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A review by lashawnwiltz
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
I had to sit with this book for a minute before I gave a review.
So I went into this book only remembering the loose idea of the book, so James was almost new to me in that regard. But it's not necessary to read Huckleberry Finn to enjoy this book.
It was fast-paced, and I appreciated the author's more realistic tellings of the "adventures" of this book.
The main thing I can say about this is that, unlike the original book, this one points out that as a slave, Jim never had any options. It's the original code-switching always changing to adjust to whatever type of white person or cruelty of slavery he comes upon. He is always about to be killed or in danger of being killed.
Which in some ways...hasn't changed today but I digress...
There were a few big reveals that came and went so quickly that I had whiplash and had to think back on how they were in our faces the whole time.
There were a few things that i will say...threw me off, but that's Everrett's way of writing and it always makes sense in the big picture.
In the end, I enjoyed the retelling of an American " Classic " from a slave's point of view. I loved watching the progression of how Jim became James. It was at times fascinating, sometimes sad, sometimes cruel.
But a good read. I'll almost say...a must-read for the year.
So I went into this book only remembering the loose idea of the book, so James was almost new to me in that regard. But it's not necessary to read Huckleberry Finn to enjoy this book.
It was fast-paced, and I appreciated the author's more realistic tellings of the "adventures" of this book.
The main thing I can say about this is that, unlike the original book, this one points out that as a slave, Jim never had any options. It's the original code-switching always changing to adjust to whatever type of white person or cruelty of slavery he comes upon. He is always about to be killed or in danger of being killed.
Which in some ways...hasn't changed today but I digress...
There were a few big reveals that came and went so quickly that I had whiplash and had to think back on how they were in our faces the whole time.
There were a few things that i will say...threw me off, but that's Everrett's way of writing and it always makes sense in the big picture.
In the end, I enjoyed the retelling of an American " Classic " from a slave's point of view. I loved watching the progression of how Jim became James. It was at times fascinating, sometimes sad, sometimes cruel.
But a good read. I'll almost say...a must-read for the year.