Which is the better, more 'literary' Mark Twain book: "Tom Sawyer" or "Huckleberry Finn"?

Question

Which is the better, more 'literary' Mark Twain book: "Tom Sawyer" or "Huckleberry Finn"?

Answer 1

I think that would be fine in an "abridged" version specifically for little kids complete with colorful pictures, and then the real text will always be available for those that are capable of more sophisticated thinking and historical perspective. Those words are very distracting from the story line at this point, and need explanation, and hopefully the person hearing the explanation has the maturity to understand, complete with a biography of Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens himself and his observations about slavery and human nature and why he was compelled to paint the picture that he painted in Huckleberry Finn. Humanizing people is a great feat.

Answer 2

Huckleberry Finn has been considered Twain's better book of the two. I think it's because of the extensive social commentary. Tom Sawyer is essentially a boy's book of rapscallion adventure.

Answer 3

Huck Finn made more of a cultural impact on America than Tom Sawyer did. It is considered an important work because the character of Jim, the slave or ex-slave, is portrayed as a friend and a caring, layered character versus how he would have been portrayed earlier in american lit.

Answer 4

I think it would depend on the sensitivity level of your friend. Huck Finn uses "the N word" over two hundred times. I haven't read Tom Sawyer in over ten years but I don't think it's quite that bad in terms of profanity. If your friend doesn't mind the language, I would definitely recommend Huck Finn.

Answer 5

Both... it's almost writen as a part one and a part two. You would amost need to read them both Tom Sawyer first. I actually like Huckleberry Finn better.

Answer 6

"Tom Sawyer" happens first, so read it first. Also "Huck Finn" is a trip down the river and a series of unrelated adventures, one at each place the raft stops. That may be hard to take. "Tom Sawyer," on the other hand, is a conventional story with a clearly discernible plot line. So start with it.

Answer 7

Tom Sawyer definitely

Answer 8

Huckleberry Finn is the one that make it into all the literary anthologies.

Answer 9

I think they are about equal. Why not just refer them both.

Answer 10

Well, the more "literary" one is "Huckleberry Finn" - it is, in fact, more a classic novel than the ordinary adventure book for younger boys. It's a story with very high developed characters, with many different aspects you can find in. "tom Sawyer" is a nice story to read and to enjoy, "Huckleberry Finn" is a book to think about very often. I like both of the books, "Huckleberry Finn" just a bit more, and I'd say you should refer both to your freidn. "Tom Sawyer" to get in touch with Twains style of writing and with the characters, "huckleberry Finn" to read a classical book ;-)