23k reviews for:

James

Percival Everett

4.52 AVERAGE

saturnbeforesunset's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

ccavie's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional funny inspiring 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: Complicated

meeshreads's review against another edition

4.5

medium-paced

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I'm giving <5 stars just because I don't think I'd read this again, but I'm very glad I finally read it! I've never read the original story of Huck Finn, so don't have anything to compare to but this story is quite an adventure. I think the plot points are probably the same in both books, but it's the narrator's perspective that makes this an important retelling of a "classic." It seems that a lot of stories about slavery or containing slaves are centered or told from the perspective of the slave owners, or others who benefit from slavery. This version of the story is told by James, a person born into slavery, who obviously has a much different view of the world compared to Huck. James is a wonderfully empathetic, kind, and lovable character whom I enjoyed very much throughout this book, and it's hard to imagine how cruelly he might be portrayed in the original story. I am hesitant to, but curious, should I read Huck Finn?? 

dbenbassett's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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Enjoyed this new telling of the book!

kma0012's review against another edition

4.25

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

ellenreinfjell's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

imabrunette23's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

kariss182's review against another edition

5.0

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Gripping, nuanced, really well written

proc's review against another edition

3.25

adventurous emotional reflective 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: Yes

kikireads999's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional informative 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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I always find it slightly disconcerting when a book is so easy read in language and so incredibly painful in substance. I can fly through the pages, and therefore fly through clear, easy to understand descriptions of despicable, horrific moments in the story. The man in the ship who never sees the light of day, let alone other people, was probably the worst for me. It made me almost physically nauseous. The "breeder" farm at the end of the book and the horrific sexual abuse of multiple female characters was also disgusting and blood curdling. The depravity, abuse and constant dehumanization is on full display, with no flowery language to hide behind. A very smart way to write this story, I think.

The exploration of code switching to the extreme was very interesting, protection and also a secret that must be kept. Language seems to be a central idea to the book. I feel like I need to read someone else's analysis to fully grasp Everett's ideas.

I'm honestly mad at myself for not understanding the foreshadowing of Huck being James' son. Big dumb. I was a little disappointed that Huck and James part ways, but I also understand that Huck had options that James and his wife and daughter did not. I hope they found each other again.

I would have loved some more backstory on James and Huck's mother's childhood and relationship, that would have been really interesting to hear about. It must have been extremely fraught and I really would love to know about their experiences together. Also maybe more backstory for James himself? I feel like I didn't really get to know him as a character as much as I would have liked.