Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

James by Percival Everett

99 reviews

hipsterspinster's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad 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: Complicated

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This was an interesting take on the classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with Jim (James) as the main character. I appreciated the themes of choice, language, and perception that guided the story. However, the violence was hard to stomach at times.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment, Dysphoria

Minor: Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, War

sarahmore_books's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad 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: No

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This is a retelling of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Reading this book has inspired me to read the classic by Mark Twain. I'm sure I would have understood or noticed even more had I read that book, but it's certainly not necessary to enjoy this masterpiece! I think this is a must-read for every American and probably for everyone else too. 

Themes: slavery, moral goodness, survival, racism, family, loyalty, race, passing (as white)

 

Style (1): First, I want to say that I didn't know that slaves spoke differently around white folk, but the explanation supplied made sense. In any case, the author (and narrator) did an excellent job of switching back and forth between the dialects. This added an unexpectedly poignant contrast between races, and between Black slaves' behaviour around other slaves vs. around white slavers. The author's ability to convincingly switch between these different styles or dialects of speech (between different permutations of interlocutors: B to W, B to B, W to B, W to W) was remarkable! It captured the racism and belief systems of the time. 

 

Plot (1): Despite being a retelling, I imagine that this book filled in the gaps of the original Mark Twain book, particularly when Huck and Jim/James are separated. Moreover, it offered James' inner monologue. I especially loved how Everett (the author) developed James' justifiable anger throughout the book. Having never read the original book, the plot twist shocked me! I didn't expect a classic (or a retelling of a classic) to have a plot twist like that.

 

Atmosphere/Setting (1): The setting was perfectly evoked. I could see everything and I could feel James' emotions. It evoked some of the real frustration and anger, but also resignation towards being a slave at that time. 

 

Characters (1): The characters were all well-developed emotionally and in relation to the plot.

 

Enjoyment (1): To say I "enjoyed" this book feels wrong due to the sadly true historical content, but I'm very glad I read it and I think it is a must-read! It may even replace the original Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in schoool curricula (but I will have to read the original before forming a strong opinion about this).

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder

wykirsty's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Death of parent

tylerjs's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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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It was outstanding in every way. The only note I have, not to be cliche, is that I wish it was slightly longer! I wish there was a bit more complexity to the plot itself, however this is a story that really shines on character development and it shines in its current form. I will definitely be looking for more books from Mr. Percival Everett!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Classism

sarahbiegelsen's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Violence, Murder, Colonisation

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Physical abuse, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War

tigerlily22's review against another edition

4.5

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War

mrs_cbell's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad 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: No

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A take on Huckleberry Finn that will long override the original for me. The perspective of Jim, a slave on the race for freedom for himself and his family, is emotional and educational. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery

Moderate: Death, Rape, Violence

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, War

jamelchior's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring 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: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Murder

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail

unclejon75's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous emotional 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

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There was a lot of hype around this book & rightfully so. I thoroughly enjoyed it but, I felt it was a little incomplete with leaving out the interactions with Tom Sawyer and I felt the ending was a little rushed. All in all, I'm glad I read it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Classism

Minor: Death, Rape, Trafficking, Alcohol, War

koitai108's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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: Complicated

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A picture of what life was like for an American slave. It was a gripping tale, very emotional and often challenging. Eye-opening for me, because I don’t think I’ve ever had the opportunity to experience a story from a slave’s perspective, and it’s such an important perspective to get to witness. I hope to get to read more by this author. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism