James by Percival Everett - the ending is just WOW!

Hi, I'm Milly and this is my vlog which is mainly about books I buy, books I read and the e-books I write. Plus some of my bakes and a bit about my new hobby - crochet

Having read The Trees and Dr No, I just had to pick up this re-imagining of the Huclkleberry Finn tale, but with Jim as the main voice. Hard hitting at times.

Published 11 April 2024

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[paulschrum]

May I respond? Assuming that's okay ...

The Jim character in Huckleberry Finn is the person Finn perceives Jim to be. Just as Huckleberry Finn is first person limited, so is James. Though a child's perception of Jim (in Twain) is by its nature affirmation of a caricature, so James' perception of Huckleberry (in Everett), that of a world-wise adult, is fuller.

[TheEcowriter]

In Percival Everett’s "James, " the interplay of identity and history prompts us to question: Slave, or Slav? Is it slave language, or Yiddish? Jim, or Me? James, or I am? The satire and psychology are sophisticated, showcasing why Everett is regarded as both dark and masterful. In his "retelling" of Huckleberry Finn, Everett suggests that Huck serves as the alter ego of Samuel Clemens, who adopted the pen name Mark Twain—paralleling Jim’s transformation into James. Here, Huck emerges as the true "Slav, " as his family’s lineage traces back to colonial immigration from England to America, arriving not as free men but as indentured servants, bound by "slave-like" conditions. Interestingly, Clemens’ mother, Jane de Lampton, may have Slavic (possibly Jewish) roots, further complicating our understanding of identity in the text. This nuanced exploration highlights Everett’s genius, inviting readers to reevaluate the intersections of race, history, and self. Percival's James is indeed Samuel Clemens himself, confessing.

[shawkitty]

There was never any excuse for slavery and the treatment of the slaves in America or any other country in the world. However, Mark Twain's purpose in "Huck Finn" was to ridicule the ways of the old South. Jim was supposed to have been seen as the real smart one in Twain's book. You laughed WITH Jim--not at him. Many of the whites didn't come off too well. I still have "James" on my TBR list, but having read "Trees" and hearing about "James" in your review, I think this author has a real ax to grind.