It is interesting how, when we return to a book we've read before, we see how our reaction to it different, because we are not the same person with the same life experience when we re-read it. I also recently re-read both these books. And I have to say that while I liked Huck Finn the first time 30 years ago, I didn't really appreciate it's true greatness (in my opinion) until I re-read it. The section at the end is subpar, but what comes before that makes up for this glitch.lightheir wrote: ↑Sat Mar 27, 2021 9:01 amI recently re-read Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird.
Hate to say it, but Huck finn was dated and completely terrible. I do understand that at the time it was truly novel in its extensive use of slang (which set quite a few unfortunate stereotypes in media, but that's not why I didn't like it), but the whole novel seemed pointless and devolved in plot. The best moments (and quite a few literature critics apparently agree with me, after I looked up why this book was mentioned) are its portrayal of American in the parts BETWEEN the adventures, which are unfortunately far and few in between. Terrible, avoid at all costs. Just read the wikipedia summary and a few pages of the book for a taste, but otherwise avoid.
To kill a mockingbird was a lot better, and I could recommend it, but wasn't anywhere as good as it was compared to my modern-day standards as when I first read it 30+ years ago. It's borderline hard for me to recommend this book, as there are many other better books regarding race conflicts in small towns nowadays, both fiction and nonfiction.
And I found Mockingbird to still be a real gem, especially if you deepen the experience by reading it together with To Set a Watchman and Atticus Finch: A Biography.