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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
Wow! This is a powerful read—much greater than a reimagining of an American classic. Percival Everett has profoundly given us a story of survival, boldness, and the quiet dignity of resistance in the face of dehumanization. Just the title alone tells the reader that Jim is much more that what Mark Twain had portrayed. Everett's clever use of language—the code-switching that the slaves taught each other and the way words, writing, reading and even a pencil carry such meaning and sacrifice for James is thought provoking and unsettling. The horror and pain of slavery is at the center of this novel which makes it difficult yet so necessary and important to read. My Queen Bees book club had in-depth and meaningful discussions about this book!
Synopsis: A magnificent reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
I highly recommend James, especially in light of what's going on in our country today. Everyone should read it—it's a well written, creative book about a person fighting for his voice.
Have you read James? What do you remember from when you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
Synopsis: A magnificent reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and satirical—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
I highly recommend James, especially in light of what's going on in our country today. Everyone should read it—it's a well written, creative book about a person fighting for his voice.
Have you read James? What do you remember from when you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
adventurous
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:
Yes
adventurous
medium-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 took me a minute to get into this book, to be honest, but once I was in it, I was fully immersed. It's made me want to go back and read the Mark Twain books that I read (or skimmed) in school. The writing is rhythmic. The code-switching and life-or-death choices that the character has to make due to the time and society he lives in are gripping and intense.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and while it was beautifully performed, I do wonder if this is a book where print is the best medium. I went back and listened to the first few pages(The beginning of Daniel Emmett's notebook with his blackface songs) because they made no sense to me at the beginning, but would have made more sense on the page. Not really a criticism, but just a note if you're wavering between the two mediums. The pro of the audiobook is that it's like an adventurous oral history, as if James is telling you the story himself.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and while it was beautifully performed, I do wonder if this is a book where print is the best medium. I went back and listened to the first few pages
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Slavery
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I think I need a break from heavy literature.
This was an amazing book, amazing story told from the perspective of a slave that never gave up.
Wonderfully written, graphic and made me sick to my stomach. An important read for anyone looking to understand slavery.
Angers me how the free still deal with oppression.
Super worthy of the Pulitzer prize. My god, what a journey and what a read.
This was an amazing book, amazing story told from the perspective of a slave that never gave up.
Wonderfully written, graphic and made me sick to my stomach. An important read for anyone looking to understand slavery.
Angers me how the free still deal with oppression.
Super worthy of the Pulitzer prize. My god, what a journey and what a read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm going to have to read Huck Finn again after this. I went into the book not knowing anything about it, so I was surprised to stumble on this well-written retelling of Huck Finn. James gives the agency and wisdom to Jim and other black people that they appear to lack in the original story while still paying homage to the classic.