Hi all, I hope you are well. It’s a bit crazy how much things can change in a week right? If you saw last week’s picture of the yard and this week’s, you might notice that the white stuff is back. I think we have about three to five inches of snow now with more to come through Sunday. It’s okay, we can always use the snowpack in the mountains. I’m not sure if this is winter’s last stand or not. Often we get one more storm in April, but it’s usually just light spring flakes.
No big news in the reading department. I returned most of my “library loot” back to the library sadly … since our trip is coming up. I still have Ron Rash’s novel The Caretaker and Rita Bullwinkel’s novel Headshot as well as an Irish novel I’m reading for PW. So those will keep me busy till we leave along with the audio of Donna Tartt reading Charles’s Portis’s 1968 novel True Grit in her Mississippi accent. Tartt did this narration back in 2006, but heck it’s one of the few things we have of the elusive slow-working author, so I’ll give it a whirl. You might recall it was 2013 when her last novel The Goldfinch was published and usually it takes her about ten years between books. So where is the next? LoL. No word so far.
And now for my survey question of the week, I’ll pose the blogging question: do you have a set day of the week that you post on, or does it vary? Do you plan ahead with blog posts on timing and content, or is it more spontaneous and sporadic? I will say I try to post once a week, but it can vary on what day. I’d like it to be — perhaps every Friday but then things come up and the plan goes sideways. I often have things in mind for content a bit ahead of time but nothing is really engraved in stone. What about for you?
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain / 1884
I revisited this classic on audio in all its vernacular language since I wanted to get a handle on it before reading Percival Everett’s new novel James, which reimagines the novel from enslaved Jim’s perspective.
You might recall the story about Huck Finn is a first-person narrative told by him around age 13 during the 1830s and ’40s in a small town in Missouri along the Mississippi River. It’s a sequel to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in which Tom and Huck end up getting a good sum of money and that follows Huck into this story. Huck’s alcoholic, abusive father “Pap” tries to get the money and locks him in a cabin. In time, Huck fakes his own death and escapes running away to Jackson Island, where he reunites with his guardian’s slave, Jim, who has run away after hearing he was about to be sold.
Huck and Jim find a raft and decide to go downriver on a journey that turns out to include various close calls with thieves, slave catchers, natural dangers, and con men. They often find themselves in dicey situations, which has Huck coming up with schemes, plots, and getaways. Even friend Tom Sawyer gets involved towards the end when Jim is captured and they try to get him back.
Often referred to as the “greatest American novel,” The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been one of most banned books of all time. I’m against banning any books or changing any words of classics, but I admit I struggled with its vernacular and things. I didn’t struggle with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but this novel with its elements about race and racism is more complex.
In the novel, Twain is satirizing some of the society of the day — and people’s racist beliefs. During the journey, Huck learns much and becomes closer to Jim as it goes along. He sees his humanity and saves Jim at various times. But the language — 219 uses of the N-word — and the stereotypes are tough to navigate. The story also prattles on in places, particularly the section involving the con men — the King and the Duke. Their long section drove me pretty crazy, and in various parts the story has a lot of shenanigans afoot, which tried my patience.
My favorite part is just they’re floating downriver on the raft … while escaping bad guys and injustices. This I could completely understand. So all in all, it was mixed for me. I still admire the talents and gumption of Twain for his day … and think Percival Everett’s tale might be a worthwhile look too.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read Twain’s books and what did you think?
I’m fed up with winter, even though we had very little snow this year. The temperatures were brutal though. Is that Willow sleeping there? How cute! 🙂 When I was blogging I did one post a week for movies, and one (if I had happened to finish a book in that timeframe) for a book as well. The days varied as it depended on my viewing and reading patterns, but I tended to blog more often about movies around awards season due to the sheer amount of films that are released during the holidays and the first couple of months of the year. Tom and Huck were great friends of mine in childhood. I’m revisiting this one too because all I remember is that they took a trip down the Mississippi on a raft, and I thought I would need more to fully appreciate James, which I’ll be reading next. I’m glad you enjoyed it even if not as much as you did Tom Sawyer.
Hi Carmen, yeah I struggled quite a bit with Huck Finn but maybe you’ll do better. Hopefully it’ll give me better context for James — though I need a break from Huck before I start that one. It might not be for quite a while after our trip.
Interesting about your posting. I think one post a week is good and all I can do. Do you ever think of re-starting blogging or do you like doing it on GR now?
The photo is of Willow — you are right. These dogs are glued to us whichever room we’re in, lol. I’m ready for spring too. When we leave for Calif., it’ll be nice to see things turning green along the way. Hope you have a good weekend.
Ps. I saw that Tea Obrecht has a couple book talks on Kirkus and Politics & Prose (youtube) recently … I watched one and found her likable and a pretty good speaker. Though I’m still on the fence a bit about her new book.
I would have gone back to blogging while my decision was still young, but not now. GR is fine, I guess. Obreht sure can write. I’ll be posting a review of her latest within two days at most, and you can judge if it’s for you or not. I really liked Inland—it was very funny—, but I haven’t read The Tiger Wife, so I have that one to look forward to. Have a good weekend and reading week ahead! 🙂
Hi Carmen, I look forward to your review and then I can think whether to read it. I have read The Tiger’s Wife (reviewed 2011) and Inland (reviewed 2019) too. Her books seem to have parts that are slow and get bogged down and other parts that seem brilliant. So they can be uneven experiences but I usually will read her anyways for the brilliant parts. Lol. It’s really helpful having your reviews on GR. & being in touch there too.
I’m not much of a Twain fan. I read Tom Sawyer and The Prince and the Pauper on my own (I guess I also read A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court; I’ve been thinking about it because of the forthcoming eclipse) but I read Huck Finn in high school and really did not care for it. However, when I read The Lincoln Highway, it seemed very reminiscent of Twain, just as Towles’ first book seemed influenced by Gatsby and the second one by Tolstoy.
Hope your trip goes well
Hi Constance, thanks, the trip is in just over a week – hard to believe.
Good observations about the Towles novels and classic authors. I will keep that in mind when I read the Lincoln Highway and the Moscow novel. They say many books are derived from Twain. He was the first in various ways. I struggled with Huck Finn – the language and endless shenanigans. Tom Sawyer’s story was a bit more innocent but this one seemed more nefarious and troubled. Twain seems have to been responding to a lot in 1884 and the years preceding it.
Enjoy your weekend.
Your poll question is interesting. When I was blogging regularly I made sure to post the book reviews on Friday as I often linked up with British Isles Friday (hosted by Joy’s Book Blog). When I was food blogging and participated in “events” I would be sure to post on Tuesdays.
Then I quit blogging. Now I miss some things about it so have started up again, haha… So far I d not have a schedule.
Have not read Huck Finn since school days and like you, I am not a fan of banning books. I live in Florida so it’s an issue here, ridiculous. My feeling is books which are deemed offensive, regarding the language, were not given a thought during it’s era. I think that needs to be taken into consideration. There certainly are books from “back in the day” I have no wish to revisit now.
Hi Tina, that’s wonderful if you’ve started your blog again, yay! I think blogging to memes or themes are often a good way to go … and it keeps it light and fun. I look forward to stopping by.
You make good observations about book banning, which I detest too. Reminds me of the Nazis. I guess when banned book month comes along I can say: ‘Yes, I read Huck Finn and I support reading whatever people want.’ I’m glad I read it but I struggled with the revisit. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by.
A loud “No!” to book banning of any kind. Let people – and that includes children – read whatever sparks their interest.
I went through a Mark Twain period many years ago during which I read all of his major works. His writing calls attention in both subtle and broad ways to the issues of his day and they give the reader a lot to think about, including the fact that some of those issues of his day remain issues in our day.
Hi Dorothy, thanks – good points on both and well said. Twain did give me a lot to think about and a view into the world he was writing. And since some remain issues today — then it’s all the more reason to read his books and Not ban them. I can not imagine banning Twain, or any author for that matter.
I am delighted that spring has come to our area and I will do a blog post soon with some wildflower pictures. They have bloomed early-ish and they are really beautiful. That being said, the cedar pollen is still around and it should be gone by now. I’m allergic to it and am so, so ready for it to go away. I used to post more posts on certain days that were theme oriented or whatever, but I definitely took a step away from that. These days I have started doing a ‘Waiting on Wednesday’ post for books I’m looking forward to. Otherwise, I’m just kind of trying to post every couple of weeks or so. My blogging has always been a more ‘sometimes I share a lot and sometimes I don’t’. Cute puppy picture!
Hi Kay, thanks that’s our young dog Willow; she’s a funny girl.
It sounds like you are in the throes of full-on spring there. I look forward to seeing your wildflower pictures, and I enjoy your Weds posts. It’s always fun to see which books are coming that look good. I’m envious of your spring which is not here yet. We will have to see on our upcoming road trip. I have trouble with pollen too when it’s here — so I hope you get some relief soon. Happy weekend to you!
I am not sure, I’ve read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Agree, that you shouldn’t ban books; how can we learn from the past, if we ban the aspects we don’t like.
Changing the wording is more of a grey area and I am not against having two versions of a book as long as it is flagged that one version has been modified and the original version is still available. I am perfectly ok with Agatha Christie’s master piece being retitled to And Then There Were None and the N-word completely removed. It is a difficult discussion, though.
Blog planning? Haha, no I’ve accepted my posts will follow a random schedule. I do tend to stick to Sundays as my posting day.
Hi Stargazer, you’re a busy, full-on working person so I can understand that your blog posting is here and there. I enjoy your thoughtful posts though.
I can see that changing some wording in books is more of a grey area. Apparently there are edited copies of Huck Finn where instead of 219 instances of the N-word they’ve replace it with the word “slave.” Do I have a problem with that? Not really. I’m aware of Twain’s intent. But do I think they should cleanse old novels of whatever is wrong with it? No. So it is a discussion for each book I gather.
Thanks for your points. Enjoy your weekend.
I haven’t read Huck Finn since high school. I liked Huck, but don’t remember much more about it. As for blogging, I try to post every 3-4 days, and I do plan my posts ahead. It’s too stressful for me otherwise. I wish I was more spontaneous and free-wheeling, but I’m not. Maybe someday I’ll learn how to let go and just go with the flow. ;D Have fun on your trip!
Thanks Lark. You are good about posting often and you make them fun and interesting. I’m impressed you plan ahead and are a fast reader too. You keep things going!
Sometimes I think the main gist of Huck and Jim on the raft floating away & adventuring are the important things to remember about the story. Some other parts I thought take away from that. hmm. Have a great weekend.
I read the Mark Twain books as a child and as an adult. I agree with people who feel that the books are inappropriate for the age groups where they used to be read, because the way Twain builds his profound critique of racial prejudice is way too subtle, and too many kids will think it’s supporting their racism and their desire to use “bad words.” But if read as a way to portray Huck Finn as struggling to grasp what is wrong in his society — what is contradictory to what he can see in Jim’s humanity that society is missing —and never quite being sure of his totally good instincts, I think it’s a great book for mature readers (maybe including SOME teenagers, but no one should assume).
Best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Hi Mae, really good points. It is subtle how Twain builds his critique and it can seem racist until you see the whole context of what he’s doing with Huck etc. I’m glad you commented about this. It gives me more perspective. It is meant for a mature audience I think … and there’s much to think about with this book. thanks for your input.
Your snow looks pretty! We’re back to rainy weather and I’m really tired of it. The first three days of our upcoming rv roadtrip has rain in the forecast. Bummer! 🙁 Hopefully, it will begin to dry out as we head further south. No guarantees, though.
I tend to post whenever I finish a book and get a review written up (usually a day or two after I finish the book). My only standing posts are on Friday when I post a “Looking Back” post (how many times can I use the word post in one sentence?) to share a short write-up about a book I read many years ago. It’s a good way for me to get those old “reviews” on my blog so I can reference them more easily. It also inspires me to re-read more of my favorites. Oh, I also post a monthly summary at the end of each month, which is fun. In a sense, those posts are like an online journal entry.
I don’t think I’ve ever read Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer. I know the stories, but doubt that I’ve read the books.
Hi Lesley, yeah I’m really ready for spring too. This snowstorm has been like 5 days! I hope you have a good RV trip regardless, though without rain would be better. We’ll be starting ours out on April 1, the Monday. Who knows if we can get over the mountain passes okay. Hmm.
I like how you have a good record of all you’ve read and add to that with the Friday posts. I wish I had written down my pre-blog reviews but I didn’t, and there were years in ’80s and ’90s I didn’t read much due to work life. So this blog spans from like 2009 to the present. Which reminds me … after your recent review of it … I got an audio download of Edgar Sawtelle and we might listen to it on the trip! It’s long but I hope good. We’ll listen to some nonfiction too.
Enjoy your trip and I look forward to your posts of it.
Hi Susan,
I tried to read Huckleberry Finn many years ago but I couldn’t finish it. I don’t remember much about the novel but I do remember painfully the section with the King and the Duke. I hope you have better luck with James by Percival Everett.
I started a few months ago reading True Grit narrated by Donna Tartt on Audible and I listed for about 5 minutes and always meant to go back to this novel because from the little I did hear Donna Tartt does a very good job of narration. I must read her.
I don’t have a schedule for posting but I think I need one. Maybe once a week or two weeks and on the same day.
Hi Kathy, pleased to hear your experiences with these books. Huck Finn was a struggle (argh the King and the Duke!) but I’m thinking the James novel will propel me more. But first I need a break from Huck, so I might not start James for a month or two. The story already wore me out, lol. Maybe too b/c I finished Tom Sawyer not long before.
Interesting that you started the audio of True Grit. I hope I can handle her strong accent but I think so. I’ll see if I can get into this week.
And I’m trying to have a set day for posts … we’ll see how that goes. It’s usually easier just to write a post when you finish a book … but I’d rather try for the once a week or every two weeks set post. Good luck with your schedule. Cheers.
Huck Finn definitely has a hold on my heart given that I first read it in a small river town and also felt the call of the Mississippi journeying past to distant places. I’m really looking forward to James as a corrective that might help this story live on with updated thinking.
Hi Joy, I can see how important these novels of Tom & Huck would be living so close … in a small river town with the Mississippi right there. Wow it’d be part of the DNA! I’m envious. I think Twain shows how Huck comes to see Jim’s humanity and fights against society of the day … and James will likely show the evils of what Jim faces. So it’s going to be quite a companion work perhaps. We’ll see. I don’t think I’ll get to it for a couple months but I look forward to what you think of it. Have a nice week ahead.
The snow is so beautiful, but I am sure you are ready for some warmer weather. We are always happy when we get a few northers here along the Texas Gulf Coast, so please forward any cold weather to us that you are tired of.
Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts about Huckleberry Finn. I remember reading Tom Sawyer in seventh grade, but I’m not sure about Huck. It is hard for me to read stories where awful beliefs and customs that have now been overthrown are assumed to be true.
Hi Deb, I will forward some snowflakes on to you near the Gulf Coast, lol. These spring storms can have a lot … One more week of it and then we start on our road trip to the south, which I hope will give us some spring warmth.
Yeah I found Huck’s to be a tougher book than Tom’s … though Twain is exposing the ills of society … you have to see how Huck grapples with how society is treating Jim … as they become closer. Twain is subtle (as Mae points out above) and it might be easy to take the story the wrong way. It is hard with the language of the N-word and difficult to get through.
I tend to post when I finish a book so definitely no set day of the week. And the only “meme” I do is the Sunday Salon so that, obviously, happens on a Sunday.
Have a good week!
Thanks Helen. You have a good way of posting which seems to work. Enjoy your week.
I listened to Huck Finn several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I discovered during that time someone tried to bowdlerize it by changing the word “slave” to “servant.” They were trying to make it more palpable and ended up making things worse. I just read the book The Egg and I which was a memoir written in 1940s. The author was very racist against Indigenous people. When I told my book group I thought the book should go out of print because of it, they called me a book banner. Sigh.
Hi Anne, I just looked up The Egg & I since I didn’t know of it. It seems a lot of books & shows from that era are racist and full of stereotypes. It does make them hard to swallow now. In Huck Finn, changing the word slave to servant seems ridiculous, though most of the time Twain used the N-word in the book (219 times) which is harsh & jarring to hear. So I’m sure they took that out too. I’m not really sure if Twain’s language should be changed. It was part of his point. But it’s a good discussion to have for younger readers & perhaps other readers too … whether to take out the N-word, or wait to read it later in life. thanks for your comments.
You’ve got such a cute little pup! I love the pictures! I’ve been meaning to read The Goldfinch but haven’t gotten to it yet, I really should do something about that. Time management is a whole other level when you’ve got a giant TBR! I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip!
Thanks Haze. We have two Labradors (one young, one old) and they are fun but spoiled. 🙂 Usually I can get them to nap in the afternoons. They are coming on our road trip, ha.
If you’re ever looking for a chunkster book to read, try out The Goldfinch. I liked it quite a bit! It’s long but so good. I’m waiting for Tartt’s next book. lol.
Have a great week.
I’m really curious about “James,” and will have to take a look at least a look at it. I may have mentioned a book called “Finn” by Jon Clinch to you before, but I can’t remember. I read it back in 2007 and found it pretty remarkable from what I remember. It focuses on Huck’s father and is much more realistic and brutal than Twain’s version. I remember being really impressed…but that was a long time ago, and I’m fuzzy on the details.
Can’t believe you have all that snow again. What a rollercoaster weather ride that must have been.
As to your poll question: I try to post 7 of every 14 days, but don’t always make it. Right now I’m behind on reviews and can’t seem to make myself sit down long enough to do much about it. I’m still turning pages, though, and that means I’m getting farther behind in the reviews every day. I think it’s important to be flexible about posting schedules and not worry to much about it all, however, because too rigid a schedule really starts to feel like a job…and this one doesn’t pay very well. lol
Ha Sam, Yeah blog posting doesn’t pay well so it’s best not to make it feel like a job. Staying flexible is a good way to think about it. You post a lot! But you finish more books than most so that figures. I’m just staying afloat posting once a week and I guess it works for what time I have.
The novel James could be a rough humdinger. You’ve mentioned Clinch’s book and Huck’s Pap seems a very rough character. Clinch seems a good author and I’d especially like to read his recent novel I think called The General and Julia about Ulysses Grant and his wife. I’m on the library list for it. Have you seen that one? I need to take a break from Huck for awhile but plan to read James maybe before summer. Happy reading & posting!
Just when you think spring is here, you get a surprise snowstorm!
I never read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and I don’t plan to. I think it would try my patience! I’m interested in hearing what you think of Percival Everett’s James. Another blogger read it and enjoyed it recently.
I do loosely plan posts. I plan on Sunday Post every week and then I have reviews I pencil in if all goes well. Sometimes I’ll do up a Top Ten Tuesday for a change if I like the topic for the week.
I hope you have fun on your trip, Susan! You’ll have to share some photos!
Thanks Rachel, I hope to take post some photos when we get to SoCal. Should be a long drive but we are excited to get there. If we can just get out of the snow here, lol. The closer April comes, the more the snowflakes want to fly.
It’s good how you post regularly. I enjoy hearing about your reads & area.
I think Huck Finn tried my patience (though I’m glad I made it thru), so I hope Everett’s novel James will be better! I’ve heard it’s a bit brutal but worth it.
Enjoy your week. & happy reading.
I loved Tartt’s audio of True Grit–what a treat to listening to her reading a book that is so meaningful to her. I think it really enhanced the story for me.
Survey question: schedule???? I really only post when I realize it has been way too long since my last post or I have something I absolutely, positively have to share. Mostly it is completely haphazard, seat of the pants, and somewhat stream of consciousness. If my readers are lucky, I take the time to proof it and correct my many typos, but not always!
I loved Tom Sawyer when I read it as a kid. I didn’t like Huck Finn when I tried it–most was over my head without the charm of TS, and the King and Duke parts were mind-numbing and I skimmed them. I listened to it roughly 15 years ago and did like it and appreciate it for the role it has had in American lit. But, I’m not sure it has the legs to really survive the time of time much longer.
I recently finished Lincoln Highway and near the end was struck by the notion that it was sort of a modern-day (circa 1950s) version of HF. I need to think about that some more and may blog about it if I can really wrap my head around it, but I don’t feel the need to revisit HF again myself.
Best wishes for a great trip and hope you find some time to read some good stuff!
Thanks Jane, great comments. I’m enjoying the True Grit audio so far, love Tartt’s reading of it. Glad you liked it.
You read a lot of quality books so have much to post. Your posts are always fun to read — informative too. You seem to flourish with seat-of-your pants posts!
And I think we have had the same response to Twain’s books (and the King & Duke parts!): I liked Tom Sawyer but had trouble liking HF.
I wonder if Towles was trying for a modern-day HF story? I look forward to your review of The Lincoln Highway, which is one I haven’t read yet.
Have a great week — I’ll see if I can post anything from the road. lol.
We don’t have snow here, of course, but it is colder than usual, both during the day and at night. I am getting more and more sunlight in the back area of our tiny yard and I am happy about that, even if I haven’t gotten started on weeding yet.
I love it when you include dog pictures.
About blogging, in my ideal world, I would write a review for every book I read (which I did do for about five years when I first started blogging), I would have a monthly post to list my reading for the month, and I would have two or three posts a month on short stories, and some miscellaneous posts like Six Degrees of Separation or Top Ten Tuesdays. That is beyond me now, and I am retired. So I just try to do what I can, and not stress about it. The not stressing about it is not working so well but that is still my goal. If I do a short story post it is always on Wednesday. Otherwise, whenever I can get a post together is when it goes out. Very much still a work in progress.
Re Twain’s books, I think I must have read both The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, but I have no memory of it. Now, at this point, I would not read Huckleberry Finn, but I might read Tom Sawyer. Personally I would not change the words in a book; either read it as is or just don’t read it. But everyone has a right to their own opinion.
Hi Tracy, good points. I sort of agree: best not to change anyone’s words in a book. As you say: you have the option to read it or not, but it’s as the author intended it to be at the time. The Tom Sawyer book in 1876 and Huck Finn in 1884 seem a bit a world apart. One seems much more complex than the other. I think I’m done with them now but good to revisit one last time.
Interesting about your blog posts. I don’t know how you used to fit in all those posts. It seems more manageable now. Do not stress. But I know what you mean – it can feel like that.
I hope you can get into your garden soon. I feel like warmer temps will soon be here. Enjoy!
Hmm, not sure why this post just appeared in my feed even though it’s nearly a week old!? First the survey question. I used to try to post weekly, usually on Sunday, but have kind of run out of steam. Lately it seems to be more like every other week… which means I should start thinking about posting this weekend!
James sounds like a great read, but I’d like to reread Huck Finn first. Don’t think I liked it much when I was in school, but I like your idea of listening.
Hope your snow has melted by now and spring has arrived in your corner of the world. Happy Easter!
Hi JoAnn, two others also said I slipped off their feed for a while but I don’t know why either. Hmm. It seems you’ve been pretty busy to post once a week but it’s always good to see your posts whenever they come. I hope you continue.
I think I received good context by listening to Huck Finn first before James but the story wasn’t my favorite. I liked parts here & there and the idea of the story — but other parts were too much. And a bit harsh to hear. See what you think.
I’ve been watching some of the Miami tennis Open. Steamy there. We’re having one last snow flurry before temps rise this week. Enjoy your reading.