J-L's Book Club Ep 26: Huck Finn & James

[@JLCauvin]

Remember folks, to get access to the book reviews without a 5 month delay, to support my work and get lots of other bonus podcasts, videos and live hangouts www.Patreon.com/JLCauvin

[@lindachoquette2905]

I enjoyed this book review, J-L!! Thank you.

[@jonathanhacker5025]

I graduated high school in 1970 and we read this in school. It made a lasting impression on me. I was excited to hear that James was written from the perspective of Jim. It didn’t disappoint and as you said, there are some plot twists. The section you read about James teaching the kids appropriate language made me think of the book Twelve Year a Slave. In that book, Solomon was an educated free man from NY who was kidnapped and taken south and sold into slavery. On the plantation he had to change the way he spoke. It wasn’t good to be smarter than the master. That’s a true story. I highly recommend James.

[@Idela905]

Twain master of dialogue, thanks for sharing

[@KayMatous]

Thanks! I'll definitely re-read Huckleberry Finn and looking forward to James.

[@AlanWil2]

I'm going to get a big brain now. Thanks!!!

[@LakeLouise1000]

Thank you for the book reviews 💙

[@OutpostMJ]

So, about 6 months ago I discovered your comedy (hilarious), 6 days ago your "straight" social commentary (insightful) with two post-election videos -- and now this: "BookTube" JL! Wow! Btw: I find Twain's life, struggles, losses, outlook on religion and life much more captivating and moving than his works. There's a great PBS biography (2-part/4 hours I think) I highly recommend. Thank you.

[@androidchannel309]

Does the documentary cover his struggles to invent the typewriter?

[@howard5992]

@@androidchannel309 Yes, but not in detail as I recall. Twain lost a lot of money through many investments and that end result is the main focus. A Ken Burns documentary released in 2001. About 3.5 hours long. Available on line or from your library.

[@OutpostMJ]

​@@androidchannel309 I don't recall...I watched it 15 years ago (time to rewatch maybe). It's simply titled Mark Twain. It's a Ken Burns documentary.

[@LinFromMinn]

Oh I wish I was a neighbor or family member of yours! Then I would be able to have intelligent discourse with someone who thinks like you do! I am of like minded thoughts but man you might be the only person who would get my humor! It would be a fun time for sure! At least I can look forward to a few times a week to see you and smile, laugh, shake my head and appreciate you. I keep sending your posts and info to a ton of people. I am not sure how the clicks affect your payday but I just want everyone I know to enjoy your work. If having more views or followers helps bring in some extra coin, even better. You are balm for the soul, JL. (Try not to think too hard on what some of the souls are like and the metaphor works! You will sleep better that way, too! Ha!) 😂

[@dwdavis5977]

I feel smarter already.

[@suee434]

I have never read Huck Finn; I do have a hold on James. So I suspect I'll be reading them in tandem sometime soon. Given the election results of last week, I'm especially curious to see what passed for "uneducated" 100+ years ago as compared to now.

[@amberc5438]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@brookemcdermott8343]

I really enjoy your humor & intelligence. It will come in handy in the coming months. I actually think I saw you in August at the Jersey Mike's on the beach in Belmar the weekend Harris annouced Walz as her running mate. Is that possible? I didn't want to be obnoxious and approach you, especially if it was unlikely to be you. That was back when the future looked hopeful. Please keep making videos!🙏❤

[@JLCauvin]

It is not possible. I was never there. Sorry.

[@leonfisher]

How can you sit so close to the fire?

[@Anne-ju9vh]

It's a Samsung fire 📺

[@leonfisher]

@Anne-ju9vh 😁

[@MrShobar]

I only remember two books that could not be assigned reading at my high school in Portland, Oregon in the late sixties-early seventies. "From Here to Eternity" (James Jones) for its suggestion (I suppose) of gay sex between the soldiers at Scofield Barracks, the lurid sexual affair between the Captain's wife and an NCO, the prositution down on Hotel Street in Honolulu, the brutality of a stockade manned by sadists, and a murder among other taboo subject matter. The other was "The Caine Mutiny" (Herman Wouk) due to profane language, and I guess its general antiauthoritarian posture concerning an military institution (it had this in common with "From Here to Eternity"). Strange that I could borrow both these books at the school library and read them. "Catch 22" (Joseph Heller) played on similar antiauthoritarian and even antimilitary themes, but in absurdist fashion and was not banned for some reason. In view of the two foregoing works (today regarded as classics of American literature) I still can't see why not.

[@TheMisterGriswold]

My recollection is that Huck Finn was great until the whole circus story started, about halfway through. Then silly and tedious.

[@c.z.6716]

Jail's Book Club.

[@taramichellepagan]

02:16 Religion & "Jesus" clearly has a great influence on little boys.

[@taramichellepagan]

I never drew men's private parts in books when I was little, thankfully I wasn't raised in a deranged creepy church. Phew!

[@taramichellepagan]

04:20 Lol, oh no, I am without a soul,😱 so how much are those churches selling souls for I'll just take the cheapest soul, I'm rough on my souls.

[@taramichellepagan]

I hate souls, I am a soul hunter. Especially children's souls, newborn baby souls are the worst.

[@taramichellepagan]

05:59 You must have met Jesus, does Jesus have a good strong handshake or is Jesus a lightweight. Lol, thanks for the prayers, I will pray also for Jesus because Jesus is always hiding, Jesus must be in trouble.🥺🫢