Reviews tagging 'Murder'

James by Percival Everett

23 reviews

purplemuskogee's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-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

4.75

I had read that it would be action packed and funny; I'm not sure it was exactly funny although it had humour at times, but it was definitely action packed and really well-written. I can't remember the original story of Huckleberry Finn and I don't think it mattered too much, I loved following James (Jim) as he escapes and then plots his return to free his wife and daughter, and the characters he meets. I think Percival Everett did something really clever in using historical fiction to weave so many current (sadly) themes in a way that didn't feel forced, and I really enjoyed reading this. 

Free ARC sent by Netgalley. 

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Content Warnings

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

devynreadsnovels's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Pedophilia, Hate crime, Child death, Grief, Kidnapping, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Trafficking, Violence, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Murder, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Torture, Slavery, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, War, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, and Police brutality

emmavardy2's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective 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

Just read it. Brilliant. Modern classic.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Racism, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape

laheath's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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

I loved this reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn! Some of the basic plot elements and events are still there, but the enslaved Jim has been reinvented. His perspective provides an interesting, and sometimes funny, twist to the story. Excellent narration in the audiobook!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Slavery

Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder

Minor: Gun violence

mrsmoy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Hate crime, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Torture, Slavery, Child death, Death, Genocide, Physical abuse, Gun violence, Racism, Murder, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence

rachelle_reads's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

5.0

Wow. What a masterful retelling of an iconic American story, this time from the perspective of Jim. Everett did not flinch when it comes to the treatment of slaves in the 1860s along the Mississippi River. And yet the author also brought in the right amount of humor and absurdity to make this book an eminently readable page turner. My favorite aspect was Jim and other slaves’ use of language among themselves and in front of white people. 

I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn decades ago and barely remember it. I don’t think reading it is necessary for enjoying this book. 

I read part of this book on audio, and the narrator was fantastic. 

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Content Warnings

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

annaoallen's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring tense fast-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? N/A

5.0

Thought provoking, inspiring, enraging. This book is perfect and I could see myself reading it again just for James's wisdom and determination. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Slavery, and Murder

Thought provoking, inspiring, enraging. This book is perfect and I could see myself reading it again just for James's wisdom and determination.

tiogair_rioga's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder

Moderate: Child death, Child abuse, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Death of parent, War, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia

stephe's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad 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

5.0

 “At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.” 

 

James is truly phenomenal. A retelling that on its own rivals, even surpasses, the original, all the while in deep conversation with it—at times complementing, at times challenging—to create a stunning work of American fiction. A testament to the power and import of words—written, spoken, hidden, revealed—and to the deep interiority from which they spring and to which they tend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Murder, Slavery, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse

habeels's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Murder, and Slavery

Moderate: Rape, Torture, Violence, and Sexual assault