The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the first book I have read (began reading) of Mark Twain. I haven’t been exposed to Twain’s writing until now; there are just a few things I have to say about it….
First of all, I really enjoy the story of Huck Finn so far. It took me up until five or six pages to really get past the difference in language. As a grammar freak, the use of words such as “warn’t” and just about anything else being said in the book drives me nuts! At first, I didn’t think I was going to get past the improper use of grammar and language. Lo and behold, I got used to the way in which Twain writes and I even kind of like it. It’s hard for me to admit that I like hearing “bad grammar”, but I think for the purpose of this book, it works.
There are parts in the book where I find myself mouthing the words or even reading aloud in order to understand what is being said. The conversations between Jim and Huck can get confusing and I have found that it helps to at the very least mouth each word. It may look strange, but it helps! I like how Twain has used different dialects and ways of speaking even amongst each character. There is a noticeable difference in the way that Huck talks compared to how Jim talks. I find that these differences help develop the character in my mind and make the reading more stimulating.
There are a few ideas in the story that have stuck with me. I have noticed the use of superstition and how often it can be found in the book so far. It appears that each character, no matter what status, has a great deal of belief when it comes to superstitions or wise tales. Christianity is also brought into this aspect of the story. When Huck is talking about prayer, some take this as poking fun of Christianity. For me, I think Twain is using Huck to explore the reality of what children think when it comes to God and prayer. I remember thinking that I would get everything I prayed for until I matured enough to understand the real intent prayer should have. I think Twain does a nice job of capturing the naivety of children or those who don’t know Christianity. He explores many different ideas, and I look forward to expanding on them as the novel goes on.
Huck is a very complex character; I find him rather intriguing. One thing I have noticed about him is his ability to adapt to different situations. He talked about hating the lifestyle of the Widow, but he eventually grew to like it. When he was with his dad, Huck eventually went back to liking that lifestyle. It appears as if he is happy as long as he has someone. Huck talks about being able to be on his own and not minding the fact that he has had to fend for himself, but in the end, Huck likes the company and likes having someone to look after him. I enjoy the developing relationship between Huck and Jim and look forward to what is coming next….
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ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you about the dialect, and I often find myself having to slow down in order to understand all of what each character is saying, especially Jim. Sometimes, I will read a sentence over and over and still not understand the words that he said.
ReplyDeleteI also found myself marveling about Huck's ability to adjust to different situations. I noticed that he adjusted especially quickly to the Grangerford's house, and as soon as he gets back onto the raft with Jim, he sheds the nice clothes, saying they are too clean to be comfortable.