James (Pulitzer Prize Winner)

By Percival Everett

Book Overview

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER - #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER - A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view - In development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg

KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER - NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST - SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE - A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times Book Review, LA Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, TIME, and more.

"Genius"--The Atlantic - "A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own."--Chicago Tribune - "A provocative, enlightening literary work of art."--The Boston Globe - "Everett's most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful."--The New York Times

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. 

Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385550367
• ISBN13: 9780385550369
• Release Date: March 2024
• Publisher: Doubleday Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.13 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.8" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Huck didn't even know him

The author took an American classic in Huckleberry Finn and changed the viewpoint from Huck's to Slave Jim. It was a unique look and he added a lot to the character of Jim that Mark Twain hadn't. It was an interesting read for anyone who has read Huck Finn's story.

Updated Huckleberry Finn with a twist

I read Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn immediately before opening Percival Everett's James. I wanted to be in touch with the parallels, familiar with the original so as to better appreciate the new viewpoint, and have some bases for comparison because every blurb about James mentioned the 19th century classic. I was immediately hooked and enjoyed Percival Everett's story. Yet halfway through, my mind started wandering, wondering why the characters weren't better defined. Relationships weren't explored. Backgrounds weren't told. Dream sequences with philosophers were a bit over the top. Even landscapes weren't well painted in words. Yet, I stayed up late to finish the book because I wanted to know the ending, as far-fetched as it was. Still, I enjoyed the ride and will recommend it.

I was excited to read this book!

It was good to read the story from James’ point of view. While He, Huck, and Tom lived at the same time, they definitely lived different lives. I loved the surprise bombshell too.

Superb!

Excellent read! I was especially struck and thrilled by the portrayal of Jim as intelligent, a survival, loving, strategic, etc. — rejecting all the stereotypes history has imposed on black Americans. The coded language among the enslaved was brilliant. Jim was filled with courage and determination to save and return to his family! The brutal realities of slavery was heartbreaking.

A good read

Very well done, it wasn’t predictable. A powerful book.