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4.51 AVERAGE
4.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A scathing, poignant, and honest portrayal of slavery in the US.
adventurous
challenging
adventurous
inspiring
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
So beautifully written and important. If The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is still required reading in schools, then this should follow. I got a copy of the audio version and thought the narration was superb.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It was a blessing and a curse to read the source material right before this.
The steady divergence over the course of the book from Mark Twain’s work was so well done. The storyline evolves into a new entity entirely while the carefree atmosphere of Huckleberry Finn diminishes over time. So subtle but it really took the book to a new level for me.
Books that get five stars from me often include one of the following: it made me cry, there is a fire romance plotline, a sick final act twist, and last but certainly not least.. revenge. Guess.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
James is nothing short of a revelation. With scalpel-sharp prose and a command of satire that is both admirable and rare, Percival Everett reimagines " The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" through the eyes of the man most often overlooked: Jim—now James—a three dimensional and , and intellectually rich Black man navigating the grotesque absurdities of antebellum America.
I'm not sure why critics and reviews call this book "outrageously funny." The satire is darkly comical, but more harrowing than amusing. Satire isn't always meant to make us laugh. The senselessness of the rape, violence, and murder is hard to get through. Everett really brought the inhumanity of slavery to light for an audience that's desensitized and/or ignorant of it. I can already hear the red hat wearing, book burning mafia on their way to tell me that antebellum slavery wasn't as bad as all that...
I was never a huge fan of Huck Finn in grade school- not for any profound reason, I just didn't rock with it as an 11-year old. "James" was thoroughly enjoyable, and breathes new life and also holds up a mirror to the original story. It's not just a re-telling, it's a total re-orientation.
I'm not sure why critics and reviews call this book "outrageously funny." The satire is darkly comical, but more harrowing than amusing. Satire isn't always meant to make us laugh. The senselessness of the rape, violence, and murder is hard to get through. Everett really brought the inhumanity of slavery to light for an audience that's desensitized and/or ignorant of it. I can already hear the red hat wearing, book burning mafia on their way to tell me that antebellum slavery wasn't as bad as all that...
I was never a huge fan of Huck Finn in grade school- not for any profound reason, I just didn't rock with it as an 11-year old. "James" was thoroughly enjoyable, and breathes new life and also holds up a mirror to the original story. It's not just a re-telling, it's a total re-orientation.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
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
Favorite Quote: “At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them.”