Reviews tagging 'Murder'

James by Percival Everett

124 reviews

grace134's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective

• 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

5.0

I re-read Huckleberry Finn as my personal homework assignment before reading James, and I highly recommend doing that. Re-read Huckleberry Finn first so you it's fresh for you.
Serious and thought provoking but also a fast and engaging read. Subversive, smart, beautifully executed. Even knowing that it was the retelling from Jim's perspective, not what I was expecting, but in a bold, beautiful way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Murder

any_bethany's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Murder

maryinca's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn just prior to reading James.   It had been decades since reading Tom Sawyer and I don’t remember if I ever read Huckleberry Finn.  James loosely follows the adventures of Huck and Jim but from Jim’s perspective. 

An excellent book and I highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Murder

joanna_banana's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is exquisite! Everett challenges the common tropes in literature about enslaved Black people in the south during antebellum. The scene with James and Judge Thatcher towards the end was perfect. It did end rather abruptly but I appreciated the non closure too. He said what he had to say, and James did what he had to do. I recall reading parts of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn so some scenes on the river were familiar and the con men definitely came back to me. This stands all on its own! I liked how he developed the relationship of Jim and Huck more. It’s darkly funny in parts too with gotcha commentary about white people. Reading this in the aftermath of Trump elected to a second term d term…some of those quotes are still so true. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

rei_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

author2223's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, and Murder

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War

kassandrik's review against another edition

adventurous sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Slavery, and Murder

Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence

Minor: War

sandro_reads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny 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? No

4.5

I only have a passing memory of Huckleberry Finn which I wish I had reread prior to James to better see how they interconnect.

James deserves the praise heaped upon it. It’s just so clever in the way it spins a different take on the old South through familiar characters and how much of our history still reverberates today. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Murder

keeperlitbooks's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Murder

Minor: Trafficking

shetef's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful 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

5.0

I hope this is assigned in schools in addition to Huck Finn someday. Truly a masterpiece.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and Trafficking

Moderate: Rape and Murder