Status Updates From Five Novels

Townspeople ferry around the river & island shooting the cannon to make Huck’s body float up & they come close to seeing him on the island. Jim is also on the island & meets Huck after Huck’s had to dodge detection for a few days. Jim ran away to avoid being sold & tells how he escaped & the town’s talk of Huck’s murder. Lots of black & boy superstitions that are amusing.

Huck fakes his death in grand fashion with ax cuts, pig blood, drag marks, and trails of food. He sets off for Jackson’s Island in the night after his dad passes by in the skiff after selling driftwood in town.

Huck panics from superstition and gives Judge Thatcher his $6k, but I hope the judge didn’t really go through with taking all his money. Huck’s dad waits in his bedroom & kidnaps & beats him regularly out of jealousy for schooling and the widow’s care. Now they’re in a cabin & dad regularly gets drunk & abuses him & Huck reverts to liking homelessness. Don’t take after your dad!

Skipped Prince for Huck. Picks up where Sawyer ended and it’s perfect. The robber gang and imagining Sunday school kids as an Arabian parade. Huck can’t get used to Widow Douglas’s rules or sis Miss Watson’s religion. Huck is growing out of imaginary games that Tom plays & only goes along since they’re besties. Glad I have context from the first book to fully appreciate this one w/ characters and events.