If you had to pick between the two great American novels of the 19th century, would you choose Huckleberry?

Question

Finn or Moby Dick. Twain lived luxuriously(although bad investments left him bankrupt for awhile, hence the speaking tour, and Melville died a pauper and largely unnoticed. I would choose Moby Dick for the sheer scope of its ambition.

Answer 1

I think I'd have to go with Huckleberry Finn because Twain was just so damn cool! No, really though, I would go with Finn simply because it fits the time period so well. It covers racism, escapism, the pastoral, and the concept of freedom. It is the perfect travel story and the original American road movie (even if the road is a river). It uses children as its main characters (which is brilliant, especially when dealing with a corrupt adult world) and Twain also used dialectic speech which was exceptionally uncommon at the time. Don't get me wrong, I loved Moby Dick, but Huckleberry Finn is just amazing. I don't think you could really go wrong with either.

By the way, since you're a Melville fan, have you read "Billy Budd, Sailor"? If not, I highly recommend you do. It's definitely one of Melville's greatest short stories (it's a borderline novella).

Good question. That was fun!

Answer 2

I would choose Huckleberry Finn because I actually enjoyed reading that one.

A great novel shouldn't pontificate great thoughts at the expense of story. The whole reason to read fiction is to discover great thoughts through the insights and adventures of the characters. (Otherwise, you might as well read a sermon). I think Huckleberry Finn does a great job of that, as we see the antebellum South, in all its absurdity, through Huck's eyes. It's an entertaining journey down the Mississippi, but the satire shows a real disdain for slavery too.

Moby Dick may be full of weighty ideas, but I got so bored with the long descriptions of fishing tackle, that I never found out what they were.

Answer 3

I thought Twain got bored with Huckleberry Finn because he grew and grew as a character and then ohgeeherecomesTomSawyertobuttintheend. Other than that, stand out novel. Moby Dick...I read one chapter of that book and my head hit the table so fast it wasn't even funny. I'm sure it's great but for me it was just too, too, too dense in a bad way. I can't pick any great 19th century literature. I seem to only like British or Russian 19th century literature...or German. I personally recommend Sorrors of Young Werther. Young men committed suicide with that book tucked in their jacket pocket...such was the strength of the story. Simply amazing book.
EDIT: dang, I thought that was early 19th century but it's late 18th century. Okay I'll try again. Father's and Sons by Turgenev...same sad unrequited love story type, equally beautiful in its own very different right.

Answer 4

unquestionably Huck Finn. I merely could no longer get into Moby-Dick (i understand, shame on me). besides, Huck Finn deals with an substantial subject: slavery. If we are determining on by ability of magnitude, i think of slavery beats out whales (in spite of the actuality that I do like whales). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a awesome paintings of literature. to place it merely, I do merely no longer think of Moby-Dick is as reliable.

Answer 5

Oh my...this might be one of the few times you and I have disagreed. I'd have to go with Huck Finn. I am a fan of Mark Twain's wisdom and his way with words.

Answer 6

Having read neither of those books, I would have to go with "Bittersweet" by Danielle Steel

In Bittersweet, Danielle Steel has written a novel for our times, a story of choices and new beginnings.

Bittersweet is her story, a story of freedom, of having dreams and making choices to find them. With unerring insight, Danielle Steel has created a moving portrait of a woman who dares to embark on a new adventure and the man who helps her get there. Her painful, exhilarating journey inspires us all.

Answer 7

I go for Huck Finn....did he end up marrying Becky Thatcher?