Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'

James by Percival Everett

46 reviews

bookaquarius's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

5.0

“I am the angel of death. Come to offer sweet justice in the night.” 

I finished James by Percival Everett this morning and it was a five star read. Per the publisher’s synopsis, this story is a “reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.” Everett’s vision for James and the new twists he added to this adventurous and harrowing story added depth, complexity, and intrigue while sticking with the kind of absurd & unbelievable undercurrent was really something.  Mind you, I hated some of the possible implications in this book! There are suggestions that aren’t really answered clearly and have just left me ruminating and twisting and uncomfortable with the not knowing what the author actually thinks. But I also loved so much of the subversion of the original story; the bold display white supremacy’s hypocrisy, perversion, and violence; the moments of dark humor; and the thread of compassion that in its own way twisted the original story into something new and more interesting. I’m coming away from this thinking about how we can come to know so much, and know more than anyone expects of us, and still not even be scratching the surface of the bigger picture. This is one of those books that makes me wish I had a book club because there are layers to unpack!! Everett is, in fact, one of the best story tellers I’ve read in a long time.

I wish I could say what I needed to say about Huck but it’s spoilery so just know that THAT specific change to the original story… Percival, you ate. 

P.S. Dominic Hoffman narrates the audio and it was fantastic! Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual assault

libswagmenter's review against another edition

Still very much processing this book. It did not go how I expected. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

leslie_overbookedsocialworker's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

kareimer's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Grief

Minor: Violence

asienerbrown's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Murder, and Classism

Moderate: Violence and Trafficking

Minor: War

bookswithtaybai's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Violence

kitta's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: War

jessiesnoww's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and War

gar42's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

I’ve never read the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but I loved the story of James. A brilliant historical fiction novel that examines a classic, canonical story in a new light. 

This is an adventurous and action-packed novel that doesn’t gloss over the horrors of slavery-era America. 

The characters are full and complex, and their relationships are rich and heartwarming. A roller coaster of adventure and emotion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization, and Stalking