Well, I had to read this for a class. I think that there are enough of today’s pop-culture references to this novel to make it a worthwhile read, not to mention the value of the book itself. After reading this book for the second time, I really don’t understand all of the criticism that this book has gotten about the character Jim and the use of the “n-word”. If a book came out today with the same content, it would obviously be objectionable; however, throughout the novel, Jim seems to be the only character with his head straight on his shoulders the whole time. If anything, it is a way of contrasting what people think and the way things are.