The Trouble

There are a lot of lists of books that everyone should read.  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn are on a lot of those lists.  I think I had to read it back in school, but I bet I never did.  Because it is supposed to be one of classics.  There is a huge problem with this book, however and that is the use of the n word.  There is perhaps no more vile word in the English language, I have come to believe, after reading Elijah of Buxton.  Check out this interview with the author, the incredible Christopher Paul Curtis.  I have done a lot of research about this and found this to be of particular interest.  Will I ever read Huck Finn?  I don't know if I can stand to read that word. I really don't think I could.  But I do understand what Dr. Dyson says about the word, "I think the Holy Ghost of rhetorical fire will insist that the N-word not be buried. I don't think you can bury words. I think the more you try to dismiss them, the more power you give to them, the more circulation they have."
The Trouble Begins at 8: a Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West was my introduction to the Twain the man.  It was very well done.  Fleischman was funny and Twain was a riot.  I guess he was maybe our country's first stand-up comedian?  It was neat to read about his lectures, which were pretty much stand-up comedy concerts.  Very much recommended.