In "James," Percival Everett retells "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" through the eyes and words of Jim. Everett gives us a scholarly James who constantly has to code switch between forced submissiveness and his own philosophically astute ruminations. As modern readers, we are reminded of how often black men and women still have to adjust their speech and tone based on the contexts of their interactions with white society. For James, it's a matter of survival; he must always be the submissive slave who doesn't look directly at whites, and who must always allow the white folk to feel smarter . By focusing on the code-switching aspect of James's life, Everett successfully retells Twain's novel in a way that honours the original while allowing a new Jim/James to come forward.

James must be on guard because the merest slip of the tongue will put him in danger, and there are moments within this novel where James does make verbal slips. The whites are outraged that he can speak so much better than they can. They thrive on feeling superior to the slaves, and these realistic characters see slaves as playthings and property. Everett highlights this when James encounters a white singing troupe who dress up in black face and makeup to sing for a white audience. These troupe members reenact a cake walk for the white viewers because it allows the spectators to feel comforted by an activity originally created to mock white behaviour.

Everett underscores how Jim the slave has few options, and he must always shape shift to meet the demands of whatever cruelty he encounters. He’s always on the verge of being killed or returned to be killed. There’s not a second where he can feel at ease. If James does try to relax, another moment of danger will descend upon him. There are hideous moments of violence, but Everett shows readers what a slave had to endure. He does not hide from the emotional and physical violence inflicted upon slaves.

Percival Everett’s “James” is a revelation. The novel speak to the horrific history of slavery and the erasure of black voices from the arts and the history books. Everett refuses to allow these voices to be curated, edited and silenced.

James is a brilliant re-telling of Huckleberry Finn from the slave Jim's point of view. Jim leads a double life, one as James, a husband and father, the other pretending to be an ignorant and credulous slave Jim for the benefit of white people.

The story mainly follows the plot of Mark Twain's novel, but with some brilliant additions and changes by Everett.

I absolutely loved it and hope it wins all the awards.

Another masterpiece from Percival Everett, his books get better and better. While I enjoyed this novel very much, I suspect I may have got more from it had I read Huckleberry Finn. I may go back to it now, as many of us went back to David Copperfield after Demon Copperhead. This is a beautiful way to revisit the classics, which may otherwise get less of a modern audience.

The focus on a minor character from the original is a new angle, and it works so well in the hands of an expert such as Everett.
Highly recommended

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the ARC

I might be biased, but Percival Everett can do no wrong. I have never read Huck Finn (I now will) but this book was a brutal, yet refreshing 'retelling' of a story that has been in the peripheries of my life for as long as I can remember. I have always heard of Huck, but never of James. This book sets that record straight. The writing is beautiful and I am now very curious to see how it will influence my reading of Huck Finn. Just a really good book!

Percival Everett has - somehow - managed to bring Mark Twain's voice back to life in this incredible book. The language and tone are perfect and the narrative engaging as well as informative.

The story follows Jim and Huckleberry Finn on a journey along the Mississippi, imagining what might have happened when Huck pretended to be dead in the original story. From stowing away on a steamship, singing in a minstrel show and making some questionable choices regarding freedoms, the underlying message in Everett's book is clear - love DOES conquer all. Love of family, love of freedom and love of self drive the plot forward in the most satisfying way as we slowly, but surely, become invested in the outcome of the adventure. Some of the most memorable images in the novel are those of soldiers marching to fight in the Civil War and the descriptions of the great river that is the backbone to the tale.

If you liked Brook's 'March' then this is the book for you. If you love Twain run!!

Percival Everett’s “James” takes a well-worn American tale, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and flips it for a fresh and thought-provoking perspective. While the opening might feel slow, setting the stage for the narrative shift, Everett quickly rewards patience with a powerful reversal.

Instead of Huck Finn guiding the reader, we see the iconic journey down the Mississippi through the eyes of Jim, the enslaved man Huck befriends. This shift is more than just a change in perspective; it’s a dismantling of stereotypes and a powerful act of giving voice to the silenced. Everett’s James is a complex and compelling character, his intelligence and humanity shining through in stark contrast to the dehumanizing realities of slavery.

The novel tackles race and the experience of slavery head-on, offering unflinching honesty without sacrificing readability. Everett draws you into James’s world with a sharp wit that even allows for moments of humor amidst the harsh realities.

While the ending left me wanting more closure, it arguably reflects the uncertain nature of freedom for enslaved people in that era. “James” may not provide all the answers, but it certainly sparks a firestorm of questions, prompting readers to re-examine a classic story and the historical context it represents.

In conclusion, “James” is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a good retelling, a powerful voice, and a thought-provoking exploration of race and history. Though the start might be slow and the ending abrupt, the journey in between is more than worth taking.

Having not read the original books and solely diving into this remake, I was able to take in James' story first. Perhaps this influences my review, with me having missed intricacies that others would noticed. But regardless, this book is another example of why Everett remains one of my favourite authors.
Exploring slavery, cruelty and racism, he manages to keep humanity central. To find beauty in the bleak backdrop of human history and remind us that these stories are all unique and personal to each person who experienced the horrors of being owned, sold and used like cattle. The first half of the book was slow, written simply and observing the world in a matter of fact way. Around half way through it begins to develop as do the characters and their experiences. This is likely a stylistic choice, mirroring the transitional experiences of Jim. But it did make for a tough beginning of the book and saw me read the book a lot slower than I typically would have.
Overall, I'd still recommend this book, along with any other book by Percival Everett.

A reimagined version of Huckleberry Finn, but from the perspective of enslaved Jim.

Jim overhears he is about to be sold, so in order to protect himself, he runs away to a nearby island. It is there that Huckleberry finds him. Huckleberry has staged his own death in order to disappear. Hick a young white boy and Jim an adult black male - Jim soon realises that because he is missing and now so is Huckleberry; it is likely he will be the one who is deemed guilty of his murder.
They both go on the run together, with a plan of returning to their hometown with ideals of buying Jim’s wife and daughter Sadie and Lizzie from their hosts, and they can live in a slave-free state.

Going on the run comes with difficulties, Jim a wanted fugitive needs to find a way to get enough money, Huck wants to help his friend do exactly that. However, as no black men can be seen without an owner; Jim is bought and sold through the slave trade. All the while Huck trying to protect Jim, and Jim trying to protect Huck.

I’ve never read a Percival Everett book before, but I bought a copy of The Trees for a relative and they raved about it, so when the chance came up to read this I jumped at it.
Unfortunately i hadn’t read Huckleberry Finn before, so I had to do a quick read before starting this so I had a bit of context.

This story is not my usual go to, but I’m so glad I read it. It’s a provocative, emotive adventure story - which has a poignant message to us all about racism, friendship and simple humanity. A lot of this book saddened me, it’s set in America in the 1800’s when black slavery was rife and the treatment that they endured is incomprehensible. However, this is also a story about an unlikely friendship, unlikely because of a difference in skin colour, a difference in ages; but a friendship is formed on mutual respect, trust, loyalty and overall that it’s the person within that matters.

This brilliantly written story, has taught me so much more than America’s shameful history, even though the story is fiction - within it are truths that are not.

I implore all of you to read this book. It’s a fantastic read, but it’s also so much more than a story. I’m now off to read all Percival Everett’s other books

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC - in return for my honest review

I read Huckleberry Finn years ago and it always stayed in my mind, James is a re telling told by Jim . You don’t need to have read Huckleberry Finn to enjoy this novel , it is a standalone novel. I thought that this was a brilliant wonderful read which I devoured. It is brutal in parts and tough to read in places. It also so witty and tender in places. We go on an adventure with Huck and Jim meeting an array of characters along the way , whilst Jim is trying to find his wife and daughter. The relationship between the two of them is so moving and the innocence of childhood comes through in Huck’s character. The role of a slave is described so well and the brutal treatment is upsetting to read., it made me so angry. This so far is my book of the year . It will stay with me and I highly recommend it .

I went into this thinking it was just going to be a modern retelling. Wrong! Absolutely brilliant, what an amazing character James is, never rooted for someone so much

This incredible, gut-wrenching, beautiful, heartbreaking novel is a twist on the classic children’s tale “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, as told from the perspective of the enslaved man Jim. Having not read Huck Finn for at least a couple of decades, I wondered whether the gaps in my knowledge would hamper my reading of this version, but this is so, SO much more than a “retelling”.

I don’t feel able to put into words how special this book is, and would just encourage anyone and everyone to read it. The topic is obviously haunting and there are multiple deeply barbaric scenes, but the writing is also exquisite and hopeful and so very relevant. It is most definitely one that will stay with me for a long time.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Oh, my poor heart.

I had no idea that I would end up loving these 2 characters so much. Since it's been so long since I read the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, I had to do a quick review before I let myself dive head first into James. And wow, I can't believe how incredible this book is, how perfectly it painted the setting and the characters surrounding Jim and Huck are. I wanted to reach through the pages and dole out hugs and slaps the whole time!!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this. Percival Everett is a frickin genius!!

This was such an intense, well written perspective of Huckleberry Finn.

I don't like to call these novels reimaginings, the story is just opened up, a continuation, and I'm so glad Everett took a chance on expanding Twain's novel. The tension of the subject is clear to any reader, but Everett doesn't falter on the fine line, they really expand and envelop you into the story. There's humour, humanity, and retribution, and it's one I'm looking forward to placing in everyone's hands.

This book is engaging from the beginning, the story has been built in past times in USA, when slaves were very much second class - it not third class citizens. they had no rights and were badly treated. This story follows the main characters who are trying to move away from their home area. It ends when slavery is about to be abolished - but not yet.
The 2 main characters keep the story alive from beginning to end. An extremely good read.

This is an incredible book. An instant classic, it will be as important as Mark Twain’s original. The writing, the vivid characters, the profound thoughtfulness at its heart, everything about this was jaw-dropping.

This is a ‘re-imagining‘ of Huckleberry Finn, from the POV of the slave, Jim, or James as he calls himself. I re-read HF before this and I think it‘s worth doing so.

The first half of the book faithfully follows the original and is satirically funny. The second half, when HF and Jim become separated in the original book, gives the author a freer rein. As a result the book becomes a lot darker and is where Everett gets his message across about slavery.

My thanks go to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

For the list of new releases for 2024, "James" had been at the top from the outset. There was an awful lot riding on this book, and it has exceeding all possible hopes that I had for it.

Percival Everett putting together a retelling of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is the sort of situation – an occurrence in the literary canon – that leaves you wondering why you hadn’t imagined it happening already. It feels like such a perfect fit for Everett; so natural a path for him to travel down. I don’t feel a synopsis of the tale is needed here, only to say that Percival Everett’s retelling is from the viewpoint of Jim, the slave who partners Huck Finn on most of his adventures and escapades in the original book.

I find there to be a general aversion to retellings within myself, especially those that retell classic stories. Ones untouched for so long and yet still contain so much punch. For several reasons, I find that reading them can grind at gears I didn’t know could be aggravated. Many of the authors of these retellings come into it with the only aim being to modernise, spruce up, and transfer the tales into a current setting and context – a modern redo. It varies with the skill of the writer, but this can very easily lead to some toe-curling narrative structures. The attempt to modernise creates a potential pitfall whereby the author is inadvertently dating their work in the very present tense. Time moves quickly and these authors can’t see the wood for the trees. Give it a few years – hell, even a few weeks – and the times have already moved beyond that new retelling. Huckleberry Finn is a story that hangs it’s hat on everything that was culturally prevalent at the time. Sadly, that prevalence has never disappeared, and sometimes it feels like it has grown. The growth in the original story’s impact, as well as the need for this retelling, creates potential potholes and slippages galore that Percival Everett must navigate.

The perspective of the original book was always from the viewpoint of Huck Finn. For a novel that uses satire as a tool to dismantle and unbalance the attitudes towards slavery at the time, I feel Twain used all the tools at his disposal. Huck Finn can only see the impact of slavery, he can never feel what it does to a person. That difference in seeing and feeling is where the original story misses the mark. Not through any malice or purposeful erasure, but because Mark Twain, and therefore also Huck Finn, cannot truly know how the horrors of the time impacted black and minority folk. They can see it happening, but they do not truly know.

That switch in perspective that Everett employs brings freshness to the book (freshness may not be the right word, as it provides a far darker narrative than the word suggests). It is the unlocking of a voice that was always there. Jim’s voice in the background. He disappears on numerous occasions in the original story. This is obviously going to happen, because we are Huck Finn, and we go where his story takes us. The real story of the book, however, sits only with Jim, and it is truly his story to tell. Following the path that Jim travels along as opposed to Huck, means the satirical edge of the original tale is needed less, and the horrors of the time really come to the fore. Satire can only take you so far. We witness everything first hand in “James”, exactly as it is being felt by Jim. Huck can hide from it. He can turn a cold shoulder and shun the truth of the matter. Here, the protection of ignorance disappears, and we are confronted face-first with the whole evil of it.

Language was an important part of Twain’s book, with the voice given to Jim being so strong and alien to the rest of the cast. Twain explained this away as being accurate for the time, saying something along the lines of him having committed it to the page only after researching the best direction to take. Perhaps this was true, but it’s clear to see that equipping Jim with that use of language was just Twain succumbing to stereotypes of the time. Everett switches this completely, showing the powers in language and how the use of it could be manipulated to both protect and control. This power is obviously portrayed in the slave owners and their outwardly aggressive implementation of it. But it also belongs to the slaves themselves. It is a quiet, unspoken power. The silence and the things that are left unsaid – that is where Percival Everett excels above anyone else.

Twain’s original tale came at a time when we may not have expected it to. The release of this book, however, comes later than most of us could’ve wished. Thankfully, it was always in perfect hands and the execution can only be admired. Jim’s voice has been needed since forever ago. I’m just pleased that he can’t be silenced anymore.

An enthralling journey awaits within the pages of this captivating fiction novel. With its intriguing plot and well-developed characters, readers will find themselves effortlessly drawn into a world brimming with mystery and suspense. The author’s prose is both eloquent and evocative, painting vivid scenes that linger in the mind long after the book is closed. A truly engrossing read that will leave readers pondering its intricacies and yearning for more. A must-read for fans of thought-provoking fiction.

An absolutely incredible, funny, powerful re-telling of Huckleberry Finn. Everett continues to be at his best! I absolutely devoured this.

This book was billed as a re-telling of Mark Twain's story 'Huckleberry Finn' as seen from the perspective of Jim, the slave. However, it is much more than that. The key facts in Huck Finn are all there (with maybe the exception of Tom Sawyer travelling with them) but the story is given much more flesh from Jim's perspective.

From the start the whole tone of the book is different - Jim is portrayed as a real man, with hopes and dreams, not just someone's chattel to be dealt with however they wished. The idea that the slaves actually spoke perfect American-English and only used slave talk around their masters is fascinating. Many prejudices and preconceptions are dealt with in the book as this shameful era in man's history unfolds.

James does run with Finn, and seeks his freedom and that of his wife and child. By the end of the book you are rooting for James to find his freedom during a time of war, although the nation will take a lot longer than his lifetime to rid itself of its prejudices concerning black people.

I thought it a really good book, it tells a strong story but also makes the reader think and question. The retelling of a classic could have gone very wrong, but this succeeds as it tells its own story, quite different from the original but hanging on the same frame. Perhaps this is the story Samuel Clemens really wanted to write but the mores of his time would not have accepted. By the end my heart was breaking.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.