Doubleday Books
James
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PULITZER PRIZE WINNER - #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - NATIONAL BOOK AWARD 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
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST - ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR - SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE - KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER - A LOS ANGELES TIMES BEST FICTION BOOK OF THE LAST 30 YEARS
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 Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim's agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780385550369
EAN:
0385550367
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
320
Authors:
Percival Everett
Publisher:
Doubleday Books
Published Date: 2024-19-03
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James has been on the best sellers list for ages. It deserves its wide interest by many people. It starts out as a rewrite of "Huckleberry Finn" from the slave's perspective but soon turns into his own story. It's an excellent book about that time period and the attitudes of the people. However, it never preaches or beats the reader over the head. It's an adventure and friendship story with unexpected events and twists. It's well imagined and written. I can't imagine any reader not fascinated by every page right up to the end.
This is a story of an enslaved and educated black man. He was a runaway accused of kidnapping and murder. This story is about looking at the world through the eyes and feelings of this man as he escapes then returns for his family.
This book retelling the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was simply brilliant. A must read for all U.S. Citizens. Personally, I forced myself to read Mark Twain’s book before jumping into James because I either skipped it or got by with cliff notes when I was in school. Ultimately, I liked both books but JAMES is my absolute favorite read and listen of ALL time. READ IT, LISTEN TO IT, or do what I often do - DO BOTH.
This book is worthy of all the praise that has been heaped on it. It is also very readable. Indeed, I had trouble putting it down. ItIt provides an excellent insight into slavery and what it was like being a slave and does by having the reader look at life in pre-civil war Missouri and Illinois from the perspective of a slave. The slave’s helplessness in the face of a system designed to crush and control him in every way, points out the horror of authoritarianism when carried out in the extreme.If I have any criticism of the book it is only that the switch from one aspect of the story to the next sometimes take place at breakneck speed. If possible, some of the chapters should have been longer.AIS
This was one of the most exciting and real books I have read in a long time (and I am a voracious reader!). I could not put this book down and finished it in one day! Would not talk to anyone or listen to or look at anything else! Beautifully written and some additional insights into what life was like to be a slave on the run...or to be a slave too afraid to run. If you like heart thumping, intelligent, wonderfully written books...this one is a must!
