James by Percival Everett

Welcome to today’s book review and spoiler free them discussion! I’m Katja, and in this video, we're exploring "James" by Percival Everett, a novel that reimagines Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from the perspective of Jim (James), the runaway slave. Join me as we explore how Everett adds new layers to this iconic story, discussing themes of identity, language, and survival.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01: 47 - Percival Everett
02:18 - Style & Themes
05:40 - Closing Thoughts and Recommendations
Links
- [www.theguardian.com/books/202...
- www.theguardian.com/film/2024...
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Thank you for watching, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on "James" in the comments below. Until next time, happy reading!
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Happy reading!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Sound quality while not a total flop is not to up to the usual standards. I didn't remember I had unplugged my microphone, all the sound is from my computer's internal mic 🤦

[@scallydandlingaboutthebook2711]

Brilliant review Katja. I am embarrassed to say I still haven't read anything by Everett. I have recently got an e-book of The Trees but have now stuck in a reservation for James from the library.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you for the kind words 😄
I should probably have included some trigger warnings, as there are some tough scenes given the setting and subject matter of the book
You have the excitement of diving into his books for the first time, that's brilliant :). The Trees was compelling but oh so dark and visceral - I loved it 😅 For me it's his social commentary that's just so good. Satire at it's best and most cutting.

[@Rosiemayj]

I have recently finished reading James and really loved this book! I agree with you that this can be read as a stand alone novel, however, I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn on audio in January, which was a joy narrated by Elijah Wood, and the experience has added layers of enjoyment for me and really appreciate Everett's relationship and conversation with Mark Twain and his novel, I love Huck as a character so much, what an amazing talent Percival Everett is, I can't wait to get to his other novels, particularly Erasure before I watch the film.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts 😊 It’s fantastic to hear that you enjoyed "James" so much. An audiobook of HF narrated by Elijah Wood sounds like wonderful experience.
Everett's talent for reimagining these literary figures is truly remarkable. I feel the same way about looking forward to reading his other novels. I hope you enjoy American Fiction as much as I did, there's an over 20 year gap with Erasure so there will be differences but the core is there.
***Potential Spoiler for those who've not read book *** I won't say too much but the scene where Jim helps Huck out of the water (hopefully not too cryptic), the decision there was like, well I'm glad he did what he did but 'oof' 💔 . In fact most of those Mississippi river scenes ended up being intense.

[@sterlingreads547]

I was waiting to finish reading it before I watched this video 😊 I enjoyed it. The only thing I didn’t care for is that he made Huck his son and in the next paragraph he’s instantly calling him son. I thought that was too much. Huck and James had a strong connection without making them have the same bloodline. Besides that I thought it was a great story.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

Thanks for sharing! That's an interesting point, and I'll have to revisit it. I made an assumption that Jim called him son in a less literal way. If it is literal it changes my understanding.
In my mind, Hucks real father was abusive because Huck's hair suggested to the father the truth of his wife's (Huck's deceased mum's) bloodlines rather than her having had a child with Jim. I remember thinking that when they talk of the beatings and of the texture of Huck's hair. So I thought it was a case of Huck and his mother just about "passing."
Jim calling him son? I chalked up to Huck having no father figure that didn't view him without contempt, and Jim offering himself as a sort of surrogate, one who saw him and accepted him fully without wishing him to be different.
I figured it coming back to 'one drop of black blood makes you black' and if Huck's real father felt that way and rejected him as a true son for it, Jim would see kinship in Huck's suffering.
Thanks for getting me to think about this. I'll revisit it later in the week. It's nearly 8am Mylo is judging me for being on my phone rather than walking him 😂

[@ReadBecca]

Loved hearing your thoughts on this, I am very much hoping to get to this sooner rather than later! I'm a couple hours from Twain's home, so I may try to do a double bill with the original and go visit.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

That sounds like such a great idea 💛

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

I had been thinking of waiting to read _James_ until after I had read _Huckleberry Finn_ but I’ve changed my mind. It may not be necessary.

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

It's a solid idea; I like to read books that inspired a book I'm about to read.
Still, if revisiting HF doesn't feel exciting, then it's a plus thar James works as a standalone 😊