About this title: Though TOM SAWYER, Twain's "other" coming-of-age tale, has much in common with HUCKLEBERRY FINN, including some of the characters, its hero is not the maverick iconoclast that Huck Finn is. As Twain traces the comic adventures of the inventive young Tom, he effectively and lovingly recreates the pastoral world of his own Hannibal, Missouri, childhood, including a portrait of his brother Henry (who died young in a shipboard explosion) as Tom's younger brother, Sid. Because Tom Sawyer's comic battles with prim conformity are always innocent and uncontroversial, the novel is not a ground ...
read more
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: State Street Press
Date Published: 2000
Description: Fine in fine dust jacket. Like New, Unread, not previously owned. May show signs of wear including remainder marks or stickers on book or cover., In like new dust jacket. read more
I thought this a classic adventure story. There were moments I found more endearing than others: like when Tom takes the beating for Becky...though I was, of course, bothered by the whole teacher-whacking-a-student thing. But that was then, no escaping it. I also loved the description of the boys' 'treasures'. I'm glad the dead-cat-as-currency thing went out a while ago.
All that being said, I thought this was an easier read than Huck Finn, but I realized that this story is told differently. Tom Sawyer is third person, allowing Twain to sound off. Huck Finn is written in first person, in Huck's POV, with less wiggle room from Twain's 'philisophical' insights. Some readers have complained about Twain's bringing Tom Sawyer into the end of Huck Finn--arguing that it breaks Huck away from center stage--and makes Huck crueler to Jim at the end for the sake of Tom's prank. And it does. But after reading this, I have to say that Twain, as a writer, probably couldn't let Tom go. Just one more adventure."
"I chose to read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain because I have never read the book and being an English major who really enjoys Mark Twain, that just seemed wrong. Also, we were on vacation in Greece, and "Tom Sawyer," along with "Arabian Nights," "Robin Hood" and "Treasure Island," which I read to the kids on our previous vacation, were the only books written in English on my husband's bookshelves. At first, I suggested that my son, Tasos, who is going into the fifth grade this year, read "Tom Sawyer," but the vernacular was tough to plow through at first, so we read "Arabian Nights" together -- me, Nick (who is going into second grade) and Tasos -- during the siestas. I stuck with "Tom Sawyer" during other lulls in activity. I almost read the whole book before we left Greece, but didn't succeed and had to read the last few chapters at home with a copy of the book from the library. I'm glad I did. As a mother, I would describe Tom Sawyer's mischief as unacceptable, but as a reader I found it quite entertaining. As his mother, I would have been just as frustrated, worried and exasperated as Aunt Polly, but as a reader I felt the joy it must have been to be a boy living by the Mississippi River and free to explore places I would never go by myself -- an uninhabited island, caves, cemeteries -- and explore them with freedom and no fear of consequences. I wish I had my study guides from school on this book. I'm going to pass it on to my boys. cawk -- 9/14/09"
"No self-respecting lover of literature would dare neglect Sam Clemens', er, Mark Twain's works. I suppose if they hadn't been required reading I would have loved them rather than respected them. But as it is, Mark Twain is claimed by at least three cities in America as their very own--Hannibal, MO, ??, Connecticut and Elmira, New York. The latter is my home town, and the birthplace of Olivia Langdon Clemens, Twain's wife. he penned Huck Finn in the octogon pavilion located on his in-law's East hill Farm, now owned by Elmira College. I recognize Twain's accomplishement of establishing perhaps single-handedly the American voice--distinct and colloquial, humorous and yet serious. He grounded the possibility that artists from America would have a place among the world's stage, second to none. Tom Sawyer is not my favorite book, however. I enjoyed Huck Finn far more, but why, I cannot say. Personal taste--probably Twain had a witticism about that, too."
""Trash and suitable for the slums". This is a direct quote from a librarian from the Public Library in Brooklyn, New York talking about the book The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Some parents/adults don't want their children reading books in school that have suggestive language, sex, religion, any form of strong rebellion ,or violence in it. When authors publish their books, they don't censor out anything because they feel that censoring out most quotes will take the feeling of they story, which is why some books shouldn't be banded. Also, some books are too graphic for young, immature high school students.
Some books are banned because not all religions are allowed to read the material in the stories. For example some books are banned because it contains witchcraft, it questions god, or it may have fairytales in it. Many religious people don's want their children reading books about witchcraft because their religion bans them from it. Books that contain witchcraft are Bridge to Terabithia, The Crucible, and the most obvious one, Harry Potter.
On the other hand, some books shouldn't be banned because they have very excellent content and very interesting characters and themes. Just because they might have scenes that show rape, homosexuality, sex, or a petifile, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be banned from schools. Most adults usually forget that there are actually students that are mature enough to handle books with mature content. Such books that have this material are Lolita, Joy of Sex, Sleeping Beauty, and Go Ask Alice.
Some books should be banned because it has content that isn't suitable for immature teens. Or, sometimes the teens aren't immature, its jus that everyone isn't comfortable reading about graphic sex and/or gory violence. But also, some books shouldn't be banned because the author's suggestive material sometimes is what makes the book worth reading because some readers like to read books that have inappropriate materials. Maybe if the parents/adults would actually take time from their "busy" lives and would talk to their child, then maybe they wouldn't ban the books.
Books have a lot of meaning to them. They can be sweet and fantasy-like. Or, they can be as violent and obscene as it gets. But some adults can't take the fact that not all authors made their books "G" rated. Instead of letting their child read the book then explain it to them or actually read the book themselves, they'd rather see one little curse word and ban it from schools. Maybe if parents would pay more attention to their child and get more involved with their school work, then maybe they might even enjoy all of these banned books."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
