TSI, Notes 1: Tom and Sam (Mark) and Huck and Baby Tyrone

[Paul Mackin]

On Thu, 2003-03-06 at 05:05, Abdiel OAbdiel wrote:
> 
> I agree that Experience or lack of Experience is
> important. However, I agree with Pynchon criticism of
> the story:  "The kids, for example, seem in some areas
> to be not very bright, certainly not a patch on kids
> of the '80's." Like Twain's Huckleberry Finn, TSI is a
> coming-of-age tale.  Innocence & Experience and
> Innocence Lost are important ideas in both stories. As
> in HF, in TSI, Pynchon explores the coming-of-age of
> both the story characters and America: Reconciling the
> child and the developing outer being, coming to terms
> with the changing expectations for the developing self
> in the world, balancing childhood and adult
> responsibilities, making decisions which will have
> tremendous influence on the shape of lives to be
> lived…and the coming-of-age not only for the
> characters but for the Nation, (and a "new beat
> generation") as well.

The thing about HF is that, though perhaps not Mark Twain's intention,
this novel in the very first rank of American fiction became an
exceedingly popular book for young people. A classic children's story
one might call it, if children could be defined as 15 and younger.  This
brings a question to my mind. Have any p-listers ever suggested or read
from "The Secret Integration" to their kids and if so what was the
result?
P.