One word to describe The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is awful. Honestly I do not like this novel at all. It is very difficult to read and understand, and I do not like the fact that it does not have a defined plot and purpose.
I think the language barrier is one of the hardest things to overcome in this novel. The vernacular that Mark Twain uses is very, very difficult to comprehend. Even reading aloud does not help me! I grew up in a southern family, so I thought I would be able to understand the language, but I was wrong! I struggle reading the words, which automatically turns the book off for me. I like reading for enjoyment, not for a headache. I think that if the book was written in modern English, I would have an easier time. I think that I would like the book better if it was written in proper English, or if I would have read it 100 years ago. All in all, I feel that since I have difficulty understanding the words, I also have a hard time understanding the purpose of reading the book.
Another problem I have with the book is the fact that I cannot tell what is going on! After struggling through the words, I can’t figure it out since I spent so much time on just sounding out the words! I will sit down and physically read the book, and I will finish and not have actually read the book. This really bothers me because I spend so much time on it, and I feel that I do not gain an ounce from it! I just get really frustrated, which obviously makes me hate the book and want to throw it out the window!
I also feel that another issue is the fact that I cannot relate to any of the events in the story. I have never been really interested in the wilderness and that particular time period in history. I have always tended to be more intrigued by cities and modern times. When reading, I have a hard time getting excited about Huck’s adventures, that is if I can even figure out what is adventures are!
Lastly, I hate the fact that the novel does not have a defined plot nor purpose. In most books, there is always a theme, purpose, and chronology that consume the entire book and wrap together to make a unified piece of literature. In this novel, every chapter is different, and in some cases, they could stand alone as individual stories. I feel that it lacks a sense of unity, which is crucial for a novel to have! At times, I feel that Mark Twain merely wrote down the first things that popped into his head! I think that if he would have eliminated some of Huck’s adventures, and elaborated a bit more on some of them, then it would be a much stronger novel.
All in all, I do not like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for a variety of reasons. I can honestly say that I dread having to read it, and I cannot wait until we are finished!
