Becky: The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher

Becky tells the story of Becky Thatcher, who grew up with Tom and Huck and the gang. This novel provides an interesting twist by having Sam Clemens as a character and, obviously, by telling the story from Becky's point of view.

I enjoyed the portrayal of life in Missouri during the War, especially what it was like to be a slave state, but not seccessionist. And I liked the character of Becky, who was a strong woman, and a good wife and mother despite mistakes she'd made.

I found the plot a bit weak in that so much happened, with a lot of coincidences and some difficult to believe aspects. Enough said -- you won't find any spoilers here.

This novel had what I most enjoy in novels - a suitably complex plot, realistic emotional motivations, a main character who is interesting and appealing. And there is the clever interaction of the novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", the real-life Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain, and the supposed real characters upon which Twain's novel was based. Ms. Hart handles it all with great skill and paints a picture of America around the time of the Civil War and the years thereafter that is appealing and lifelike. Thumbs up!

In Becky: The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher, Lenore Hart neatly turns Mark Twain's world of Tom Sawyer on its head. Hart has extended the child-like stories of Twain to create a strong-willed, flawed young woman who must survive the perils of an adult world. A great deal of the novel takes place during the Civil War, the depiction of which would make Margaret Mitchell proud, and, just as in her childhood, Becky finds herself trying to measure up to the males in her life. We are able to see what happened in Tom Sawyer's adventures from her point of view and it enables us to see how those experiences helped shape the characters we know and love. Love itself is a powerful theme throughout the novel, for Becky will always be in love with show more a boy of twelve years of age.

I found the book fascinating. The feminist undertones that support the heroine through her trials helped to open other perspectives on the world that Twain created. Also, the fact that Hart created Becky as a flawed figure enables a reader of either gender to identify with her. I have to confess that I even got excited every time Tom or Huck made an appearance. It helps to have read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, but I don't believe it is necessary. This is a book that not only encourages the power of love throughout the years but challenges the roles of women during an era of our history. I think it could even be taught as a companion to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer in a college or even higher level high school course. show less

I must admit that I am a sucker for a good companion novel. Last year, I read Finn by Jon Clinch, which was a story about Huck Finn’s infamous father. My latest read was the feminine side of this group of friends – a story about Becky Thatcher, Tom Sawyer’s sweetheart. In Becky: The Life and Loves of Becky Thatcher by Lenore Hart, Becky got her voice and opportunity to set the story straight.

I loved and hated men, lost and found them, tried and failed to tempt them away from their own destruction. I’ve been the cause of more than one death. I’ve been a friend and enemy and fiancée, wife and mother and widow. I’ve killed in a fight, and longed to do murder once or twice at home. I’ve taught, mothered, soldiered, mined and show more even written for the newspapers. But I was never the weeping little ninny Sam Clemens made me out to be in his book .

And with this statement, Becky began her story as a complex, multi-dimensional character, dead set about shaking this timid image that Mark Twain described in his novels.

The story opened as Becky’s husband, Sid, was about to leave for the army during the late months of the Civil War. This began Becky’s adventures as she chased her husband into the wilds of Missouri in an attempt to bring him home. She disguised herself as a soldier to accomplish this mission and was involved in skirmish or two. Once reunited, the couple decided to move to Nevada to escape the war atrocities as home – thus, beginning another set of adventures for Becky as she moved West.

Hanging like a web over all of these stories were Becky’s feelings for Tom. Tom and Huck were minor characters in this book, and Hart added different perspectives to these famous boys (who are now men in this book). Tom was self-absorbed and restless, always caring for his childhood sweetheart despite his lack of commitment to her. Huck was Tom’s loyal companion – raw, impatient, cunning and unforgiving - but I felt that Huck had more sense than his reckless friend. In addition to Tom and Huck, Hart added Sam Clemens, who came across as imaginative and scheming, eventually betraying his friendship with Becky when he published his books.

With all of these males in her life, one can see how Becky did not grow up to be a “weeping little ninny.” However, I think Hart tried too hard to prove Becky was as strong as her male counterparts. The killings, the soldiering, the wearing of pants, the lying, the adultery – it was a tad too much. Women can be strong without acting like men.

Despite this small criticism, I enjoyed Becky and highly recommend this book to lovers of Tom Sawyer stories, Civil War fiction and tales about women’s lives in history. show less

This is definitely cut from a different cloth than Tom Sawyer (more serious than whimsical), but I feel that Lenore did a wonderful job with bringing Becky's character to life. What was even more interesting is that Lenore chose to include Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain) into the cast of characters who ran around with Tom and Becky. He would then go on to write and publish Tom Sawyer based off those escapades, but according to Becky, he got the facts all wrong!

If you enjoy reading stories set in the Civil War era, the West and its mining frenzy, women dressed up as men to enlist, or obviously a Tom Sawyer fanatic, then Becky is perfect for you - a unique retelling or continuing story of a well-known character and her desire to find show more her place in the world as well as her heart. show less

If your lack of familiarity with the story of Tom Sawyer is discouraging you from picking this book up, put those thoughts away right now! Even if all you know about Becky Thatcher is that she was Tom's sweetheart (or if you don't even know that much!), this book is still wonderful. My only experience with Tom Sawyer was a cursory reading in 7th grade, of which I remember very little. I absolutely loved this book! Becky Thatcher was not the prissy little girl Mark Twain made her out to be, and she is out to set the record straight. This book starts out near the end of the Civil War. Becky is married to Tom Sawyer's cousin, Sid, who heads off to join the war even at the late date. The story takes us to the battlefield, the Nevada show more Territory, San Francisco, and even Panama. Becky proves that she is one strong woman, and her adventures will keep you on the edge of your seat. I highly recommend this book to *anyone* who likes a good story. show less

I'll be honest - I couldn't finish this book. But not because it was a bad book; quite the contrary, in fact.

I picked it up because I often like to read "sequels" or "companions" to classic novels, particularly ones that I love. I always find it interesting to see another point of view on such well-known stories. Maybe there's something there that I never saw before. Maybe a new author will help me come to appreciate a story I never cared for - for example, Wicked by Gregory Maguire. I always hated The Wizard of Oz, but Wicked is one of my favorite novels. I love the humanity and complexity he brought to a story that always seemed to be lacking something in my mind.

For Becky - well, as I said, it's very well written. I think Ms. Hart show more does a great job of capturing Mark Twain's world while still fleshing out the more minor characters, while tossing in a few new ones of her own. But honestly, I never liked The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and I realize now that that dislike has less to do with the 'adventures' and more to do with the time and place. I just can't seem to warm to turn-of-the-century Missouri! (And yes, I realize that the story wanders far from Missouri as it goes on - I just couldn't seem to get that far! Maybe someday I'll give it another go.)

I do look forward to see what Ms. Hart produces next. I will certainly give her another look - hopefully next time her talented pen takes us somewhere more my taste. show less