Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

James by Percival Everett

66 reviews

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-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: Complicated

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring reflective sad tense

I needed this book in every possible sense. I'm so grateful for what I learned, even though it was painful and heartbreaking, I needed it. I'm guessing most people need this book, and I hope most, if not all, read it. 

I felt this was more of a companion, not a retelling of Huckleberry Finn, but maybe that's just me. I don't think this takes anything away from Twain's classic, on the contrary. I think it elevates the original by introducing an adult perspective to the simple, naive, yet endearing lens of Huck's childhood.

I was left wishing that more classics such as  Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, Uncle Tom's Cabin, etc., could get this same treatment of receiving a companion story from such a well-written, original, and nuanced perspective.  

Phenomenal audio performance delivered with ferocity, vulnerability and sincerity by Dominic Hoffman.

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

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adventurous challenging emotional 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

James is an excellent novel. I can see why it earned a Pulitzer Prize. The author balanced use of literary prose and devices with accessible writing, a heavy topic with basic human relationships. The pace was fast, and I really felt that I learned something. Also, Everett does not romanticize slavery or brutal treatment in order to build drama. The drama is from the character’s quandaries, not his station. His station is his burden and a hindrance. This style made the story feel very real and the characters very relatable. I really would recommend this to anyone.

There’s a method Everett employs to denote context switching. Some readers found it tiresome, but I thought it was a skillful tool for text, and made a greater point about the white person’s mistaken perception of their black slaves. I was also not bothered by the constant written reminder that the narrator keeps saying - that he’s a slave. The constancy of that reminder had to have been real in the mindset of slaves - never something you could stop thinking about - and it served to fuel a slow burning frustration in the main character, at least the way I read it.  

5 stars, would read again.

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adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective tense
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional 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: Complicated

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-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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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny sad 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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adventurous challenging medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Overall, as a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, it was pretty well done. The quality of the writing was top-notch. I was fully immersed in the world throughout. 

Ive deducted half a star from it just because 1) I didn’t feel that Jim evolved much throughout the story. I suppose that could be argued based on who he was when it started, but overall he just seemed to be the same guy from start to finish without much of his beliefs or feelings changing despite everything he goes through. And 2) the twist where
Huck is actually his kid
felt unnecessary. It didn’t do anything to the story by admitting that revelation. 

Definitely recommend others to read Huck Finn first before reading James! I think knowing the original story helps you appreciate this one more. 

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adventurous inspiring reflective medium-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

What an amazing retelling of Huck Finn. James as the protagonist creates an interesting twist in this novel. I highly recommend this book.

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