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A review by anusha_reads
James by Percival Everett
adventurous
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
JAMES, PERCIVAL EVERETTE
Could this book be on the @thebookerprizes longlist this year?
This is my second book by Percival Everette, the first one being The Trees (Shortlisted for 2022 @thebookerprizes)
I was initially a bit apprehensive to read a book labelled as a ‘retelling,’ but once I started, it was unputdownable. The story happens in Missouri before the Civil War. The story is narrated by the enslaved James/Jim, who is now on the run. He meets Huck, and an adventure unfolds. Their time together on the river-fishing, hiding from the white men who are searching for them, going without food, or shivering with cold makes for a delightful, adventurous read.
What I enjoyed the most was Jim's playful use of language. The part where he teaches black children how to talk to the white tormentors is witty. The grammar is intentionally wrong, yet it conveys the significant themes of fear, injustice, and psychology. Jim’s eagerness to read and write and his thirst for knowledge was moving. The story behind how he obtained a simple writing tool pencil was very touching. He even dreams of philosophers like Voltaire and John Locke, with whom he has debates on freedom.
QOTD: WHAT’S YOUR GOTO MOVIE OR SERIES? WHAT IS A BOOK THAT YOU REREAD?
Parts of the story and many characters are very heartrending, which talk about injustice and torture. Percival was able to give a more real, vivid, and harrowing picture of the scenario of that time. The ending was very different, and many twists to the tale
A masterpiece, a story that gets etched in one’s mind. The whole book makes one think, rethink, and question this complex historical situation of that era and freedom.
Though I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn when I was a child, I’m sure James is what will be retained in my mind now.
A must-read, I recommend it to one and all!
Quotes from the book:
“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.”
“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.”
“JIM, YOU WORK THE MULES AND YOU FIX THE WAGON WHEELS AND NOW YOU FIXIN’ THIS HERE PORCH. WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DO ALL THEM THINGS?”
I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT THE HAMMER IN MY HAND, FLIPPED IT. “DAT BE A GOOD QUESTION, HUCK.”
“SO, WHO DID?”
“NECESSITY.”
“WHAT?”
“ ’CESSITY,” I CORRECTED MYSELF. “ ’CESSITY IS WHEN YOU GOTS TO DO SUMPTIN’ OR ELSE.”
“OR ELSE WHAT?”
“ELSE’N THEY TAKES YOU TO THE POST AND WHIPS YA OR THEY DRAGS YA DOWN TO THE RIVER AND SELLS YA. NUFFIN YOU GOTS TO WORRY ’BOUT.”
Could this book be on the @thebookerprizes longlist this year?
This is my second book by Percival Everette, the first one being The Trees (Shortlisted for 2022 @thebookerprizes)
I was initially a bit apprehensive to read a book labelled as a ‘retelling,’ but once I started, it was unputdownable. The story happens in Missouri before the Civil War. The story is narrated by the enslaved James/Jim, who is now on the run. He meets Huck, and an adventure unfolds. Their time together on the river-fishing, hiding from the white men who are searching for them, going without food, or shivering with cold makes for a delightful, adventurous read.
What I enjoyed the most was Jim's playful use of language. The part where he teaches black children how to talk to the white tormentors is witty. The grammar is intentionally wrong, yet it conveys the significant themes of fear, injustice, and psychology. Jim’s eagerness to read and write and his thirst for knowledge was moving. The story behind how he obtained a simple writing tool pencil was very touching. He even dreams of philosophers like Voltaire and John Locke, with whom he has debates on freedom.
QOTD: WHAT’S YOUR GOTO MOVIE OR SERIES? WHAT IS A BOOK THAT YOU REREAD?
Parts of the story and many characters are very heartrending, which talk about injustice and torture. Percival was able to give a more real, vivid, and harrowing picture of the scenario of that time. The ending was very different, and many twists to the tale
A masterpiece, a story that gets etched in one’s mind. The whole book makes one think, rethink, and question this complex historical situation of that era and freedom.
Though I read Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn when I was a child, I’m sure James is what will be retained in my mind now.
A must-read, I recommend it to one and all!
Quotes from the book:
“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.”
“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.”
“JIM, YOU WORK THE MULES AND YOU FIX THE WAGON WHEELS AND NOW YOU FIXIN’ THIS HERE PORCH. WHO TAUGHT YOU TO DO ALL THEM THINGS?”
I STOPPED AND LOOKED AT THE HAMMER IN MY HAND, FLIPPED IT. “DAT BE A GOOD QUESTION, HUCK.”
“SO, WHO DID?”
“NECESSITY.”
“WHAT?”
“ ’CESSITY,” I CORRECTED MYSELF. “ ’CESSITY IS WHEN YOU GOTS TO DO SUMPTIN’ OR ELSE.”
“OR ELSE WHAT?”
“ELSE’N THEY TAKES YOU TO THE POST AND WHIPS YA OR THEY DRAGS YA DOWN TO THE RIVER AND SELLS YA. NUFFIN YOU GOTS TO WORRY ’BOUT.”