Reviews

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an easy book to read, as it's a children's book, and yet, it deals with more mature themes, like a murder, a runaway criminal, and many others. The main character, Tom, is a little devil, and yet it seems like he is adorable to boot, which makes the adventures ever more enjoyable. And there is this warm feeling when it comes to his encounters with his family and friends.

In addition, the story flows by smoothly, with colourful writing and a lighthearted mood.

shardaunei's review against another edition

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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.

cassiakarin's review against another edition

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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.

gbelter's review against another edition

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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 against another edition

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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

sumayyaha's review against another edition

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5.0

Rating - 4.5 Stars

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