Reviews tagging 'Murder'

James by Percival Everett

124 reviews

kshertz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny medium-paced

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

4.0

What a concept. Jim is actually James from Huck Finn and knows all about how to survive in this time of idiocy. The author’s conversation around society and their reverence of Huck Finn is evident. It’s smart, funny and serious all at the same time. I can’t say you enjoy reading it, but it deeply impacts you if you let it. I love the social commentary. An author who says the punchline before you even finish thinking of a possible joke. If Huck Finn is a book that has any relevance to you, it’s a must read. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

polo_g's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Trafficking, Death of parent, Murder, and Abandonment

fungirlreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

This was hard to read at times due to the subject matter. But it was an amazing story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence

Moderate: Death and Rape

Minor: Murder

hayreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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? Yes

4.0

Not something I'd usually pick up, but an enjoyable one. The n-word is said 68 times in this book. I'm sorry, but that's too many. The point could be delivered without it. The book was fast paced and I was always interested in where it was going.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

pix_ani's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

An amazing story told by an incredible narrator. This book will stay with me for years to come. 

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Content Warnings

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

patlo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

FANTASTIC book. This will be a classic, and it's a deep, mature complement as well as retelling of the story of Huck Finn. 

Told from the perspective of Jim, the slave in Huck's story, this is a powerful illustration and takedown of pre-Civil War slavery with heavy doses of philosophy and ethics and sociology. 

This book should be read and discussed in high school and college lit programs. Highly recommend to every one as a real eye-opener.

I also loved reading this via audiobook.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence and War

carojust's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

I loved this book, and was immersed the entire way, rooting for James as the true hero in a world imagined by Mark Twain, perfected by Percival Everett. 

There's so much depth beyond the adventure, and so much that needed to be said from the other side of the story. Most haunting to me was the reality of being chained without the chain, always existing within context of White slavers, named by them, tortured by them, unable to take steps without them. The contrast between James and Huckleberry, a child who has more power than a grown man, was devastating. The symbolism of a pencil and paper, the sacrifice that comes with having a voice, made me emotional.

This is set to be a modern classic, and I hope you read this for the beautiful storytelling, and the focus on Black history and the evils of slavery. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail

sierracaine's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, Slavery, Torture, and Murder

alisonvh's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? It's complicated

4.0

I’m still working out how I feel about this book, but there’s no denying it’s compelling, well-written, and a very different take on Huck Finn.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, and Murder

Minor: Child abuse

bookjudy42's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

An astounding work. Just incredible. Precise and biting and reflective and deep. James comes to life, with all the heartache and power of a firework. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail