James

Please note that this post may contain affiliate links, meaning I may make a small commission if you purchase through the links within this post at no additional cost to you. Please see my Full Disclosures + Privacy Policy for more details.

Synopsis

A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.

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 The 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.

Synopses source: Goodreads

What pattern is that?
Pictured with the book in this post is the Cozy Fireside Wrap, which you can find here!

Review

Genre(s): Literary Fiction, BIPOC, Race
HB&W Rating: 5 stars
View on Goodreads
Buy on Barnes & Noble, Amazon

My first review of 2025 is for the last book I read in 2024, which I squeaked in on the last day of the year, but regardless of its reading position in the year, this story is one of my favorites of 2024.

Percival Everett’s James is a thoughtful and imaginative retelling that delves deeply into the complexities of slavery and racism. While the synopsis describes the book as humorous, I found it to lean more toward a serious exploration of its weighty subject matter, though moments of levity occasionally offered some respite.

Everett’s nuanced examination of themes like the dichotomy between “good” and “bad” masters, the resistance of slaves who don’t want to be enslaved versus the compliance of those who seem to accept their fate, and the varying rationales behind the morality of slavery is nothing short of thought-provoking. One of the most striking parts for me was Jim’s dream conversation with Voltaire—a moment that brilliantly encapsulates the book’s intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

Though not lengthy, James moves quickly and manages to encapsulate a wide array of perspectives and facets of slavery and racism. Everett introduces ideas and histories I hadn’t encountered before, and I’m grateful for the education and insight this book provides. It doesn’t shy away from showing humanity at its darkest, but it also reveals glimmers of its better side, offering a sense of hope amidst the heartbreak.

Overall, James is an eye-opening, thought-provoking, and heart-wrenching yet hopeful read. It’s a book that lingers in your mind and challenges you to think more deeply about history, humanity, and justice.

Until next time,

Be sure to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a review! You can also sign up for my newsletter for a recap of titles read, crochet patterns I’ve released, and more! I only send it out sporadically so that I don’t spam you, promise. 😉