The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain: ***1/8

As I remembered from reading this book as a youth, Tom Sawyer's ceaseless antics and crazy adventures are FUN. Certainly this book is intended for younger kids and teenagers, but it's very enjoyable for anyone. I found the story constantly entertaining, and Tom's ability to do whatever he wants whenever he wants to do it inspiring.

In the story, Tom's ideas always get him in trouble, but his wit, general good nature, and strong will always pull him out, a good lesson for the young'uns. I can see now why it's such a great children's book, and I would rank this as a **** masterpiece for all 12-year-old boys. But for adults, the joy of remembering the fun and carefree times of summer and the outdoors are wonderful and educational as well. All of us would benefit from more of Tom's spirit. Furthermore, some of Twain's lessons are probably lost on his younger readers, including the first of the quotes that I have included from the book.

Really, I want to be Tom Sawyer. He's maybe the most enjoyable character I've ever read about in any book.

Quotes:
pg. 60-61 - "But the elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one constrained shape long at a time."

pg. 142 - "...to promise not to do a thing is the surest way in the world to make a body want to go and do that very thing."

pg. 143 - "He found Joe Harper studying a Testament, and turned sadly away from the depressing spectacle."
(summer 2001)

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