The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

At age 64 I have finally read (listened to) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I am ambiguous as to the reading being so late in life. I feel I could have enjoyed it as a young man's frivolity when young. At this age I have seen the toils of man, so I read more into it than the young could. For example the hypocrisy of man, the genius of the author, the satirical humor, the ridicule of the pious, the culture of the time, racism, and above all, that there are good people that can have a good time even in hard times. The characters depicted will be with me forever. Too bad I didn't read it earlier. Betcha, it wern't be the last time ;>) .

I just had to comment on the reviews that thought that this book was racist. Mark Twain ironically used the ignorant but well meaning Huck to point out the evils of racism. Huck's only education was what rubbed off on him from the backwards society he was a part of, and even though he had been taught that it was wrong to help a slave escape, he chose to do so, risking his own soul with his actions. Those comments that he and the other characters made that grab us in the gut and make us think "that's wrong" were intentional, did the same to readers back in that time. This book was instrumental in turning people's opinions and prejudices around, though I admit it took humanity way too long and we still have a long way to go. Those of you who think that this book is racist, read it again and give Twain the benefit of the doubt. He was on our side.