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James
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
199 posts | 147 read | 4 reading | 64 to read
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marleed
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Over half a century has passed since I read, watched, imagined, and loved the adventures of Tom and Huck. I hope it was just the young girl in me… wanting to Nancy Drew Becky Thatcher up and get more of her perspective of life on
the Mississippi, because I don‘t recall wondering about Jim‘s perspective… I‘m humbled.

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HeatherBookNerd
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

It‘s hard to imagine any book living up to the incredible hype this book has sustained. While I wasn‘t quite as blown away as most folks, I definitely got onboard Jim‘s adventure. I do love to see story elements we all know through a completely different lens. Subversive and compelling.

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rachelsbrittain
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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I had so many 5 star reads in November that I filled out both my bonus slots in addition to my Nov pick! James, Hell Folows With Us, and Lucy Undying all made their way to the bracket.

#BookBracket2024 @CSeydel

CSeydel Nice! 2w
39 likes1 comment
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Bookish_Gal
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

This book definitely deserved book of the year from Barnes and noble - hopefully more places think similarity. This story had my attention from page 1. The story felt familiar, yet so different. Read like a short book, yet the story felt fleshed out. I loved this story, with Jim‘s varying views on the world around him as a slave. He was a very compelling character. My only complaint is that the ending like 10 pages closed things down too fast imo

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JLaurenceCohen
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
Pickpick

James just won the National Book Award for its brilliant retelling of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from Jim's perspective.

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rachelsbrittain
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

If you haven't read this book yet, what are you doing? It's on every best-of list this year for a reason. Jim from The Adventures of Huck Finn, who actually prefers James, finally gets to tell his own story. It's subversive and brilliant. Read it.

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JLaurenceCohen
James: A Novel | Percival Everett

"I had never seen a white man filled with fear. The remarkable truth, however, was that it was not the pistol, but my language, the fact that I didn't conform to his expectations, that I could read, that had so disturbed and frightened him."

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Susanita
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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I‘m apparently not the audience for the “best” books of the year. I‘ve read a whopping three off the NYT list and five off the NPR list.

There‘s some overlap between the lists and some interesting divergence. Camp Litsy is well represented! (Actual picks and some of the “bridesmaids.”)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/26/books/notable-books.html?rsrc=flt...

https://apps.npr.org/best-books/#view=list&year=2024

BarbaraBB I still need to check them! 3w
38 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I liked this novel but I didn‘t love it and I felt that it is perhaps a bit overhyped. That being said, the writing is lovely and interesting viewpoint of the classic Huck Finn.

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Abailliekaras
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I admired this novel greatly but didn‘t love it. Excellent writing, it‘s a re-telling of Huck Finn from James‘ so a boys own adventure, not my usual thing, but Everett makes it compelling. Layered with meaning & humour, he‘s drawing our attention to issues of race, slavery & who owns history, with a simple story. Episodic so lacked some narrative tension for me, but faultless writing & dialogue.

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AmyK1
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

It‘s been more than 30 years since I read Huck Finn in high school and I remember almost none of it. I loved this retelling from Jim‘s perspective though. I read it for #sharonsaysso book club and can‘t wait for the author meeting 😁

Also, now I feel like I need to read Huck Finn again lol

behudd Hooray!! Such an incredible book! 3w
46 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kshakal
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Perfection is a cozy evening of reading in front of a fire!!

Allbymyshelf I totally agree! 3w
Chelsea.Poole Lovely! 3w
44 likes2 comments
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AardvarkBookClub
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Congratulations to Percival Everett for winning the 2024 National Book Award! 🏆✨ To say we‘re excited for the film adaptation is an understatement 🎬🍿

#aardvarkbookclub #james #percivaleverett #nationalbookaward

Suet624 Well deserved. 3w
Ruthiella 👏👏👏 3w
54 likes2 comments
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charl08
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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ChaoticMissAdventures I am so glad!! This book is amazing and I thought it should have won the Booker. 3w
Suet624 I‘m so happy for him. 3w
Ruthiella 👏👏👏 3w
50 likes3 comments
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Saknicole
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Tamra
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Heavy sigh. Everett has left me with more questions than answers, but that‘s a good thing. I suppose a sequel and/or a prequel is too much to hope for.

I have two fox themed morning mugs to cheer me up during next four years of sound bites.

Ruthiella That mug! 😂 3w
ncsufoxes 🦊❤️, love the mug. I have a small collection of Fox mugs. 3w
LeahBergen Cute mug! 😆 3w
60 likes3 comments
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Readerann
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I was nervous this would be one of those “I don‘t get all the hype” books for me (it‘s happened several times). It wasn‘t! I loved it! Yay! 😀👍👏
Also, the audio was fantastic.

Tamra Almost finished and I‘m afraid to know the end. 😬 4w
sarahbarnes Agreed! 😃 4w
Read4life Agree. I loved the audiobook. So well done. 3w
Suet624 So good. I‘m glad you liked it. 1w
29 likes4 comments
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Traci1
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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I'm wanting to read James, but I haven't read Huckleberry Finn (not sure how, but I've never read any Twain). Should I read that first?

Ruthiella You don‘t need to read it first. I think “James” can stand alone. Reading the Twain before or after just can give the reader a new perspective. 4w
kspenmoll I agree with @Ruthiella . I read the original book so long that I barely remember 4w
Traci1 @Ruthiella @kspenmoll thanks! I think I'll just start with James, then. 4w
54 likes3 comments
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Nessavamusic
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Yay a win of a read! This was excellent. A retelling of Huckleberry Finn, with a mix of adventure, heartbreak, fear and joy. I really enjoyed it, a quick read too! 5⭐️

My first #bookspinbingo!

willaful Congrats! 4w
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4w
47 likes2 comments
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charl08
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Finally one I've actually read...

#BooksoftheYear

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Tamra
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Seconds later…..this is a good reminder not to let others live in my head. I think I should rewatch the Inside Out movies too. 😔

sarahbarnes ♥️♥️ 1mo
cariashley A very good reminder. 💙 1mo
53 likes2 comments
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Tamra
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Breakfast with James. 💛 Hooked right from the beginning.

Suet624 Great book. 💕💕 1mo
EKonrad Just finished this last night. Loved it! 1mo
kspenmoll Fabulous book! 1mo
64 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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RoseMallow
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
Pickpick

Absolutely loved it !!!

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OutAndAbout
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
Pickpick

Almost didn‘t make it through this one. The first half was so slow and too closely followed Huck. Felt like the author was more interested in being clever than writing something interesting. But once Huck was out of the picture and even when he came back, I saw what so many critics and others became enamored with.

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brushlo
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
Pickpick

i was on a streak of books i haven‘t loved…but damn this one is turning things around. subversive in that the main story is not what you think it is…it is instead a lens by which we can understand the terror of slavery. you can feel it and if we feel it even in small part we can begin to try to deal with the aftershocks that shape our world today.

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KAO
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

After hearing so many good things about this book, I had high hopes—and was NOT disappointed!! So many surprises and outstanding food for serious thought. Highly recommended for all who have read Huckleberry Finn. (The references are plentiful.)

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Honeybeebooks
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I had trouble with the way the author played with the timeline, but that does not detract from the power of this novel. A plot that begins as a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim‘s viewpoint, but evolves into a compelling commentary on injustice and a narrative of self-actualization. A work worthy of its many accolades. A 4+/5⭐️pick.

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KT1432
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Omg!!! I was sick yesterday so sorry I missed opening day, but I am ELATED!!! @Pogue this is such a sweet box I am spoiled!!! Two of my most anticipated books, my favorite chocolate covered sunflowers seeds and toffee candy, my absolute favorite coffee, delicious smelling pumpkin candle, bookmarks, lovely mug, yummy jelly beans and a card!! You are amazing!!! #FFFS #FallingForFallSwap

Chrissyreadit 🧡🍁🧡🍁🧡 2mo
Avanders 😍😍🍁🍎🍂♥️ 2mo
22 likes2 comments
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kspenmoll
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Yay! James by P. Everett was one of the winners in the National Book Award Fiction category! #camplitsy24

Megabooks And All Fours, but I‘m really excited about Martyr, too. I loved all three! 2mo
Avanders Hiya! Checking in to see if you‘ve had a chance to open your #fffs package yet? ☺️🍁🍎🍂 @Chrissyreadit 2mo
kspenmoll @Avanders Apologies! I did; will post later. 2mo
Avanders Ok awesome - thanks! 2mo
Suet624 @Megabooks same!!! 2mo
45 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Suet624
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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I‘ve read all but one. Now off to find Aguda‘s book. #nationalbookaward

BarbaraBB That is fast. Wasn‘t the longlist published just a few weeks ago? I of course have read the same ones as you! 2mo
Suet624 @BarbaraBB I‘m not sure when it was published. I think I was too busy trying to read the Booker books to notice! 2mo
39 likes2 comments
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Honeybeebooks
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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It is difficult to believe that Jim would have time to launch Huck in the canoe and then walk to the cave. Once there he first practiced writing and then completed an essay before returning to the bank of the river to see Huck arrive on the other side. How wide was the river? Impactful read, but I am finding some of the continuity issues distracting.

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Graywacke
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I found this so bold. And he pulled it off. It‘s a terrific book. Critical of Twain‘s classic, while deeply honoring it. And provoking the reader. Making us uncomfortable. Confront us with this alternate world take. It‘s a brilliant book.

#booker #booker2024 #longlist #shortlist

BkClubCare 🌟 (Have you read The Trees? ) 3mo
Graywacke @BkClubCare hi. I have. Terrific book. But, whoa. I haven‘t read anything else by him. I want to read 3mo
See All 10 Comments
BkClubCare @Graywacke 👍 I haven‘t yet read Erasure. Have enjoyed So Much Blue, Telephone, and Wounded. I own I am Not Sidney Portier but … it‘s here somewhere 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo
Graywacke @BkClubCare you‘re a definite fan! I‘ve heard a little about all of these, except Wounded. 3mo
BkClubCare @Graywacke - he seems to have wiggled his way onto the must-read list 🤷🏻‍♀️ 3mo
Graywacke @BkClubCare I‘m feeling some of that now. More so after this book, although i think most readers find The Trees more powerful. I found this one really sharp in ways I could follow. Very insightful for me. 3mo
Suet624 @Graywacke I love your review. I thought he couldn‘t write something more powerful than Trees but I was wrong. This one, like you said, is so bold. And in that it is just as powerful. 3mo
Graywacke @Suet624 thanks! Different than the trees, and less funny. But just a satirical and challenging to the readers comfort. 3mo
squirrelbrain I haven‘t read many others yet, apart from The Trees. I‘ve read Dr No, which I think you‘d like. 3mo
67 likes10 comments
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Suet624
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Who else could have done such a brilliant job with this? Who else could have reimagined this story? I believe only Percival Everett could have written this book. Not to be overly dramatic but this really does deserve all the awards.

Hooked_on_books He‘s an extraordinary writer. The Trees knocked me out completely. 3mo
kspenmoll Yes!!!! 3mo
Jas16 I totally agree with you. 3mo
youneverarrived Agree! 3mo
Graywacke I‘m with you! 3mo
49 likes5 comments
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JacqMac
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

An absolute masterpiece. I have read Huckleberry Finn countless times. I was a little worried about anyone taking this on. But it‘s absolutely brilliant. The stories mesh like pieces of a puzzle that have always belonged together, but took awhile to find each other. I think Mark Twain would approve. It‘s beautifully done.

Graywacke Glad you enjoyed! I just finished yesterday. I think he was provoking us. I thought it was fantastic. 3mo
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quietlycuriouskate
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I'm not American so I imagine this landed a little differently for me than for most of you, but it's a damn good story and I flew through it. I enjoyed the humour, flinched at the brutality (he must have been seething when he wrote some of those sentences!) and even had an unflattering self awareness epiphany.*
I'm delighted it made the #bookerprizeshortlist . I'm happy to discover a new-to-me author.

quietlycuriouskate * I realised I had this narrative in my head that Jim had to be an unequivocally good man. Even though it riles me up when people make the distinction of "the deserving poor", for instance. 3mo
Texreader So happy to hear how much you liked this one. I haven‘t read Huck Finn so I‘m sure I missed important parts but I really liked this book as well. If I had a complaint it was that some of the more despicable characters weren‘t written out of the story sooner. 3mo
41 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Graywacke
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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My next from the #booker #booker2024 #longlist

I didn‘t mean to get large print, but I might have been a little click happy on amazon, selecting the slightly cheaper option. ☺️

Texreader I may have done that on occasion myself! Great book!! 3mo
TheBookHippie Oh I can‘t wait for your review!! 3mo
Graywacke @Texreader amazon is dangerous 🙂😊 3mo
Graywacke @TheBookHippie thanks. The beginning is fun 3mo
63 likes4 comments
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behudd
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everett wrote this book with such honesty, respect, and agency. Taking a story so fully engrained in American Literature and flipping it to be something with a deeper understanding of every character must have been a massive undertaking, and there are so many impactful moments in this book. The audio is powerfully read, and I‘ll be buying my own copy and annotating all the moments that stilled my body & pushed into my heart.
A gift.

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Freespirit
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Such an engaging read..half way through and loving James by Percival Everett. A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told by Jim an escaped slave. Lovely writing, funny and compassionate!
#americanliterature #historicalfiction #literature

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wen4blu
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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“Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass.”

#firstlinefridays
#currentlyreading
@ShyBookOwl

38 likes1 stack add
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behudd
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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“Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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Eggbeater
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Huck was off thinking he was having an adventure with his buddy, Jim. But what was this whole scenario like from Jim's perspective? The consequences for him could be deadly because Black people and white people lived in two separate worlds. The book was amazing. There was never a dull moment. I thought it was brilliant. History is still tied into the now of things.

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rmaclean4
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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August Reads
5 🌟
James: Percival Everett 📖
Galatea: Madeline Miller 🎧
4.5 🌟
The Safekeep: Yael Van Der Woden 🎧
Enlightenment: Sarah Perry 🎧
4 🌟
Chain-Gang All Stars: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 🎧
Brotherless Nights: V. V. Ganeshananthan 📖
3.5 🌟
Whale Fall: Elizabeth O;Connor 📖
3 🌟
This Strange Eventful History: Claire Messud 🎧
Orbital: Samantha Harvey 🎧 📖
2 🌟
Held: Anne Michaels 📖

BarbaraBB Wow 4.5 for Enlightenment. You make me curious! 3mo
rmaclean4 @BarbaraBB I liked Essex Serpent but felt this novel was more developed. 3mo
Suet624 Fantastic reads. 3mo
21 likes3 comments
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DebinHawaii
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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#AboutABook

I got a little confused & was trying to decide on my favorite book of August before reading the that prompt is #FavoriteOfJuly 😆 July was a great reading month but I have to go with these two (can‘t pick just one!)

Thank you to @Eggs & @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks for a great month of prompts! 🤗

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Haha! 😆 oops! 3mo
Eggs You‘re so welcome! Thank you for keeping up with us 😘💖🥰 3mo
50 likes2 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Turns out I neglected to post a review of James here after reading it the week it came out (months ago at this point). I realized I couldn‘t find my review of this after it was the winner of #camplitsy24. Kinda makes me wonder how many other books I‘ve missed over the years. Anyhoo, as many have already mentioned here, it‘s a great read, and I‘m glad to see Everett being more widely read.

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Michellesibs
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

As all readers of American literature know, it all begins with a raft down the Mississipi River towards the unreliable promise of the free states and beyond.

This is James's version of his adventure with Huckleberry Finn.

I love how the author has really tied this into the Twain novel and that it gives another side to Huckleberry's story by giving James a voice without tearing it down. It's a fantastic companion novel.

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BarbaraBB
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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We do have our #CampLitsy24 winner and it‘s a good one. James received by far the most votes, followed by Clear.

Meg, Helen and I have so enjoyed camp with all of you and we are very happy with all your thoughts and insights during the discussions, which have add so much to the books and the reading experience.

We thank you all and hope to see you next year again, or maybe during #LitsyToB25 😀🤍

DGRachel Thank you all for a wonderful summer event! This is the first year that I at least attempted all of the books and I only DNFd one! 4mo
See All 40 Comments
BarbaraBB @DGRachel So you‘ll be definitely returning next year 😉😘 4mo
AmyG Thank you all for a wonderful summer at Camp Litsy! Until next year…. (edited) 4mo
Read4life Thank you for another wonderful camp experience! 4mo
Chelsea.Poole It was a great summer of reading. Thanks to the hosts of camp! 4mo
julieclair Thank you so much for another fun Camp Litsy summer! 4mo
Amiable I haven't read “Clear“ yet (still on library wait list) but “James“ was excellent, so I applaud this result! 4mo
Megabooks Thanks so much to my co-counselors!! Y‘all make it so fun!! @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain 💜🏕️ also to the campers - we couldn‘t do it without you either!! 🙌🏻🏕️ 4mo
JenReadsAlot Thanks all! See you next year 😊 4mo
TheKidUpstairs Thank you EVERYONE! Hosts and fellow campers alike, it was another great summer of reading and discussions. 4mo
BarbaraJean Thank you all so much for hosting!! This was my first year participating, and I‘m so glad I did. I read books I‘d been wanting to read as well as ones that would never have been on my radar otherwise—and every discussion enriched my reading, whether I was enthusiastic about the book or not 😆 I‘m already looking forward to next year‘s camp! 4mo
CBee Thanks to you lovely ladies for hosting again! Such fun 😊 4mo
Jess Thanks so much. Another great summer! 4mo
Kitta Thanks for hosting! It was a great summer. 4mo
TrishB Thanks all ♥️ the discussions are always great and really enhance the reading- even if you hate the book!! 4mo
sarahbarnes Thank you all! ♥️♥️ 4mo
Deblovestoread Love camp! ⛺️ 4mo
Ruthiella Thanks to everyone for the fantastic discussion! 👏👏👏 4mo
Suet624 Thank you so much for all you did to make this possible. 4mo
squirrelbrain Yes, I agree @Megabooks, Barbara - we have such fun, but we definitely couldn‘t do it without everyone else! 4mo
Bookwormjillk Thank you so much! Great summer! 4mo
dabbe Thank you all for being such fantastic hosts! Looking forward to next year! 🩶🧡🩶 4mo
Soubhiville Thank you all for hosting and coming up with such thoughtful discussion questions! I always enjoy it so much! 4mo
willaful I love how camp expands my reading. Didn't do as much as I wanted this year because of a very complicated summer but I really enjoyed what I did. 4mo
mcctrish I had so much fun, even if I only read half the books ( holidays got in my way not procuring and reading wise 🤦🏻‍♀️) I just got All Fours from the library today, finally. Thank you so much to the hosts, tagging all of alone is an Olympic level sport 😘😘😘 4mo
Hooked_on_books Another fun year at camp! Thank you all for hosting and I can‘t wait for our turkey tourney next year! 4mo
Leniverse I'm already looking forward to next summer! 👏 4mo
Meshell1313 Fantastic! This was so fun and I love getting to read new releases I would normally miss out on. Thank you alll for hosting! ❤️❤️❤️ 4mo
Prairiegirl_reading Thanks for hosting!! It was fun. I will get to James before the year is out. I never would have read the book I enjoyed the most which was Butter as I had not even heard of it before camp! @Megabooks @squirrelbrain 4mo
Larkken Thanjs for hosting! I love all of this event, from seeing what everyone nominates through to the discussions. 🥰 and much love to James, too lol 4mo
DebinHawaii Awesome! Thanks to all of you for hosting another great camp! @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Megabooks 💚🏕️💚 4mo
Christine Thank you so much for being the best hosts, as ever! ❤️ @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @megabooks 3mo
85 likes40 comments
review
BookishTrish
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Action-packed and insightful. I especially liked the duality of the language James and the other slaves used.

48 likes1 comment
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cariashley
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

I was mildly concerned this wouldn‘t live up to the hype, but happily I had no reason to worry. This was just excellent in every way. Everett is such an amazing writer and I‘m so glad he‘s finally getting his due.

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JenP
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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Pickpick

Loved this one (read it before the longlist was announced). I generally enjoy Everett‘s writing and this was a brilliant reworking of Huckleberry Finn. I did reread Huckleberry Finn prior to reading this one. Our Booker panel reviewed that here https://thereadersroom.org/2024/08/14/2024-booker-longlist-james-by-percival-eve...
#bookerlonglist2024

Suet624 I just want to say how much I enjoy your blog. 3mo
JenP @Suet624 thank you so much! I‘m so glad to hear it 😊 3mo
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DebinHawaii
James: A Novel | Percival Everett
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#AboutABook

4 of our 6 books for #CampLitsy24 have a #OneWordTitle
🏕️💚

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Cool 😎 📚 4mo
BarbaraBB Such a coincidence! 4mo
Eggs Wonderful 👏🏻🙏🏻💙 4mo
kspenmoll Thanks for pointing this out!!! 4mo
63 likes4 comments