This is a new classic! It reads wonderfully as a standalone, so if you haven't read Huckleberry Finn, it's not necessary in order to enjoy this book. This is a classic that will be read for decades to come.

Percival Everett is the master of satire. Coming off his Academy Award-winning rendition of his 20-year-old book Erasure, he turns his attention to the retelling of Huckleberry Finn. This version is told by Jim. The secret Jim carries along with other enslaved people is their manner of speech is just to fool the White people. When they are not around, they speak like anyone else, but when a White person enters, they use what they refer to as the slave vernacular. It is this secret, and the fact that the Black men and women featured in Twain's work had an inner life, opinions, as well as hopes and dreams, that drive the narrative. While Twain's work acknowledges there is slavery, we go through a good portion of the book without seeing the horrors of that. Everett seeks to rectify that.

The story begins the same, but we see Jim's perspective. When Huckleberry Finn is thought to have been killed by Jim, they must escape. In their hiding spot, Jim is bitten by a snake and has hallucinations of famous thinkers who would inspire the country's Founding Fathers to create a "free society." This technique runs throughout the story, where Jim has arguments with Voltaire and other European thinkers who spoke on man's right to freedom. He asks about the nature of freedom and equality and why he is not included in that discussion.

When Huckleberry Finn and Jim are separated, we follow Jim, and Everett has the opportunity to open up the narrative about Jim and other enslaved Black men and women. We see some in terrible conditions and others all too happy to work with their masters against their own people. We see horrors where an enslaved man is whipped and lynched over a missing pencil. When they return home, Jim get's revenge in a satisfying way.


Favorite Passages:

“How strange a world, how strange an existence, that one’s equal must argue for one’s equality, that one’s equal must hold a station that allows airing of that argument, that one cannot make that argument for oneself, that premises of said argument must be vetted by those equals who do not agree.”

“Then I thought, How could he know that I was actually reading? I could simply claim to be staring dumbly at the letters and words, wondering what in the world they meant. How could he know? At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.”

“A pencil.”
An ice-cold spear hit the back of my stomach. “A what?”
“A pencil. Can you believe that? A slave was accused of stealing a damn pencil and they hanged him dead for it. They didn’t even find the pencil on him. What’s a slave need a pencil for? Can you believe that?”
“It’s hard to believe, all right.” I could feel the pencil in my pocket. I was taken then by the fact that I thought of it as the pencil and not my pencil.
“It’s a horrible world. White people try to tell us that everything will be just fine when we go to heaven. My question is, Will they be there? If so, I might make other arrangements.” Easter laughed.”

“It’s actually a simple question, Hopkins. Which would frighten you more? A slave who is crazy or a slave who is sane and sees you clearly?”

“Nigger, you are in more trouble than you can imagine,” he said.
“Why on Earth would you think that I can’t imagine the trouble I’m in? After you’ve tortured me and eviscerated me and emasculated me and left me to burn slowly to death, is there something else you’ll do to me? Tell me, Judge Thatcher, what is there that I can’t imagine?”
He squirmed in the chair.
“Could you have imagined a black man, a slave, a nigger, talking to you like this? Who’s lacking in imagination?”

James was a book I could not have anticipated more highly. Since I saw the announcement for this title, I have said that this will win the 2025 Pulitzer Prize, and I had only seen one review before reading that didn’t rave.

I did not like this book. I will not go into detail because that’s not the point of this post, but this book did not work for me on any level. Many folks on here whose taste I connect with and whose thoughts I appreciate have loved it. I see none of the wonderful things they’re saying about this title.

This is a creative and brilliant re-imagining of the Huckleberry Finn story told from the perspective of Jim (or James). I loved this novel which is full of insights, action, suspense, colorful characters, tragedy, history and heart. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

I loved everything about this novel written from James’ POV- what astonishing skill this author has to write a story so delightful and perfect in every way. This is a Booker Long List selection and bestselling novel, and I think it should belong in every library.. It would be amazing to teach this and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn together as it would be excellent for today’s students to explore these works in comparison and to contrast them.

Disappointing offering from Everett. The narrative portions of the retelling are overwhelmed with the didacticism. I wanted more showing of the thematic intent and less telling.

JAMES is a brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from enslaved Jim’s perspective. This is a fast-paced, adventurous read infused with Everett’s biting humor and creativity. It’s playful, tender, harrowing, and incredibly smart yet readable. James is an intelligent, compassionate, and entirely capable character and I would’ve gladly read 100 more pages from his perspective. This one is bound to be a modern classic and I can’t recommend it enough.

This is a literary classic in the making that defies convention and challenges readers in the most profound ways. This novel is a tour de force of narrative innovation and intellectual depth. The story of the enigmatic artist James is told with a blend of humor, philosophy, and poignant introspection. Everett's prose is razor-sharp, weaving together multiple layers of meaning and cultural critique with ease. As a reader, you're constantly engaged, drawn deeper into James's world and his complex relationships with race, identity, and art. Filled with unexpected twists and turns, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to find out what happens. Everett's ability to provoke thought while delivering an emotionally resonant story is nothing short of extraordinary. For anyone seeking a profound literary journey that challenges and rewards in equal measure, this is an absolute must-read.

With his signature sly, stiletto sharp humor, and generous, though conditional, humanity this is classic Percival Everett. It's the redefining balance Huck Finn has always needed, and if this doesn't launch Everett from cult master into mainstream accolades then I give up.

This will definitely become one of the best books of the year. I have been recommending everyone read it.

Everett has written a beautiful story of the exploits of Jim from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. James (or Jim, as Twain refers to him) accompanied young Huck down the Mississippi on a raft. He was a slave who learned that he was about to be sold and taken away from his wife and daughter. He goes into hiding and teams up with Huck who is also trying to escape, but in his case, it’s from his abusive father. The two set off down the river looking to be free of their untenable situations.

Jim wants to find a place where he can earn money to buy his wife. But to do that he must first make his way out of the slave holding states. In the meantime, he is forced to maintain a slave posture with Huck as his master. The pair run into various confrontations and even are separated for a time. James’ actions and thoughts as he reacts to people and situations adds a nuanced perspective to the classic adventure. He switches from his slave persona to companion persona flawlessly. His insights are clever and thoughtful. He is all too aware of the way he needs to act to simply survive.

Beautiful writing adds an insightful aspect to the original classic. A warm, humorous, engaging tale that only enhances appreciation of Twain’s work. Everett’s book is rightfully getting a lot of attention and will delight readers with James’ version of his encounters on the Mississippi. A phenomenal book that points to the perceptiveness and intelligence of a man who has been downtrodden his entire life. This is a must read!

This fantastic novel is a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the runaway slave. Luckily, you don’t have to know a thing about Huck Finn to get this book. It is so well written, and this book is on its way to masterpiece status. ⁣I have just finished reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and it was an interesting journey going from main character Uncle Tom to James. I didn’t plan to piggyback these two books, but I’m really glad I did.⁣
James is definitely going to be one of my top-rated books of 2024!

This was my first Percival Everett read and I'd happily pick up his backlist. It was engrossing and a page-turner. Top-tier "retelling" of a classic.
I have not read The Adventures of Huck Finn since high school and had forgotten a lot of the story. I don't believe you need to have read it at all to enjoy James.

Wow. Astonishing book. A super fast read yet incredibly weighty incontent. I loved getting to know Jim better and the depth of his story floored me.

What an absolutely stunning novel. So many reviews use words like "soulful" and "thrilling," and it is these--it is so much and will have a place on both my home library and classroom library's shelves. (I'm tempted to do a book circle unit on adaptations--this, Demon Copperhead, etc.)

Easily one of my favorite books of 2024. You dont need to have recently read Huckleberry Finn to enjoy. How he gave depth to James is fantastic- this is a modern classic that deserves a spot next to the original..

This was such a clever, well-written recounting of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I really enjoyed reading this and looking forward to digging into Everett’s backlist.

I want to shout my love for this book from the rooftops, but I’m left speechless when I try to come up with specifics. I highly recommend the audiobook, as the narrator nails the code-switching dialect and tone of the titular character. I suggest, at the very least, taking in a summary of Huck Finn before reading James, but reading up on the history and literary legacy of slave narratives would benefit the reading experience, too. This novel is sure to become a modern classic, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the literary awards season to see if Everett scoops up much-deserved recognition.

percival everett, i was unfamiliar with your game!!!!!!

forever indebted to knopf doubleday and netgalley for the arc 🫶🏻

while this is technically a reimagining of the adventures of huckleberry finn, james wholly usurps the original huck finn at every turn. now THIS is what i call required reading!! so brilliantly crafted and expertly executed, james is percival everett writing classic literature for the modern day.

by centering jim, the reader is afforded a brand new appreciation for the classic tale. a prior knowledge of huck finn is not required here, nor is a prior respect. my public school education certainly did not endear me to the original story. had this been written by anyone else, i likely would have ignored it. but what percy writes, i shall read, my friends.

truly, no one does social commentary like percival everett. the man is unflinching in his prose, totally unafraid to take! you! there!!! it's gritty, it's grim, it's what every satire wishes it could be. i am not afraid to say it: percival everett is one of the greatest writers, not just of our time, but of all time. and i stand by that!!

i feel like we are witnessing someone at the top of their game. i don't know where he goes from here, but i will definitely be along for the ride.

With all the praise that has come out in advance of and since the publication of James, it is not at all surprising that I fell in love with this book. James can be summed up with all of the adjectives: powerful, witty, fast-paced, difficult, and thought-provoking (just to name a few). Anyone who is familiar with Everett's writing knows that he is able to take a reader from a funny moment or scene (sometimes darkly funny) to a meaningful moment all in the span of a few pages. He is a powerful writer who is unmatched in his genre.

James is the story of Huckleberry Finn, retold from the POV of the enslaved man, Jim, that Huck travels with. While readers of the original will notice moments taken straight from the book but told through Jim's eyes, Everett does not shy away from changing the plot of the classic. It has been many years since I read the original and I did not find myself missing that context in James. If you want a refresher of the plot, a simple skim of Cliff's Notes will do.

Jim escapes from his plantation after learning he is to be sold off. He intends to find enough money to buy his wife and daughter's freedom. However, he gets swept up in Huck's own escape from the plantation, which leads him down a series of roads that become more and more dangerous. The situations he gets into a twinged with just a touch of satirical humor while also being darkly true.

In contrast to the Jim of Huck Finn, this Jim is as close to a scholar as one could reasonably be as a slave. He reads and writes and has conversations with philosophers in his dreams. He's also more three-dimensional than in Twain's original, clearly one of the goals in Everett's retelling. He is a fully-fleshed out character, even if I can't say the same for some of the other characters in the book.

I am always a bit cautious with retellings; it is hard not to compare them to the original. But here I think most of the choices Everett makes when relying on or diverging from the Twain book make sense. The "adventures" he has concocted for Jim are important and help to flesh him out as a character. That said, there were some things that felt a little forced (such as the reason for his relationship with Huck) and some side characters that disappear a little too easily.

Overall, a solid, powerful read.