The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (version 3)

Brightly Lit Nostalgic Romp Through Dark Times

Sean O'Shannessy

Twain's wry reflections on the darker, more dangerous times of his childhood took me back to my own youth, when first read his book. With the passage of another 150 years, the nostalgia he evokes for careless, simplistic years gone by cannot be seen as entirely ironic but he certainly directs a piercing sardonic eye over a period where slavery, sexism, child abuse and superstition were uncritically accepted norms. The character of Tom is a complex of charisma and self-absorption that could really only be charming in a child. He lives in a world of violent fantasies that lead him and his friends into harm's way and back repeatedly. His innocence in having inherited the culture that drives his actions redeems his character and inspires our hopes for his happy ending and a brighter future. Beautifully written and (mostly) read this is a real treat.

steve murphy

Took me back to my teens. Very good story, once I got used to the different narrators I thoroughly enjoyed it.