Reviews - James | The StoryGraph

22.8k reviews for:

James

Percival Everett

4.52 AVERAGE

mafawcett617's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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: Yes

James is nothing short of extraordinary. Perceval Everett offers an astonishing perspective that reshapes a classic into something profound and unforgettable. It reminded me of the immense power of storytelling, not just to reinterpret but to transform the way a reader engages with the familiar. A true masterwork, and one I feel grateful to have experienced.

blinkedwards's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

bagpuss_janet's review against another edition

4.0

This is a great, subversive re-imagining of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the slave Jim. Everett masterfully blends satire and wit to give voice to a character long overshadowed in American literature. The novel is both a gripping narrative and a sharp critique of race, language, and history, and is a thought-provoking take on a classic. The slavery aspects continue to be unpalatable, of course, but I loved the way Everett voiced Jim. I studied Huck Finn for A Level English as a mature student nearly 20 years ago, and it was good to revisit the story from a different viewpoint.