Tom Sawyer is a young boy growing up in St. Petersburg. The book contains a number of humorous minor episodes such as the well-known trick by which Tom Sawyer inveigled his friends into whitewashing a fence for him, but the main plot revolves around Injun Joe, a cruel evil man. By chance, Tom and his ragged outcast friend Huck Finn witness a murder in a graveyard. A harmless drunk, Muff Potter, is blamed for the murder that Injun Joe committed there. Tom and Huck swear to "keep mum" for the sake of their lives, but Tom's conscience is tested when Muff is put in jail for the murder, facing possible execution.

The writing style of Mark Twain in this book was very humorous, fitting perfectly with the subjects of the book. The superstitions of the children were amusing as well. Also, the chapters were very short and the reading never felt heavy and chore-like.

His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. He was born in Florida, Missouri in 1835.

It is a light and easy read and reminds you of your own childhood, which never really changes even in different settings.

Some of my favorite quotes were:



"...men's misfortunes are often forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises."



"He had discovered a great law of human action...that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain...Work consists of whatever a body is <i>obliged</i> to do, and...play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do."



"...it must be very peaceful...to lie and slumber and dream forever and ever, with the wind whispering through the trees and caressing the grass and the flowers over the grave, nothing to bother and grieve about, ever anymore."



"...the elastic heart of youth cannot be compressed into one constrained shape long at a time."



"...there was a silence and an air of solemnity that struck a chill to the culprit's heart."



"Homely truth is unpalatable."



"...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."



"That drop was falling when the Pyramids were new; when Troy fell; when the foundations of Rome were laid; when Christ was crucified; when the Conquerer created the British empire; when Columbus sailed; when the massacre at Lexington was "news." It is falling now; it will still be falling when all these things shall have sunk down the afternoon of history, and the twilight of tradition, and been swallowed up in the thick night of oblivion. Has everything a purpose and a mission? Did this drop fall patiently during five thousand years to be ready for this flitting human insect's need? and has it another important object to accomplish ten thousand years to come?"

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Created Dec 24, 2002 at 2:07pm • Submit your own review...