Mark TwainThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

I personally have really enjoyed The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. The book is a classic, and enjoyable for readers of all ages. Mr. Twain makes that very clear in his preface (included at the beginning of this copy) along with some background information under the “Note” column before the preface. This book has a variety of genres such as: picaresque, somewhat of a Bildungsroman, comedy, satire, and lastly a folk narrative. It is considered a picaresque and/or Bildungsroman because of Tom’s actions and growth throughout the book. It is comical because of the way that Mark Twain describes Tom’s mischievous and rebellious nature. It includes satire when Tom gets a crush on the new girl. Finally, it is a folk narrative because of the American traditions demonstrated in the way that Tom and all others live. Like their manners, way of speaking, and cultural traditions like going to church on Sundays etc. This copy of the book that I have bought for myself was at a hard to beat price. The text is a bit close together, but on the plus side, the chapters are shorter and so is the book. So it’s not bad for saving paper if you don’t need a fancy copy. I would recommend this copy for personal use, because at that price point you really shouldn’t feel bad for taking notes on it, if you want to. I personally have annotated this book just to analyze the text and gain better understanding. Also this book, not just this copy but The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is written in some dense English. By this I mean that there are some phrases or words that you might need to search on the internet just because they aren’t used nowadays. This book was first ever published in 1876 so that does explain why the Language is dense. Also, many classic books, since they are classics are written in dense language. I would definitely recommend this book because it truly is an adventure haha. This copy that I have purchased (Dover Thrift Editions) was published in 1998. It has 184 pages including the conclusion.

If you think I’m going to write a review of one of the greatest writers of all time, you’re sadly mistaken. I will say that I read this as a 71 year old and enjoyed it immensely.

Author does a great job of showcasing the simpler and dramatic nature of humanity and the human ego. He also plays on the fickle mindedness of most people and their hypocrisy, as well as, their sweet, sometimes naive/innocent, and well-intended simple ways.. But in a way that sheds some understandable compassion for their simple-natured ways. Done usually with a comedic/satire/irony type of flair.He also does a good job at creating scenes, and describing a character’s internal life/world in a way that is very entertaining, and creates a highly empathic connection and understanding of the characters.The author also has a way of playing on other nuanced, philosophical ideas, and concepts regarding human nature, religion, and people’s relationship to it.He also illustrates the ways humans can conceive, and play out, romantic mental fantasies, and go off on wild whims and fancies, and how humans tend to act out on their egoic passions and emotional impulses.To me, I found it relatable and comforting, in a sense, to know that others can be this way too. And that one can become aware of these human dynamics and ways of being.But at the same time, I also considered and thought it wise to strive to become more aware of these “passionate patterns” and wild fancies, and to eventually transcend them, (or at least do one’s best to master them and or properly integrate them) leading to a more civilized and loving and “evolved human nature” and experience. Both for a personal sake, and for humans/us as a collective consciousness, and for the ultimate advancement of humans as a species…This book also helped to remind me to see things from a higher, 3rd person perspective/point of view, which allowed these ideas of greater self awareness, and human motives, to play around my mind, which I found quite stimulating and enlightening. It was quite insightful as to my own ways of being and “human-ness” and “human nature”. And yet maybe, these wild whiles and fancies are part of what makes life, and the human experience, what it is! Haha. But perhaps that is actually the greatest work..!He also creates a lens to view the story through the mind/eyes of an adolescent/child’s perspective.And I felt that Twain (either by accident, or by covert/subtle intentionality) wrote much of the story from the perspective of a child, showing their “natural”, immature, vindictive and impulsive milds, usually raw, short sighted-self gratifying, and shadow-egoic-driven ways of being - showcasing common folly’s of human archetypes/nature.I wondered if he was indirectly trying to make a point between, and draw deeper attention to, these typically unchastened and impulsive egoic drives of human nature vs, instead, operating from higher spiritual notions and worthy (attainable) ideals yielding a more civilized and heaven-like state/potential of human nature.Also had me wonder, is it nature or nurture?In any case:I can see why it’s a classic.Albeit, maybe, for me, for different reasons.

Needed it for my son's class and it came very quickly and arrived exactly as expected.

I became interested in this book after having read James, the updated story of Huck and Jim floating down the river toward many misadventures and escapades. Well worth turning back the clock to read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I recommend it.

I remember as a boy how we’d have adventures in the woods around our neighborhood and fishing in the lake nearby. The childhood romance of Tom and Becky reminded me of the one I had so many years ago. Enjoyed every moment of this novel.