Author: Mark Twain. Mark Twain was at the same time two things:
One, he was an important and powerful figure in the world of American Literature who redefined the way popular novels could be written and gave a new voice and image to a blooming writing field. He is extensively quoted to this day, and William “Mother” Faulkner called him the ‘father of American Literature,’ and Ernest Hemmingway, despite preferring the downer ending, basically loved Huckleberry Finn to itty bitty pieces.
Two, he was batshit insane. Oh, sure, he was anti-slavery and he supported women’s rights and wrote some of the most beloved works of his time. That doesn’t change the fact that Twain was essentially your cranky grandfather who spends most of your time visiting asking you to pull his finger and yelling at you to get out of the way of the TV. Even the Biographical Note in my copy of this novel calls him ‘quick tempered, garrulous, profane, sentimental, superstitious, wildly funny, deeply pessimistic.’ Also, he looked like this:
Twain, seconds before yelling at the kids outside to 'stay off his goll danged yard.'
To see the closest thing of Samuel Clemens in action you can, watch the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called ‘Time’s Arrow,’ in which Crotchety Granpa Twain waxes pessimistic on the human race, breaks into Data’s room, and gives Jack London an epic brush off. Here, in this clip, watch him bitch about every little goddamn thing while wandering around on a spaceship in the future.
Yes, I know Star Trek isn’t a documentary. But, dammit, I don’t want to live in a world where this didn’t happen.
Category: American Literature, Post 1865, Adventure, Humor, Southern, Novel 100
Why I Read It: Because if Faulkner and Hemmingway can gush over it – Faulkner, who loved nothing unless it was served with a drink, and Hemmingway, who loved nothing unless he could shoot it and mount it – than that’s argument enough for me.
Reading Time Period: July 5, 2010-July 7, 2010
Book Cover:
In this special edition, Huck Finn is actually a fifty year old lesbian.
Book Printing: Printed in 1964 by Scholastic Magazines, Inc. Originally the book cost 45 cents. There’s a biographical note in the front and then nothing but the book proper. There aren’t even any blank pages between the end and the back cover. It is also in fantastic condition. The pages are a little yellowed but the spine is intact and there aren’t any smudges or stains on any of the sheets. It’s a simple but excellent copy.
Where I bought it: The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Cheyenne, WY, for a dollar.
Thoughts: I didn’t keep a notebook, like I plan to with future books, so I don’t have too much to say except I did enjoy it, even if trying to read and understand everything written in vernacular was a pain in my ass and the only way to describe the amount of times the ‘n’ word shows up is ‘copiously.’ But obviously neither of these aren’t a fault of Twain. Unfortunately, that’s just the word that was used back then. And the book is highly praised by every other person on the planet for having been written like it is, sounding like spoken word, so clearly I’m in the minority on that one.
Oh, and I would most certainly kick the shit out of Tom Sawyer if I had to deal with him for more than five seconds. Dude, look, you need to get Jim out of the motherfucking shed, like, yesterday or they’re going to sell his ass and you’ll never see him again and he won’t be free. You don’t have time for all your ‘they did it like this in the books’ bullshit. Just get him out of the damned shed already.
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