James

Started: 2025-01-02
Finished: 2025-01-03
Progress: 274 of 274 (100%)
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Online Synopsis:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • KIRKUS PRIZE 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 • 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 the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light. Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.

Personal Thoughts:

I don't think I would have picked this book up on my own. The reason I decided that I wanted to read it was that every person that read it in my personal life, work life and online reviewers were giving it high praises. It won the National Book of the Year and went on to win other awards. I bought a signed copy on Black Friday for half price at a local Barnes & Noble and began reading the first few pages. Holiday season picked up and I didn't get too much reading.

I started of 2025 listening to most of this on Audible on a road trip as we drove South to South Carolina. The audible book is also good because the narration helps to get through any vernacular that may not be as easy to read in print. It is adventurous, funny, heart-warming and suspenseful. The road trip went by so quickly and I was sad the trip and the book ended.

I enjoyed James, and turns out it's my favorite book this year to date. I was the first book I read in 2025 and is my favorite book so far still. If you get the opportunity, go pick up a copy and read it! It's a great retelling from a different perspective and you don't need to read Huckleberry Finn first to appreciate it!