James: A Novel by Percival Everett
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Web ID: 17868157He didn't hold back on the horrors of slavery
I never read Huckleberry Fin but I thought it was an interesting concept to hear the story from Jim/James's point of view. It's beautifully written and very immersive. Vivid imagery which I didn't always like because of the content. It had me thinking a lot while reading it and it took me a min to process it after I finished it.
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One of the best books I've read
The writing and story telling are phenomenal. This was a page turner. I haven't had such a deep connection to a book in a long time.
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A true modern adaption of the American classic
I have loved Mark Twain's novels since I was a child, and Huck Finn has always been my favorite. Having the opportunity to read a modern adaption that stayed true to the roots was terrific. Percival Everett put together all the missing pieces of Huck Finn--I have a feeling that this will become a cornerstone of American literature. 6/5 star book
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WOW
Saw this in the store display. Looked interesting. Boy that was an understatement! From the first chapter, you are hooked. The relationship between Huck and Jim grows and then wham! The story is an ode to our history. It show just how hard life was for so many. This will be a sure favorite book and another must keep for my shelf!
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Wow
This book reads like you’re watching a movie. The imagery is so vivid. You feel every lash. It’s going to break your heart, but wow is it worth it. Amazing read. Highly recommend. Plan to read more from this author now
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A Tale of Jim and James
Are there two versions of each of us, perhaps even more? An outward facing one for everyone to see, a personal one familiar to just a few and, then, a complex inner one only “I” know? Despite the publicity presenting this new work as an alternative narrative for Jim from Mark Twain’s 1884 “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, Percival Everett’s 2024 novel, “James” is a very different perspective about pre-Civil War life along the Mississippi. In fact, this work places the characters closer to the War’s 1861 beginning than Twain’s 1830s setting. From the start you know this is a tale of two personalities within a single being: Jim, the outward-facing Mark Twain character by his manner of speech, and a more literate, better-spoken, thoughtful James deliberately concealed to not arouse suspicion among the white community. The story is about how blacks managed to live under oppressive conditions. The first third of the book follows the Twain narrative of how Huck and Jim start out on the run and traveling on the Mississippi. When they meet up with two of the Twain’s originals, flim-flam artists the Duke and the Dauphin, the tone and direction changes significantly. It is no longer a boyhood adventure tale. From then on, Everett trimly depicts a more grim, even scarier, border state environment within which blacks are forced to live and accept as their lot. As a character named Easter sardonically relates to James; ““White People try to tell us that everything will be just fine when we get to heaven. My question is: Will they be there? If so, I might make other arrangements.” Later, James observes about racial differences: “White people often spent time admiring their survival of one thing or another. I imagined it was because so often they had no need to survive, but only to live.” And expect to see and read the “n” word many times. Its use cannot be covered over or ignored for the authenticity of this story. Late in the story there is some ambivalence in the relationship between James and Huck who go separate ways. In contrast to Twain’s ending with Jim having been freed by his former owner’s will, James faces different realities and inner turmoil leaving his path forward clear but hardly settled. The original Huckleberry Finn story was written for a different time, audience and perspective reflective of Twain’s experiences. Everett’s novel is not a criticism of this earlier work. “James” is really its own adventure story with a point of departure for learning about the experiences of black people under abusive conditions. And all of us when pushed beyond our comforts, securities and limits we take for granted.
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James
A long wait to receive my hold on the novel, James, by Percival Everett. The long wait proved to be worth as this book narrated by Jim, the runaway slave, provided an in-depth glimpse into the life of a slave pre-Civil War. Jim and a young Huck escape the confines of Hannibal, Missouri, and encounter so many adventures in their quest to find a home and work in a free state. The bond between Huck and Jim strengthens the story, especially when Jim must choose who to save during a steamboat accident. The cruelty of the white men against their black property transcends human decency. Jim’s language and diction reflect to whom he speaks, as when Jim talks to himself he utilizes correct English and not the slave vernacular. A well written novel centering on slaves, loyalty, and friendship.
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4 stars
JAMES my Percival Everett What can I say that hasn’t already been said? This is really good. The writing is straight forward, but there’s a lot of heart and (satirical) humor throughout. While I agree the praise for this book is well deserved, the “twist” at the end felt like it came out of nowhere. It would have been nice to get a little backstory around it. Also, I wish the women were given more of a substantial/meaningful role in the story instead of just being around to be used and abused (per usual). Despite that, I did enjoy James’ story. It’s fast-paced, thought provoking and worth the read. Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
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