Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

James by Percival Everett

469 reviews

marysobrero's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Slavery

asumbler's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Colonisation, Classism

cmsprinkle's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder

safiya16's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery

shelfkewpie's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Gripping and emotional. I think it's best enjoyed if you have a vague memory of reading Huckleberry Finn (like me) and/or can handle a lot of creative liberties (like any retelling). I love this story completely. The protagonist, every point made, and the ending is beautiful.
With its action-packed plot, I knew that it would be adapted into a movie eventually. I just searched and saw that yes, it's already in the works. I hope that the film is as well-rounded and insightful as the novel.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Murder, Cultural appropriation

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, War, Classism

benjyreads's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I really enjoyed James. It was very easy to read and I enjoyed the new perspective on Huckleberry Finn and the secret lives of the slaves, particularly of Jim.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol

sparkerzillich's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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A difficult but engaging story about a dark era in American history. I haven't read Twain's book, but I have a strong feeling "James" is better. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Murder

Moderate: Death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

wellreadsyd's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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This was a 10-star read. I probably should’ve refreshed my memory on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but even without that, James completely blew me away. Percival Everett shines a bright, unflinching light on slavery in America while still managing to weave in adventure and suspense. It’s heavy, but also somehow unputdownable. 

I loved how he featured the characters pretending to be ignorant around white people; it was clever and heartbreaking at the same time. Being underestimated was their greatest weapon. 

Like The Trees by Percival Everett, this also blends really sharp racial critique with moments of humor and deep character work. It’s short, but it’s packed with action, emotion, and even a twist I didn’t see coming. 

Check your content warnings first if you need to because this isn’t an easy read, but it is 100% worth it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Murder

Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Child abuse

chrysanthemum17's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was so good and I think it’s super important to read, especially if you’ve read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It was just good. I have no words

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Violence, Murder

Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War

jg93's review against another edition

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence

Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Trafficking, Murder

Minor: Child abuse, Death of parent, War