#Netgalley #Gifted

I read The Trees by the same author as James last year and I’m still struggling to comprehensively review it; I loved it so much I don’t want to mess it up (hello, imposter syndrome) so it was with great enthusiasm that I approached this new book, and Everett’s 24th novel. It thankfully lived up to all expectations.

This is a masterful retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but told from the enslaved Jim’s perspective. What are boyish escapades for Huck are quite literally a matter of life or death for James; the two end up on the run together with the constant fear of capture and lynching at the forefront of Jim’s thoughts. Huck however is settling into his white saviour role with the lack of understanding only a privileged white child can have.

As I expected from Everett, this is just such a cleverly written book; it takes everything you might know about enslaved people, or about the original book, and completely turns it on its head, and it offers you a new way of viewing what many would have described as an American classic.
I haven’t read Huckleberry Finn but went into this book knowing the gist of the original story. I do wonder though if a recent read of Huck would have added much to my experience of James.

There is definitely an element of the fantastical to parts of the book; alternative historical goings-on that could probably never have happened, but add a speculative-fiction feel to what you’re reading. I felt the same when I read The Trees; like the author is serving his own historical justice and righting wrongs as he goes.

This is a dark book. At times, there’s humour in there but be prepared for a lot of unavoidable violence, given the era it’s set in. 100% recommend this book, but proceed with caution.

I truly feel Percival Everett is a genius. I just need to work my way through his back catalogue now!

With many thanks to @netgalley and @panmacmillan for my advanced copy. As always all opinions are my own. James is available to buy on the 11th of April.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book with no obligation to review.

I enjoyed this book, a new take on Huckleberry Finn. The storyline is similar to the Mark Twain book although there is a twist I am not too sure about and the ending is different but of course the main difference is that Jim is portrayed in a more realistic way. It is intriguing to think that enslaved people were, at least in part, living up to the expectations of their "massas" and not revealing their real selves. I wonder if this was true although I imagine that the enslaved would be too tired and ground down by the appalling reality of their captivity to have the energy to be so self aware.

As I say, it is an interesting idea but I am wary that this difference between the way the captive behaves among his captors and the way he behaves away from them, might have the effect of watering down and rose tinting the dreadful abuses the captives suffered. It is trye to an extent that a person can be captive in body but free in their mind but that does not make up for the captivity.
There is no denying that the book is a page turner, has vivid events and characters and some wry observations about "white folks" and how to deal with them.

It always worries me though that if, in the name of diversity, for example, we change historical fact, we silence the voices of the oppressed and minimise their struggles.

रस निष्पत्ति - रौद्र 😡, करुण😭 (in readers)
भाव निर्मिति - शोक😪, वीर 💪( in characters)

Even today the maid of my house finds it appropriate to sit down on floor to have her cup of Tea. Everytime I tell her to sit on chair, she argues.This shows how deeply the sense of slavery, servitude is imbibed in our society, that even if given an opportunity to be equal, they prefer to deny it

I wonder what if I visit her house. It would only be appropriate to sit on floor with my cup. I fail to understand that how a person who cleans our mess deserves any less respect

Also makes me ponder was Mark Twain really paying an ode to those societal norms when he wrote Huckleberry Finns. Was it really his "Researched Project" or brutal narrative stated in most apathetic, insensitive way

Everett's James, much like its original, Huckleberry Finns, works around the story of enslaved Jim running off to Jackson Island, after overhearing that he is about to be sold. Separated from his wife and daughter he decides to hide till he can find a way out. On another hand, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his abusive father. Here begins their journey by raft across the Mississippi River & also the journey of their friendship

As much as Everett draws inspiration from the original, the strength of his work lies in marking & replacing minute things and thus making this work very much his own. From replacing all N- words with Warrior, he creates a real hero for you. One who fights, releases slaves & fights demons inside & outside. From someone who is scared to make his kids speak their native language he becomes one who is a boisterous fighter & renames himself James

When I had read Percival Everett's The Trees, the humorous anger didn't work well for me whereas James with its sensitive approach & a balance of humor embraces you

I am not a big fan of retellings but this one makes you crave for more

Thank you so much @netgalley@panmacmillan @mantlepressbooks for advance review copy

Read it coz this one is out tomorrow, a fantastic retelling which has all the making of an Original Classic

James was a bit of a slow burner for me, but after the first 15/25%, the story picked up and I was completely gripped. It was a hard read in places, but gripping all the same. This is my second Percival Everett novel and it won't be my last. 4 stars

I read books pertaining to slavery with trepidation, but knowing Percival Everett's work I thought that this would be worth reading.
This is much better than Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn.
The storyline is not very pleasant, because it is a re-imagining of Mark Twain's novel.
The story is however very cleverly woven into the Twain storyline, with as much humour as can be found with such a serious underlying topic.
We often forget what a horrendous time some of our fellow human beings were having such a short time ago. Books like this are essential to remind the reader of such events.
Schools should read Twain's and Everett's novels in tandem and then discuss the probable reality of the events described with reference to real events.
My thanks to the author for bringing these important lessons to our attention once again, and for a marvellous read.
Everyone should read this book. It is excellent.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This work caught my attention because it is described as a reinterpretation of my favourite childhood read, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". "James" retells the classic from a fresh, new perspective, told through the eyes of the slave Jim, who prefers to be called James. Although he is initially portrayed as an ignorant slave, he is in fact quite the opposite: intelligent, literate and remarkably empathetic towards his fellow slaves.
I was particularly struck by the change of register in the way black slaves express themselves depending on whether they are in front of their white owners or each other. However, I must admit that it was challenging for me, given that my mother language is Spanish, while the "Pidgin-English" used by the slaves implies an additional difficulty.
Throughout the novel, an initial fidelity to the original plot is maintained, but towards the middle, Everett begins to take the story down unexpected paths, making it clear that this is not so much Huck's story as Jim's. We are immersed in the world of the slaves, and the story of Jim, in his inner world, gaining a vivid perspective on what it means to be a slave. The narrative oscillates between moments of humour and moments of heartbreaking harshness.
Ultimately, this novel addresses issues of racism and inequality, exploring prejudice and the quest for liberation. It also raises questions about black identity, which must be disguised, and about language as a survival tool that reinforces white supremacy.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan Publishers for providing me with a digital copy for review.

Esta obra llamó mi atención debido a que se la describe como una reinterpretación de mi lectura favorita de la infancia, “Las aventuras de Huckleberry Finn”. "James" narra el clásico desde una perspectiva fresca y novedosa, contada desde la óptica del esclavo Jim, quien prefiere ser llamado James. Aunque inicialmente se le presenta como un esclavo ignorante, en realidad es todo lo contrario: inteligente, alfabetizado y notablemente empático hacia sus compañeros.
Me ha impactado especialmente el cambio de registro en la forma en que los esclavos negros se expresan dependiendo de si están frente a sus amos blancos o entre sí. Sin embargo, debo admitir que resultó desafiante para mí, dado que mi lengua materna es el español, mientras que el “Pidgin-English” utilizado por los esclavos implica una dificultad adicional.
A lo largo de la novela, se mantiene una fidelidad inicial a la trama original, pero hacia la mitad, Everett comienza a llevar la historia por caminos inesperados, dejando en claro que no se trata tanto de la historia de Huck como de la de Jim. Nos sumergimos en el mundo interior de Jim, obteniendo una perspectiva vívida de lo que significa ser esclavo. La narrativa oscila entre momentos de humor y otros de una dureza desgarradora.
En fin, esta novela aborda temas de racismo y desigualdad, explorando los prejuicios y la búsqueda de liberación. También plantea cuestiones sobre la identidad negra, la cual debe ser disimulada, y sobre el lenguaje como una herramienta de supervivencia que refuerza la supremacía de los blancos.
Muchas gracias a NetGalley y a la editorial Pan Macmillan por facilitarme una copia digital para su revisión.

4.5

In James we have a re-telling of part of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but it's so much more than just that.

We begin with Jim escaping, with Huck, on learning thar he is to be sold. Huck runs because his abusive father has returned to town and Huck fears for his life.

I am afraid it has been a very long time since I read any Twain but parts of Jim and Huck's story did come back to me while I was reading this novel.

What Percival Everett does do brilliantly is to turn what you think you know about slaves utterly on its head. Jim is educated - can read and write, and when he is not performing for whites, has perfect diction. I guess this is one of those things that I always assumed was true. If you look at any subjugated people's they will find a way to get an education. I suppose what I always thought must be hard was hiding it from the "masters".

James doesn't have the visceral horror that The Trees gave us nor is it as laugh out loud funny/horrifying as I Am Not Sidney Poitier but Everett has constrained himself somewhat by sticking to Jim's part in Huck's story - albeit Jim being the planner and carer in this instance.

There are lots of surprising and frankly nauseating parts to the story but you couldn't possibly tell a tale of slavery without that. It will remain a permanent mark in history that we should never forget or romanticise.

Highly recommended. Yet another triumph of a book from one of America's most brilliant novelists.

Thankyou very much to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the advance review copy.

Like most American teens, I read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in high school. I don’t remember the book having much of an impact on me, in fact, I think it might have been one of the few books that I ended up finishing on Sparknotes. However, when I saw that Percival Everett had written a retelling from Jim (or now better referred to as James) POV, I had a feeling I would enjoy it much more than its original counterpart. I did listen to some of Huck Finn on audiobook to do some prep, however, while I still enjoyed and appreciated the original Missouri dialect that Twain leverages easily, the constant use of the n-word was incredibly off-putting and at points distracting. While it made me a bit anxious to read Everett’s version, I should have known the care that he would put into modernizing the language and story. James gives new life to this classic tale, further inspecting race, slavery, class, and more, walking the fine line between telling a humours adventure but pointing out the horrors that took place in tandem. James reminds white audiences especially of the brutality and barbarity of slavery that is so often glossed over in the traditional classical books we often read growing up.

Growing up in England Huckleberry Finn wasn't part of my growing up. I have an idea of the story but I think i would've enjoyed this more if i been more aware of the details.
As it is this is still a strong story. i liked the simple-seeming writing style, this felt like a book aimed at younger people, but it is very obviously an adult book.
I found some of the dialogue quite profound and liked how some very shocking scenes were written quite matter-of-fact which actually made them hit harder.

A great retelling of a well-known story (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) told from the perspective of Jim, the slave that originally accompanied Huck in Twain's story. Jim is smart and educated, I loved spending time with him and getting to know him in this book.

The voice of Percival Everett shines through this book. Similarly to The Trees, there are truly funny moments included in an otherwise difficult storyline.

The short chapters made me gobble it up. I will be recommending this book for a while. Definitely something that should be read in schools.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

👨🏾 REVIEW 👨🏾

James by Percival Everett
Release Date: 11th April

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

📝 - A retelling of Huckleberry Finn, but told from the perspective of Jim, the slave accompanying Huck. When Jim heard that he is to be sold to another slave owner far from his wife and child, he has no choice but to flee, risking his life. Huck Finn, a white boy from the same town, has also decided to run away, escaping the abuse from his father. Together Jim and Huck try to survive while also evading those on the hunt for Jim.

💭 - As the rating suggests, this was a brilliant read. I have at least two other Percival Everett reads on my tbr and now I’m so excited to read them. He writes with such humour even in topics of slavery and the associated violence, but this doesn’t take away from the story at all. I loved the way he created Jim’s character (I can’t say I remember how much of a personality Jim was given in the original) and the relationship between Huck and Jim. A really brilliant read, and very fast-paced too!

Is this one on your radar?

#james #percivaleverett #readblackauthors #readdiversebooks #literary #literature #literaryfictionreaders #literaryfiction #huckleberryfinn #retelling #2024release #boosbookishchallenge2024 #fiction #classicfiction

Loved James by Percival Everett., to see the then world from Jim's perspective. The characters from the story where so alive due to the writing style and all the moments from the book either the funny ones, the sad ones or the scary ones where James is followed or hunted by the King and the Duke or the slave owners felt so real.
5 stars, less than that is not possible.

New narrative on the story of Huckleberry Finn, well written.
The book is thought provoking both in the treatment of slaves and their masters. The paddle boats on the Mississippi, and just excellent description of their surroundings

It is the first time I have read any books by Percival Everett, but it will definitely not be the last

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

JAMES is the first book I have read by Everett and will by no means be the last. This was incredibly written, very emotive and like nothing I've read before. I immediately have gone and purchased previous titles by Everett and can see this novel being in my top five reads of this year (early to say in March!). Highly recommend.

A masterful retelling of the classic American tale that was due a little historical revision. As in his Booker-winning The Trees, Everett's voice is as powerful as it is unique. Definitely recommended.

This book is just brilliant. I've never read Twain's work so this was new to me, whether or not that's a good thing I don't know.
Having read The Trees last year which was a definite 5 star read I was thrilled to get this book and it did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it. The writing style, the language, the humour and writing from the perspective of the slave it was all just fantastic.
Another Booker nominee Mr Everett if there's any justice

Having never read Huckleberry Finn ( To Kill A Mockingbird was the school text of the seventies) or the books of Percival Everett, James was read with no influence/underlying thoughts of Mark Twain although the plot of the 'original' book was familiar
James is a simply superb novel- this is an incredibly powerful and thought provoking story- turning HF on its head and telling the story from the perspective of James.
James/Jim , his wife Sadie and daughter Lizzie are all slaves to Miss Watson. James talks and supports Huckleberry Finn. But when Finn's father returns home from time away, the boy fears for his life and fakes his own death; at the same time Jim finds out he is to be sold and separated from his wide and daughter and goes on the run. His disappearance along with the boy results in people believing he killed Huckleberry; the two go on the run.
What follows is dramatic, heartbreaking and incredible storytelling. Jim's ability to read and write and speak with eloquence is something no slave should do - he even hides this from Finn. Their journey together is not easy and at certain points they are separated. Jim finds himself working for a violent blacksmith and also timber merchant, singing in a "black face" choir and encountering a myriad of people- other slaves and slave owners.
Slavery, oppression, intelligence ,colour and identity, racial stereotypes are all present shining a clear light on the dark history of America- how different are things in a true societal context.

This is an important novel and one that deserves recognition and plaudits.Percival Everett has written a modern masterpiece.

First, let's be clear, this is a brilliant novel. Not easy to read for many reasons: the content, being the main thing, but also the narrative style, which takes some getting into. Still, you *do* get into it, and the absolute talent of Everett, you realise, is right there in your hands. As the blurb says, the Huck Finn influence is clear, but the skill that Everett has in storytelling and narrative technique makes for a poignant and often highly suspenseful novel. Surely, bound to be a prize winner, this. My thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the privilege (and it was) of reading an advance copy.

James is a retelling of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, from the perspective of Jim, the slave.

I haven't read Mark Twain's original book so half way through I had to do some background reading in order to grasp the story fully. And once I familiarised myself with the events of Twain's book, i thoroughly enjoyed James. Without that context a lot of the scenes didn't make sense to me.

In Twains original from the background research I did, I'm made to believe that he employed racial stereotypes of gullibility, superstition and simple mindedness ie being uneducated to characterise Jim and he uses the Black Dialect to emphasise this characterisation. This racial stereotyping has been problematic for black readers since its publication and also for contemporary readers.

In Everett’s telling, Jim is self educated and the dialect is a put on, a manner of concealment, and a tactic for survival. This is extremely profound and completely flips the narrative and I believe it is what makes the novel so special and a must read. Plus there's a revelation later on which explains Jim's unwavering loyalty to Huck.

The first part of the novel is funny but gets bloodier and grimer as it progresses as the harsh inhumane reality of slavery is explicitly shown. It was quite difficult to read these passages. Jim recounts these events in a very emotionally detached but matter of fact style which I felt was brilliant because slaves couldn't afford to be emotional in the face of the brutality of their existence. They had to be 'strong' and detached emotionally from the separations, the inhumane and sadistic treatment they were subjected to.

Overall I enjoyed the book but I feel it's one you'll enjoy even more if you know the original Mark Twain story.

I kind of enjoyed reading this book but I struggled a little. Thank you to the writer, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read it.