, and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in." And that is exactly what I want my boy to do: to remind the world of the joys and riches of childhood like Tom Sawyer does. To be free like to live in the highs and lows of life's circumstances with full emotion and ambition, to chase treasures but not need them, to passionately love a lady and defender her with rigor even when she's in the wrong, and to follow the traditions of the great stories come before us.
(P.s. We named our son Jack Sawyer)
This book is important - especially for adults - to truly remember what the power of imagination is and can do. I applaud (as so many do) the courage of Mark Twain to live so freely in spirit to be able to return to his boyishness and recreate such vivid characters. This story is full of silliness, suspense, and none-sense. If you're the sort of person who reads novels to follow plots and get to the end of the journey you will not be satisfied in this read. You have to be able to love camping in the woods for the sake of the leafs, new sounds, birds, and aimless adventures. You have to look for clues that don't belong, be suspicious of the ordinary, and be able to feel through words the heat and coolness of a summer afternoon swim in a mirky river.
(P.s. We named our son Jack Sawyer)
This book is important - especially for adults - to truly remember what the power of imagination is and can do. I applaud (as so many do) the courage of Mark Twain to live so freely in spirit to be able to return to his boyishness and recreate such vivid characters. This story is full of silliness, suspense, and none-sense. If you're the sort of person who reads novels to follow plots and get to the end of the journey you will not be satisfied in this read. You have to be able to love camping in the woods for the sake of the leafs, new sounds, birds, and aimless adventures. You have to look for clues that don't belong, be suspicious of the ordinary, and be able to feel through words the heat and coolness of a summer afternoon swim in a mirky river.
gbelter's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
willow_the_wisp's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Bullying, Child abuse, and Racial slurs
angus_mckeogh's review
4.0
It’s been decades since I read this novel (and I always HAD to read it before) so I thought I’d approach it on my own terms this time and read it for pleasure. What I noticed this time; it opens with an explanation that this is a book written for children (and whether it’s dependent on the time it was written or that that statement is a diversion) the narrative actually covers some very adult themes. Very well-written and just a good story as well. Better than I even remember it. Probably because I wasn’t made to read it.
rattledragons's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ladyethyme's review
Frankly the main character of Tom Sawyer is portrayed as having all the characteristics of the serial killer. He's deliberately tricks people into doing chores for him, he emotionally manipulates girls and physically abuses them, sexually harassing them. And this is supposed to be like an eight year old? They also physically torture animals, and for some reason it's supposed to be funny. And that's not even getting into all of the racism, and I mean like, serious racism. "All n@ggers are liars"; and that kind of thing. I don't know why this is considered a classic. Frankly I find Tom to be a complete asshole, and I'd love to see him end up in prison where he belongs. But I guess this is the kind of masculinity that was encouraged or even laughed about in the 1870s.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Child abuse, Misogyny, Animal death, Classism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, and Racial slurs
_ilacima06's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
myotinae's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0