Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - James

I found this a worthy reframing of Twain's story with much-needed balance and stakes, or perhaps, an emphasis on what was always at stake. What makes a White boy's rip-roaring adventure is in turn a life-or-death trial for James, with odds heavily weighted towards death. Death because any crime that occurs near him is presumed his fault, death because he is a runaway slave, and death simply because he is not allowed free movement over the land. James leans hard into the sort of racial horror/thriller genre of books like Lovecraft Country and movies like 'Get Out', though without any elements of fantasy. The very real threat of violence within a universally unjust system grounds the suspense.

It's been almost twenty years (💀) since I've read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and I remembered little of the original story. I don't know if reading it beforehand (or sometime now afterwards) would add to my experience of this novel. It's hard to imagine buying into some aspects of that story now, knowing this one. Even though I wouldn't consider a child guilty in the same way I would a slaveholding adult, it's hard to hold space for Huck's fun and adventure amidst the danger for James of either re-enslavement or execution. Certainly, even within a slaveholding society, there were pockets of joy and celebration, as it's the nature of the human spirit to create those pockets under most conditions. But James' ultimate aim in this story, the pursuit of freedom he grapples for both physically and philosophically, demonstrates the superseding value and centrality of freedom both inherent in all human beings and essential to our souls.

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_chaoticbooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

4.25

what a wry, satirical, yet very sobering retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the POV of Jim (or James, as he refers to himself as in the book). it was engaging and well-paced - i kept picking it up and wanting to know what happened next. Everett’s racial insights were particularly astute and gutting. overall, it’s a really great read, but i feel like i’m missing something because it feels like others are loving it so much more than me? it might be sky high expectations?

what i loved most about this book was how well it subverts stereotypes while still staying true to the spirit of the retelling. i’m pretty in awe at Everett’s writing and plotting. and the commentary! impeccable and cutting, while providing even more food for thought in the importance of being able to tell one’s story. i viscerally felt the emotions James was feeling at every turn, from the fear and suspicion to the confusion to the numbness and resignation. and to do so so precisely - Everett’s writing is top notch.

i totally understand the accolades and love for this book. while i am impressed, i wonder if i went into this book with too high expectations. or perhaps i’m missing the love because i haven’t read Huckleberry Finn - maybe it would hit a bit harder if i had?

still - i highly recommend this read for anyone looking for masterful writing, a great retelling, and overall engaging story. just temper expectations a bit, but don’t skip on this book!

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dkmorello's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A stirring and heart-felt take on Mark Twain’s stories, this time focusing on Jim, the runaway slave. Jim — or James, as he prefers — is a smart man who hides his deep intelligence behind the slave dialect white folks need to hear in order to understand slaves. He travels at night, along rivers, in mud and rain, meeting good and bad people, the bad people invariably white men who treat Jim like dirt and want to whip him, enslave him, sell him, kill him or lynch him. We get a new look at the relationship between Jim and Huck and on the “breeding farm” to which Jim’s wife and daughter were sold. Seeing big black men in chains at the farm, Jim asks, “Why do they have you chained up?” “They’re afraid of us,” the first man said, and then they all laughed. “We don’t know. I think they think it makes us feel more like animals. So we can mate like animals.” I felt for James and all the enslaved men and women in US history and the racism that allowed people both then and now to treat fellow humans like animals. Town-wide book read in Greenwich, CT.

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tenderdispatches's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

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penguins_save_lives's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
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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alylentz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I reread Huckleberry Finn before diving into this and really recommend the experience. I think considering the two texts together makes for a really engaging conversation for the reader. I found the transformations to the original narrative invigorating (especially the ending of this, which carries a lot of emotional weight and will really stick with me, vs. the ending of the original novel which I never really liked), but I can see if Huck Finn is one of your favorite books ever you might find fault with the changes

(though I will admit I did see the "twist" coming and am surprised to see others so dismayed)

. I also think those coming to this without having read Percival Everett before might be taken aback by some of the choices, but I think the transformation and reclamation here are extremely well done and memorable.

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