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A review by ptenorio71
James by Percival Everett
5.0
Enjoyed the book but couldn't get my kids interested as they are unfamiliar with Mark Twain's books; which was a bit surprising. Helped me change my thought around the masking that slaves had to apply in order to accommodate white people during slavery. James has two personas (at least) and must be very careful how he engaged and speaks with others in order not to upset the balance. The end is exceptional as it emphasizes the end of James' tolerance for the brutality and unfairness of slave ecosystem.
Book is a reimagining of Mark Twain's classic "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved character.
1. The story is narrated by Jim, who is revealed to be an intelligent, literate man named James.
2. James is planning to escape slavery after learning he will be sold and separated from his wife Sadie and daughter Lizze.
3. James meets Huck Finn on Jackson Island after Huck fakes his own death to escape his abusive father.
4. The two embark on a journey down the Mississippi River, encountering various characters and dangers along the way.
5. James switches between vernacular and standard English, using "dumbed down" language around white people but speaking normally with other Black characters.
6. The novel explores themes of freedom, literacy, and racial identity. James has a deep reverence for books and writing.
7. Everett incorporates historical figures and philosophers into the narrative, with James having imaginary conversations with thinkers like John Locke and Voltaire[2][3].
8. The story is set just before the American Civil War, adding historical context to the events[6].
9. Towards the end of the novel, James reveals to Huck that he is actually Huck's biological father[1].
10. The book concludes with James rescuing his family and arriving safely in Iowa, where he simply introduces himself as "Just James"[1].
Everett's novel aims to give agency and depth to Jim's character while offering commentary on race, slavery, and American history through a satirical lens similar to Twain's original work.
Book is a reimagining of Mark Twain's classic "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved character.
1. The story is narrated by Jim, who is revealed to be an intelligent, literate man named James.
2. James is planning to escape slavery after learning he will be sold and separated from his wife Sadie and daughter Lizze.
3. James meets Huck Finn on Jackson Island after Huck fakes his own death to escape his abusive father.
4. The two embark on a journey down the Mississippi River, encountering various characters and dangers along the way.
5. James switches between vernacular and standard English, using "dumbed down" language around white people but speaking normally with other Black characters.
6. The novel explores themes of freedom, literacy, and racial identity. James has a deep reverence for books and writing.
7. Everett incorporates historical figures and philosophers into the narrative, with James having imaginary conversations with thinkers like John Locke and Voltaire[2][3].
8. The story is set just before the American Civil War, adding historical context to the events[6].
9. Towards the end of the novel, James reveals to Huck that he is actually Huck's biological father[1].
10. The book concludes with James rescuing his family and arriving safely in Iowa, where he simply introduces himself as "Just James"[1].
Everett's novel aims to give agency and depth to Jim's character while offering commentary on race, slavery, and American history through a satirical lens similar to Twain's original work.