James (Pulitzer Prize Winner): A Novel

I promised myself I wouldn’t dive into any more space horror stories, but “Julia,” Sandra Newman’s retelling of Orwell’s 1984 from Julia’s point of view, completely swept me up. Naturally, when I saw James hit the shelves—a reimagining of Huck Finn through Jim’s eyes—I couldn’t resist. I was curious, but also wary, because I knew this story would be as psychologically traumatic as I feared. And I wasn’t wrong. Reading James is a deeply personal experience, especially as a Black woman, knowing that the only thing separating me from that nightmare of slavery is the year I was born. The narrative forced me to confront the reality that my great-grandparents and countless others who share my skin color endured this hellscape. It's more than just history—it's a stark reminder that they were treated as "it," less than animals, mere property. This is the kind of story that takes a physical toll on me every time I bear witness to it, but at the same time, it's necessary. One of the things I found most powerful was how James fills in the emotional and psychological blanks left by Huckleberry Finn. In Everett’s hands, Jim is more than just a loyal protector or a man enslaved. The inner thoughts and eventual confession he shares go beyond the brutality of slavery, offering an explanation for why he’s so devoted to Huck. This complexity and depth made the retelling masterful—it's still settling with me, but I can already say it was absolutely worth the read. Another aspect that haunted me was the subtle but consistent pattern Everett weaved through the story—everyone who helped Jim, except Huck, met a tragic end. It’s hard to tell if it was a coincidence or a chilling reflection of how dangerous it was to aid a Black person back then, but either way, it made clear just how easily Black lives were discarded. That’s a stark, painful truth to digest. Percival Everett’s writing is as sharp and introspective as ever, breathing new life into a character who has long been a symbol but rarely fully understood. His retelling connects a lot of plot points and unspoken questions from Huckleberry Finn in ways that are satisfying, thought-provoking, and deeply unsettling. It's one of those stories that will stay with you long after you've closed the book.

As a reader, I appreciated the storytelling. Although this is not my preferred genre, I couldn’t put it down! As an educator and learner, I thank you for the spotlight on language and knowledge! You had me researching the philosophers, books, and even the geography in James. As an African-American person, I thank you for humanizing “Jim” and giving him a voice. It will never cease to amaze me of the history of our endurance and strength. This book is a MUST read for all!

Percival Everett's James follows Jim, who, along with Huck Finn, embarks on a journey down the Mississippi River. Jim is fleeing slavery, while Huck is escaping his abusive father while remaining loyal to his friend. The narrative powerfully conveys the dehumanizing reality of slavery: the constant threat of being bought and sold, the relentless pursuit, the denial of identity and rights, arbitrary violence, sexual assault, and the forced separation of families. The book poignantly illustrates the racism of the south that stripped enslaved individuals of their humanity. Spoiler alert but not shared: A surprising plot twist added an unexpected layer to the story and the author’s message. While well-written and a relatively quick read, some sections, particularly the extended chase sequences, felt somewhat slow and simplistic. I will be more intrigued by Everett’s potential sequel to James. If written, it will be fascinating to learn what becomes of Jim and his family during the Civil War and then Reconstruction. How does this educated former slave rebuild his life after escaping the South's oppressive system? Now free, what social barriers, prejudices, and hardships do he and his family encounter as they strive for a better future for themselves and their descendants? This is an underrepresented narrative in much of today’s writing on this subject, and I believe Everett could tell it compellingly. This is the second book I've read by Percival Everett. His novel Erasure was a five-star masterpiece. James, while different, was surprising to me based on my experience with Erasure but James was certainly thought-provoking." You can see by my review, I was captured by Jim, the main character. What is to become of this man and his family?

James is one of the most inventive and emotionally resonant books I’ve read in a long time. Percival Everett takes the familiar world of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and flips it entirely by telling the story through the eyes of Jim—now James—a character who finally gets the depth, voice, and power he always deserved. The writing is sharp, layered, and often darkly funny. Everett doesn’t just retell Twain’s classic—he uses it as a springboard to explore race, language, survival, and freedom in ways that feel modern but still rooted in the brutality of the 19th century. There’s also a surprising amount of suspense and grit in the narrative. James is clever and self-aware, and his inner life is painted with a richness that makes the story feel both epic and intimate. This isn’t just a retelling—it’s a reframing. Whether or not you’ve read Twain’s original, James stands on its own as a powerful work of historical fiction and literary commentary. Highly recommended for readers who want to be challenged, moved, and blown away by great storytelling.

This captivating work of black literature is a must-read for everyone, young and old alike. Its brilliance resonates across generations and invites all minds to explore its profound themes and messages.

I first heard of Percival Everett when previews started coming out of American Fiction, the film based on Everett’s Erasure. About that time, I also started noticing adverts for James, his new reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man with whom Finn runs away. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. ‘Enjoy’ feels like a strange word to use for a book that focuses on such a dark side of human history, but Everett is clearly a master of his art. The focus on the use of language is excellent. Everett positions well the dichotomy between how enslaved people spoke with each other and how they spoke with the white men and women who purported to own them. In speaking with white people, they protected themselves by attempting to appear as they were perceived—simple, lacking intelligence. But in private, they were truly themselves, discussing life, love, politics, philosophy, and everything in between. There are some excellent scenes, which have garnered much attention, where James meets with philosophers of old in his dreams. An avid reader, sneaking into his master’s library at night, in states of delirium he discusses the ethics of slavery with several of the European philosophers who had pontificated on the subject. There Everett explores the complexity of the arguments for and against slavery, showing how even those Europeans who were against slavery still had complex and often problematic views. This kind of sequence could have been gimmicky, but Everett pulls it off well. He never lingers too long, and doesn’t lean into it too hard, which is to the book’s benefit. Though, confessedly, I don’t know Huckleberry Finn well, where I understand James diverges from its source material is where I think it is at its strongest. There are times where Finn and James are separated, and this gives Everett the freedom to explore more deeply the themes of justice and the experience of enslavement. Overall, I rate this book very highly. It tackles a difficult topic in a novel and compelling way; and those who read Huckleberry Finn at school would do well to read this as a companion.

After this book I want to read everything by this author. Super read.

Who could retell Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, except Percival Everett, one of America's best novelists ? The story is told from the point of view of the runaway slave (i.e. James) and it makes all the difference, adding a new perspective on this classic narrative. Definitely, it could be said that Everett's novel is the twenty-first century twin to Twain's story. A must-read for who is interested in American literature.

Book well-wrapped and well-received. Thanks and looking forward to read.