"James" by Percival Everett.
This is a 2024 re-telling of Huckleberry Finn, written in 1884 by Mark Twain, from the perspective of a slave.
SPOILER ALERT - Do not read this page until you have read the book.
Everett humanizes the slave character (who goes as "Jim" until the end of the book), reinventing him as a wise and literate man,
who has conversations with enlightenment philosophers in his dreams and teaches other enslaved people to read.
Jim and the other black characters in the book hide their literacy and wisdom from the white characters, who would feel threatened by educated blacks and further punish them.
The book was chosen by Elaine following reading the book for the Victoria Dock Book Club and was generally well received by this group.
Notes:
Two members commented in writing being unable to get to the review:
“I certainly did find this book gripping. It was easy to read as there was lots of dialogue which didn't take up much space...
it was also extremely well told, putting across terrible events movingly and sparingly.
Some eye-opening content, especially surrounding the use of language by slaves to maintain white’s sense of superiority and safety.
On the run, on the river, you get the sense of danger and see the cruelty.
The total evil of slavery comes across, plus fear of dogs.
It was heartening to finish the book with Jiim/James reunited with his wife and daughter.
There would still be terrible times to come, but at least they could be together.
Not a quick read even though the chapters are short because of the conversational language.
Not a bedtime read unless you want nightmares.”
- Gwyn
“I started the book and hated it.
I liked the idea of the slaves being secretly educated and being in a position to confuse the slave traders etc.
but the way it was written in that 'yuss sir masser' language offended me and I left off reading it.
At the airport there was a three hour delay and I got out my kindle and had another go and read it all - and really enjoyed the actual story.
My favourite bit was the black man being painted white in order to be blacked up to dance and sing for the white people and doing a piss take of white people dancing - made me want to cheer.
There were lots of sad and shocking bits balanced nicely with a humorous events and overall this book was a much better read than I first thought”.
- Sue
Various detailed comments from club members were noted including:
Positive comments
- Disturbing but readable
- Appreciated the “story from an alternative viewpoint”.
- Enjoyed the language differentiation between slaves and whites, and noted that James lapses with Huck.
- Enjoyed the variety of characters, the “con men” were especially good
- Good detail of the travellers’ escapades
Negative comments
- Too many coincidences
- Too melodramatic
- The visitors to dreams
- Characters were almost caricatures
- Whilst the depiction of brutality might be true to history it did not make the book enjoyable.
Interestig comments
- The unbelievable cruelty of the white slavers was hard to read about, but it felt important to 'witness'.
- It was very interesting to read that the thing that scared the whites most was hearing slaves dropping their slave talk and speaking well educated English.
A good example of the benefits of being in a book club - we read things we would never have read and enjoy it so thanks to Elaine for choosing it.
Doorly score: 4 stars.
PC. May, 2026
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