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Michelle H
Stunning Take on An American Classic
My first thought on reading this retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim's point of view was "Why has no one done this before? And why have none of the white people who have revered Huck's story ever thought to deeply consider the way Jim's character is portrayed?" Praise the Lord for Percival Everett then! His use of dark humor to describe the way slaves had to disguise themselves to escape the scorn and brutality of the white people around them -- and the deep intelligence and thoughtful curiosity, as well as the strength and profound resilience of slaves like James who were somehow able to survive their narrow, pinched world views, makes James easily the best book I read in 2024! (And if you haven't read The Trees, about two black detectives in Alabama working to solve a series of mysterious lynchings -- make that next on your list!
Anthony Conty
Has to Be Read to Be Believed
"James" by Percival Everett has the unenviable position of receiving almost every accolade. My eighth-grade English teacher gave us a list of 20 classics, and we had to do three book reviews. "Huckleberry Finn" was my third and favorite. I do not require but highly encourage rereading Twain since some actions assume your recollection. It is the same southern adventure.
James ends up by himself and discovers the freedom of reading and writing while recognizing the danger of doing either in public. He meets allies who share his hopes and fears. He also meets some swindlers and tries to survive among them, knowing he does not have many options. Those who have forgotten most of Twain's work will benefit from their ignorance.
Stories come back frequently from previous parts of the story. When they lynch an enslaved person over a pencil, as requested by Jim, word travels quickly through the grapevine. The writing incident is not his last predicament; this benefits readers since they will recall some events but not all. The minstrel show slipped my feeble mind.
Even when influenced by classic literature, reading about slavery never gets easier. When James puts himself in trouble for the greater good, you feel for him as someone who wants to see his family. Kids read the banned book "Huckleberry Finn" in junior high, but "James" has very adult content and scenes of violence. Twain's work had more of a romantic feel.
When related to the Civil War, the story's timing provides a great backdrop to America. Jim's questions about freedom most likely echoed the anxieties of all involved with the enslaved. The ending, which I will not reveal, has the intensity and audacity that most books could not achieve. Its late climax gives the reader great satisfaction and a dropped jaw.
Roberta
Outstanding book
I belong to two book clubs and they both picked James as the next read. Because I hadn't read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for decades, I decided to give it a quick read first. I really didn't enjoy Huck Finn that much, but felt that it did help to read it prior to reading James.
Percival Everett has done a masterful job telling the story from the perspective of James, the slave. I thought he created a completely believable character. I'm not giving anything away to say that we learn at the very beginning of the book that James has a family. In doing so, I thought Everett created an urgency in the story that made it a great read.
I could go on and on about this brilliant book. It's at the top of my list for the best of 2024 reads.
Gloria M
Destined to be a new classic!
I honestly only have minimal memory of "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. I know I read it after "Tom Sawyer" and I was probably eight or nine years old-that was the time frame when I was borrowing a lot of classics from my local library. I recall Huck's basic character and I did not pay as much attention to the character of Jim. Granted, I was a child and I did not yet care about the perspectives of adults (particularly male viewpoints as I was already a budding feminist!) so I am glad (like thousands and thousands of others) that I picked up "James" by Percival Everett.
This is the book we did not know we needed. Powerful and memorable, funny and poignant, and a masterful work everyone should read. Everett has a masterful writing style and the reader is immediately drawn into the narrative. Giving voice to Jim was a brilliant choice and stirs up so many emotions. This one is a keeper, get it now!! I would definitely enjoy a sequel!
Jill
Brilliantly Written and Told
JAMES by Percival Everett
Narration by Dominic Hoffman was perfectly done. Percival Everett has written a brilliant story of reimagining at its best. I absolutely loved everything he took liberty with in this story about James. James is a father and husband, and an enslaved man living in Missouri before the civil war. I suppose you can say this is a reboot of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, narrated by the enslaved Jim. James is a father and husband, and an enslaved man living in Missouri before the civil war. James has found out he is to be sold and separated from his family. He flees to a deserted island and encounters Huckleberry Finn, also on the run.
The two begin their adventure in this entertaining read on multiple levels that is painful, funny, gripping and horrifying. This is definitely a top read for me in 2024 and Percival Everett certainly knocked it out of the park with this ingenious book. Kudos to him!??“To fight in a war,” he said. “Can you imagine?”?“Would that mean facing death every day and doing what other people tell you to do?” I asked.?“I reckon.”?“Yes, Huck, I can imagine.”
JoreneJ
Huckleberry Finn redux
I started and stopped reading this book several times. I finally decide to buckle down and read it- after all, it has received many accolades and awards!
I have not read Huckleberry Finn, but this book is a riff on that story- but from the perspective of James, the slave in the story. I liked the book- it was a good story (if you can get past all of the slave dialect that is incorporated)
I did not love the book, but if you want life perspective from a slave ( and it is frightening!) this is a good story. The character of James just grows on you- I was rooting for him all the way!