The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an historical fiction book about the conventional life of a young boy. In this edition illustrated by Robert Ingpen, the story of Tom Sawyer, a schemer, is told about growing up in Missouri. This amusing book takes place in 1876 near the Mississippi River. This book would be of interest to elementary school children in grades 3 and up so they may learn about life in the late 1800's on the Mississippi River.

Even though this book is well over a century old it still holds up! It's funny, witty, and remarkably insightful into the head of a mischievous young boy. The games, and clothes, and manners may have changed; but kids would still be easily able to relate to the games that Tom Sawyer and his friend Huckleberry Finn play. From pirates to adventurers, they know how to have fun with practically nothing but their imagination. And the trouble, lord these two boys know how to get in trouble and worry their families half to death. From running away, getting lost in caves, witnessing a murder and more, Tom Sawyer is the king of trouble. A must read classic! ( )

Fun little adventure book.

[a:Mark Twain|1244|Mark Twain|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1322103868p2/1244.jpg] is hilarious, and his social commentary throughout the book is often enough to get a genuine chuckle out of me. In particular, the quotes throughout the examination section were rather great. [a:Mark Twain|1244|Mark Twain|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1322103868p2/1244.jpg] is rather good at coining pithy quotes, and capturing the more whimsical facts of life in such a way that reflect both a child's wonder and an adult's cynicism. The book is grand for that.

A traditional adventure story, I had trouble parsing out which bits I remember from actually reading abridged versions of the book, and which I remember from say... Wishbone or film adaptations. The book wandered a bit much from me, and I understand now (at least I think I do) why it's cut the way it is in order to make for a film. What I'm saying is, the plot wasn't terribly strong with this one.

Where [a:Harper Lee|1825|Harper Lee|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1188820730p2/1825.jpg] can get away with her story wandering, it works because it all ties together in the end. I didn't quite feel that was the case in this book, and ended up not able to take all that much away from the story. Good for nostalgia, but not too great at holding up to the test of time for me at least. ( )

I think I was supposed to read this in college. But never did. There were more important things to do like... (never mind).

It was time to make up for the mistakes of my youth and take in a classic. That the audiobook was narrated by Nick Offerman was a bonus that moved Tom Sawyer to the top of my to-read list. ( )

It has taken me nearly a lifetime to finally read this classic. I can see how it would be more appreciated if read in my teen years or younger. The reason I had never read it is because I was so familiar with the story line via TV. In fact, as I read the book I was never surprised and remembered each of the turning events. Still, I am glad I finally read it. Twain did a good job spinning a yarn (and that's what it felt like) and using the country speak of the times. I am hesitant to leap into the Huck Finn sequel, however, for the same reasons it took me so long to get Tom Sawyer. ( )