A review by shoshin
James by Percival Everett

adventurous challenging 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? It's complicated

5.0

Satisfying yet realistic end for James/Jim. I want to go back and read Huckleberry Finn again now, which I haven't read in years, to see how the two books compare. I think they mostly line up in major plot points, but I want to check. 

The depiction of slavery was very realistic in ways that a lot of people are still unaware of, yet still sanitized because a great deal (but not all) of the violence takes place "off-screen."
The horrific abuse that Sadie likely suffered at the breeding farm, even in only two weeks, wasn't touched on at all, for example. Despite it showing in one instance how exactly so many slaves who were white could be born, it was still a very male-centric viewpoint.
It did an excellent job wrestling with the nature of race in a system where race determines every element of your life. 
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