James by Percival Everett

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INITIAL THOUGHTS

I picked up James as part of a Basecamp Books and Adventure book club pick and didn’t know what to expect, especially since I’ve never read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I was intrigued by the concept: Jim’s side of the story reimagined. The book immediately pulled me into a heavy, emotionally charged atmosphere. Though I didn’t have Twain’s original as a reference point, I could feel the weight of Everett’s intentions.

WHAT IT IS ABOUT

James retells The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, a formerly enslaved man. As he flees captivity and searches for his family, his intelligence, compassion, and sense of justice come to the forefront, offering a powerful reframing of a classic American narrative.

MY REVIEW

Writing Style

Everett’s prose is sharp and evocative. The story is literary but accessible, with moments of biting satire. The pacing, however, felt uneven. Some plot developments felt underdeveloped or rushed, especially near the end.

Themes & Messages

The book explores autonomy, erasure, survival, literacy, and the brutality of slavery with searing clarity. Everett critiques not just slavery but the way stories, especially those of enslaved people, are told, recorded, or forgotten. Still, I wanted more emotional introspection for the supporting characters and a deeper exploration of trauma.

Characters

James is complex and introspective, and I appreciated his devotion to his family and belief in education as a tool for freedom. However, many of the side characters, though compelling, fade too quickly. I found myself wishing their stories had more space.

Vibes, Settings, and Tropes

The Southern antebellum setting is stark and visceral. There’s a strong undercurrent of tension throughout the journey, as well as tropes like “found family,” “escape from bondage,” and “hidden intellect.” But the speculative moments, such as Huck being James’ son, felt oddly abrupt.

Favorite Quotes

“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not learning.”

“Belief has nothing to do with truth.”

“I had never seen a white man filled with such fear. The remarkable truth, however, was that it was not the pistol, but my language, the fact that I didn’t conform to his expectations, that I could read, that had so disturbed and frightened him.”

What Worked For Me

• The re-centering of the narrative around Jim was powerful and overdue.
• The commentary on language, literacy, and identity hit hard.
• Everett’s prose is competent and efficient, never indulgent.
• The historical context was harrowing but essential.
• James’s emotional connection to books and learning stood out as a moving thread.

What Didn’t Work For Me

• The ending felt rushed and unearned, especially the revolt and lack of reunion.
• Everett didn’t explore major twists enough, like Huck being James’ son.
• Many important side characters were gone too soon, their stories truncated.
• I wanted to see James write since the pencil felt symbolically significant, but the payoff was missing.

Final Thoughts

I recommend James to readers of historical fiction, fans of retellings, and those interested in critical reimaginings of the American literary canon. While it isn’t a perfect novel, it’s an important one that challenges us to examine whose stories we value and why.

Let’s Talk

Have you read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? If so, how do you think James compares? Did any plot points catch you off guard?

Video Review

@wonderedpages

What if Jim from Huckleberry Finn told his side of the story? James by Percival Everett is powerful, emotional, and full of literary depth. I loved the themes of survival, literacy, and resistance. This retelling flipped the classic narrative in a way I didn’t know I needed. 📚 Would you read a reimagining like this? Let’s talk! Thanks to @Basecampbooks for picking this one for book club! #BookReview #JamesByPercivalEverett #HistoricalFiction #BookTok #jamesbypercivaleverett #blackauthors #historicalfiction #literaryfiction #booksthatmatter #retelling #bipocvoices #bookishthoughts #bookrecommendations #deepreads #bookstoread #readersoftiktok #readingrecs #smartreads #bookclubpick #CapCut

♬ Nothing Can Change This Love – Sam Cooke