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A review by greensalbet
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
In this retelling of Huck Finn* Everett does a masterful job creating Jim/James as both the protagonist and narrator. Jim's relationship with Huck is fleshed out beyond the one-dimensional, slave-child relationship in Twain's book. Although most of the secondary characters remain predictably one-dimensional as the original novel.
What Everett's Jim does for readers is draw them into the psychology of slave survival and the intricate uses of language and behavior they employ while code switching. From the book's opening chapters, we see and feel everything Jim experiences. He speaks intelligently with Blacks and slaves, yet conceals this knowledge and wisdom when around Whites. In private, he facilitates language instruction lessons with his daughter and six other children who share he and his wife's cabin. His instructions include dumbing down their vocabulary around Whites and never suggesting answers or new ideas. They must uphold a relentless shield of stupidity. However, there is nothing wrong with tricking, or leading, them to ideas they want those Whites to consider. Using self-effacing questions and muted, facial expressions, Jim teachers them how to lead Whites to believe they have discovered original ideas on their own:
Jim: "So, let's pause to review some of the basics."
"Don't make eye contact," a boy said.
"Never speak first," a girl said.
"That's correct February," I said. (22)
"Let's try some situational translations....You're walking down the street and you see that Mrs.
Holilday's kitchen is on fire. She's standing in her yard, her back to her house, unaware. How do you
tell her?"
"Fire, fire," January said.
"Direct. And that's almost correct," I said.
The youngest of them, lean and tall five-year-old Rachel, said, "Lawdy, missim. Looky dere."
"Perfect," I said. (23)
The true depth of Jim's character appears in powerful passages throughout the story -- passages that build in intensity and furor by the book's ending. He understands the politics and idiocy of the White man's ways, and he doesn't hold back from sharing it with his own people.
"Why did God set it up like this?" Rachel asked. "With them as masters and us as slaves?"
"There is no God, child. There's religion but there's no god of theirs. Their religion tells that we will get
our reward in the end. However, it apparently doesn't say anything about their punishment. But
when we're around them, we believe in God. Oh, Lawdy Lawd, we's be believin'. Religion is just a
controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient," (24)
This book is a much-needed addition to the American canon. Once it's printed in paperback, I hope it's added to high school required reading lists.
*The book is a series of episodes, similar to the original book, and some were repetitive and long winded for this older reader. However, I think young teens and college students will find it captivating and engaging.
What Everett's Jim does for readers is draw them into the psychology of slave survival and the intricate uses of language and behavior they employ while code switching. From the book's opening chapters, we see and feel everything Jim experiences. He speaks intelligently with Blacks and slaves, yet conceals this knowledge and wisdom when around Whites. In private, he facilitates language instruction lessons with his daughter and six other children who share he and his wife's cabin. His instructions include dumbing down their vocabulary around Whites and never suggesting answers or new ideas. They must uphold a relentless shield of stupidity. However, there is nothing wrong with tricking, or leading, them to ideas they want those Whites to consider. Using self-effacing questions and muted, facial expressions, Jim teachers them how to lead Whites to believe they have discovered original ideas on their own:
Jim: "So, let's pause to review some of the basics."
"Don't make eye contact," a boy said.
"Never speak first," a girl said.
"That's correct February," I said. (22)
"Let's try some situational translations....You're walking down the street and you see that Mrs.
Holilday's kitchen is on fire. She's standing in her yard, her back to her house, unaware. How do you
tell her?"
"Fire, fire," January said.
"Direct. And that's almost correct," I said.
The youngest of them, lean and tall five-year-old Rachel, said, "Lawdy, missim. Looky dere."
"Perfect," I said. (23)
The true depth of Jim's character appears in powerful passages throughout the story -- passages that build in intensity and furor by the book's ending. He understands the politics and idiocy of the White man's ways, and he doesn't hold back from sharing it with his own people.
"Why did God set it up like this?" Rachel asked. "With them as masters and us as slaves?"
"There is no God, child. There's religion but there's no god of theirs. Their religion tells that we will get
our reward in the end. However, it apparently doesn't say anything about their punishment. But
when we're around them, we believe in God. Oh, Lawdy Lawd, we's be believin'. Religion is just a
controlling tool they employ and adhere to when convenient," (24)
This book is a much-needed addition to the American canon. Once it's printed in paperback, I hope it's added to high school required reading lists.
*The book is a series of episodes, similar to the original book, and some were repetitive and long winded for this older reader. However, I think young teens and college students will find it captivating and engaging.