Chapters 12-16 Reaction

I read these chapters over the past week but due to holiday craziness I have just got around to reacting to them. From now on I will be tackling the reading and blogging in 5 chapter chunks.
Chapter 12
-This chapter was one of the most interesting thus far. The sneaking around on the island with what I believe they called pirates was exhilarating and fun to read. It was so built up that I wonder if this was complete fabrication from Twain or if there was a kernel of truth in it. Some of the characters and earlier chapters were taken, I believe, directly from Twain's life (Based on the documentary we saw). But whether it really happened or not it was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Chapter 13
-The frantic search for the boat continued the last chapter's action and fictional feeling. What I found most interesting about this chapter, however, is the guilt that Huck has after leaving the pirates. He wants to find help for the pirates not because he cares about them but because he does not want to be responsible for their deaths. He wants to keep his conscience clear for both the pirates death and the pirates crimes so he essentially turns them in by getting them help. This will, in all likelihood, foreshadow Huck's internal struggle with racism and Jim. This development will be interesting to keep an eye on as the story continues.
Chapter 14
-This was a pretty boring chapter, not going lie. Huck and Jim basically talk the whole time and the only conflict is when Jim and Huck argue over the intelligence of speaking a different language. This discussion was somewhat comedic but not enough to save the chapter.
Chapter 15
-This was a crazy chapter but also very confusing. Reading Huck's adventure through the fog was awesome to read but i am still actively confused wether it was a dream or not. I may have just missed a clear indicator but the chapter fits both of the boys' stories so I really don't know. Either way this chapter certainly captured my attention. It also brought a reoccurring question to the foreground of my mind. How is it possible for these 12/13 year old boys to do this? I understand that it's a different time in a different region of the country but this is some intense stuff. This is something I've been wondering since the start of this book and I really can't think of a viable answer other that the fact this is a work of fiction.
Chapter 16
-This chapter brought Huck's internal struggle with racism to the foreground. Huck like's Jim but can't get over the fact that he essentially "stole" Jim away from a man who never did anything to harm him. But when given the golden opportunity to turn Jim in a make some quick cash he lied his way out of it and saved Jim's life. Huck have gone back and forth on a seesaw trying to figure out how to deal with the racism embedded into his DNA. At the end of the chapter, they appeared to have been caught by Slave snatchers so maybe the decision has been made for Huck.

Chapters 3-11 Reaction

Initial thoughts on this section
-My initial thoughts are that Mrs. PD was absolutely right, this book struggles with a plot line. With that said, I am still very into this book, which is shocking because I am typically a plot driven reader. I think the reason this has captured my attention is because of the realistic qualities the Twain insights into his characters. I found it very apparent from the documentary that we watched in class that Twain built his characters with people from his life in mind. This makes the characters very real and very likable which engages the audience in an otherwise boring story.

Random things that came to mind
-This book has also connected with me because of the childhood memories it has brought to the service. The kids in the "gang" pretending to attack and rob people reminded me of when I played imaginary by myself or with my friends and it was just fun to think of that time.

-So far the little plot that has happened has been confusing to say the least. Huck went from developing from a dirty hobo into a nice young boy but then his drunk dead beat dad should back up and stole him away. Huck demonstrated Stockholm syndrome like symptoms as he enjoyed being imprisoned in a tiny cabin with a drunk that beat him. The escape chapter was interesting in how complex Huck made the escape. I would've thought that just running away and running away fast would do the trick but he staged a scene and thought the whole thing out. I was shocked and impresses by the thoroughness of the character.

-The parents who want to ban this book are so over the top. Yes the N- Word is used, but it's not meant to be hurtful and thus far anyway it hasn't been excessive. it shouldn't bother me but their stupidity and bull headedness is very annoying and needs to be shut down. Millennials are always given the told that we get the participation trophies and always need to feel special but I believe it's our parents generation that have the problem with getting the things they wanted.  Why can't they have faith in professional educators? It's that simple. They wouldn't tell an astronaut how to survive up in space so why tell a teacher what and how to teach?

Questions I have
-Why does the dad care so much about Huck? He beats him, steals his money and spends most of their conversations insulting the poor kid. Despite that, he still in insistent that Huck lives with him and not the Widow, can't stand the fact that he went to school and try's to hunt him down when Huck runs away. It doesn't add up for me.
-Why does Twain include the small stuff? Throughout this section, Twain included many obsoleque details to the big picture but I don't know why. Like why do we care about two guys talking on a dock that Huck is floating past. Details like that confused me on their relevance.
-Where did Huck get the money and why did he give it away??? That's just illogical.

The Culture of Niceness

December 15, 2016

-I have actually felt this way for a long time. I have never understood why people should wait until they're really mad at each other. It makes far more sense to attack the problem and move on. I have always thought, said and tried to do this. Now I also believe that if there won't necessarily be a future confrontation, like if a stranger accidentally bumps into you and doesn't apologize, than it's not worth it. But if there is a small thing with someone you see everyday, than I firmly believe in pointing it out having a small discussion and then moving on. This is far superior than pretending everything is ok until someone excludes all over the other person to the point of no return. Small bug bites are forgettable but broken bones and scares aren't.

-As for the essay itself, I found it a little slow t first and struggled to connect with what the author was saying. But as I read more the more I began to understand and identify with what she was saying. Some of the references to her family and such I found a little random but also a little funny and human so in the end I appreciated them. At one point she delves into a race issue and I think that would have made more sense if we had the entire text because I remember the passage Mrs. PD read in class was about racial tensions.

-I'm not really sure what Mrs. PD is looking for in these posts but these have been my initial reactions to reading The Culture of Niceness.