ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain ►► Book Review

ROUGHING IT by Mark Twain:

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[robertvaughan]

I am in the process of going through Mark Twain's books and just finished this one and Tom Sawyer. I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the beginning(stagecoach ride from St. Joseph, MO, to Carso City, NV) and ending(time in Hawaiian islands) the best part. I did not really care about the mining in Nevada part somewhat boring and stupid.

Twain uses a lot of metaphors and wit in this book as some embellishments to make it humorous. I can see why he was so popular back then as a writer and speaker or should I say comedian.

I would only recommend this book to those who want to read about Twain's life, some ideas of the old West or times in the late 1800s in the US. For general reading, I think most people would find this book somewhat flat.

[jackbuckley]

I watched this just now, a few-minutes past Twain's birthday, Nov. 30th. It was late in the day when I discovered this notable, indeed historical, event. Enjoyed your review. I haven't read the work but, as a side-note, didn't Twain ride for the Pony Express at some point during the time-period of "Roughing It"? I may be wrong. Hope to read it someday, along with so many of his others. Thanks for the heads-up on "The Gilded Age", too. I think Twain actually coined the phrase, thus defining forevermore this less-than-inspiring era in American-history!

[biggringus]

This is the only Mark twain book I've read, and I chose wisely. It's a tight book, reads so smoothly. I love the idea of roughing it, but Twain makes it sound so easy in his ambling style you refer to. I feel disappointed and disillusioned tho when I imagine doing it now, but maybe I have a weak imagination. I get a sense of a dead americanism, it's sad. anyway I love it's apparent authenticity on every page, I love the humor. I loved the scene where the 3 men offered their vices to god in return for his protection. It's so genuinely, patently, potently American, I love it.