James by Percival Everett

Posted by Ms A on July 6, 2024 in All, Book Club Fodder | Leave a comment

This is Huckleberry Finn, but not as you know it.  James is a sensational re-imagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of runaway slave, Jim. Apart from being a work-stopping, page-turner, it welcomes a whole new generation of readers to one of the most revered American novels of all time.

I don’t think you necessarily need to read (or re-read) the original before launching in, but this little refresher might help.

In Mark Twain’s classic (written in 1884), teenage Huck fakes his own death to get away from his abusive father. He bumps into Jim, a local slave who is also running away after hearing that he’s about to be sold.  Worried that he may be blamed for Huck’s disappearance, Jim sets off with Huck on a raft down the Mississippi River in search of freedom, though ironically, further into the heart of the deep south.

Although their friendship is mutual, Huck is portrayed as quick witted while Jim is portrayed as ignorant.   

Well not this time…..

This time, Jim has a backstory and a brain. Oh, and his name is James thank you very much.  

This book follows the timeline of the original, but with a force that picks up pace just like the mighty Mississippi.  It has all the friendship and adventure of Twain’s classic but, with more complexity, more edge and, somehow, more at stake.  The newly characterised James is not only highly intelligent, he is more literate than some of the white people around him and knows how to use language in order to survive as a slave in the deep south.  He also has a lot more to worry about than just keeping Huck safe.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a classic for so many reasons, but it’s hardly contemporary.  It’s also undeniably hard to read and even banned from some classrooms in the United States for its language including the frequent use of the “N-word”. James offers a brand-new, but no less confronting, way to absorb the themes of friendship, freedom, prejudice and injustice and a chance to learn about the history of slavery in America.

James is written by Percival Everett. You may know him from his 2001 book “Erasure” which was made into the 2024 best picture nominated film, American Fiction.  James is currently on the New York Times Best Sellers List and in bookstores everywhere.

There is no excuse not to read this outstanding book.

And that’s my 2 cents worth.