IBR - James by Percival Everett

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Members Starting the BR: Kirsten, Jackie, Amanda / Quill Questers
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: James by Percival Everett


Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

[Jackie]

I'm here. On Chapter 17.

[Amanda]

Here I am! I'm on Chapter 23, but I'm a little worried my mind wandered or something because Kirsten said "Not brothers..." which makes me think there was a reveal I missed. Unless it was just them talking about Huck's mom.

One of the things I'm really enjoying is the use of language and how slaves are taught to speak a certain way around white people. There also seems to be more slips the more comfortable Jim gets around Huck

[Jackie]

If there was a reveal, I missed it too, Amanda. Or it may be she's further along.

I'm enjoying the language differences also and the fact that James knows so much more than he can let on. I like that Huck and James are very protective of each other.

[Jackie]

I remember the "Duke" and "King." Lots of tall tales.

[Jackie]

Ah, James knew Huck’s mother.

[Amanda]

Yes the protectiveness! Like not letting other people call him a slave. I enjoyed that, because I like their relationship but also it sheds light on Huck’s naivety

[Jackie]

Interesting that Wylie thought that Huck was passing for white.

Good that James can sing. Lol

[Kirsten]

You didn't miss a reveal.

I am finished. I just whipped through the book, so fast. I thought it was AMAZING.

You know, historian, but one of the things I make sure to teach is blackface minstrelsy, because lots of people don't know much about it. It was the most popular entertainment form in the US in the 19th C and is the origin of musicals, the only truly US theatrical form. And Dan Emmett's Virginia Minstrel's is a real troupe, one of the first 2 original troupes (either George Christy's Christy's Minstrel's or Emmett's Virginia Minstrels was first, no-one is sure, both all white men). Dixie was really written by Emmett... that was a super fun addition for me. And I liked Norman a bunch and the way that passing was discussed.

Amanda, you said in the other thread that you'd thought when reading it as a teen that you thought Jim and Huck were the same age and I did too. I think it's interesting that Jim reads as so young and frankly dumb in Twain's text. For all that the book is sometimes understood to be anti-racist (and I have real mixed feelings about that), Jim is so much less intelligent and nuanced than Huck in Twain's telling. I love how complicated James is here, and that Huck is naive because of his youth rather than his race.

I was glad we didn't see much of the Duke and the Dauphin because I HATED them in the original--you know how much I hate things that are supposed to be funny. And for me, Huck Finn was just such a slog. I had to force myself to read it, but this was just a delight. I was dying to know what happened.

[Amanda]

I got hit hard by the line, “Slaves didn’t have the luxury of anxiety.”Everett can write so well.

I’m right in the troupe scenes so Kirsten this was great timing and fascinating to me as someone who knows nothing about it.

I hope eventually this text gets paired with Twain in required reading. I think it allows for much more meaningful discussions of the original text as well and it seems way more accessible, though some of that could be also due to my increased age and literacy

[Jackie]

I’m at Part II Chapter 4.

I remember seeing some old movies when I was a kid with black minstrel shows. Very interesting information, Kirsten.

Norman seems like a good guy. I’m not sure about their scheme to sell Jim though. Hoping that turns out okay.

I think Twain was trying to be anti-racist in writing Huck Finn and probably succeeded in the time it was written, but not as much today.

Glad to be rid of the Duke and Dauphin also. I hated them in both versions. I’ve read Huck Finn, I think 3 times. Once as a kid, again in college, and again a few years ago. Enjoyed it each time but I’m liking this more.

[Amanda]

OOOF got hit way harder by:

“He said something that confused me. Confused me, because I wasn’t quite sure what it meant. Confused me, because I had never heard anything like it before. He said, “I’m sorry.””

And it made me cry. (Grammatical errors are my own because I’m listening so transcribed).

[Amanda]

I’ll probably reread the original again sometime but I don’t think I’ll be able to see it as its own work anymore.

[Jackie]

I think it would be good to read the original again after reading this book just to have the comparison.

[Amanda]

Oh, Sammy 😭

[Amanda]

I can’t believe James saved Huck over Norman….she typed right before hearing the next sentence. I have a feeling that others will pop by this one at some point so I’ll put spoilers (view spoiler)[ his son!! Look at us with our detective hats on 🕵🏻‍♀️. I almost said earlier when James was talking about Huck’s mom that they could still have the same mom. Close but not quite right lol (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

OH (view spoiler)[that also makes it make so much more sense why he was so quickly taken by Norman. He probably saw Huck when he looked at him since they’re both white passing (hide spoiler)]

[Kirsten]

Amanda wrote: "I got hit hard by the line, “Slaves didn’t have the luxury of anxiety.”Everett can write so well.

I’m right in the troupe scenes so Kirsten this was great timing and fascinating to me as someone ..."

I think it's way more accessible too (except maybe the voltaire and rousseau, but that's no harder than all the vernacular dialect of the duke and dauphin)

[Kirsten]

Amanda wrote: "OOOF got hit way harder by:

“He said something that confused me. Confused me, because I wasn’t quite sure what it meant. Confused me, because I had never heard anything like it before. He said, “I..."

That was an amazing line.

[Kirsten]

Amanda wrote: "Oh, Sammy 😭"

So heartbreaking (and also James saying she was already dead, but at least this time she died free).

[Kirsten]

Yeah, I did not see that spoiler coming at all. Really, really interesting choice.

And good on both of you for wanting to read HF after reading this, but I am thrilled to never read it again.

[Jackie]

Finished. (view spoiler)[ I was pleased that I figured out Huck was Jim's son. And glad that Huck wanted to stay with him and help him. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[What a great ending! Left me very emotional. After everything he went through. Loved it. (hide spoiler)]

[Jackie]

Kirsten wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Oh, Sammy 😭"

So heartbreaking (and also James saying she was already dead, but at least this time she died free)."

So true.

[Amanda]

So good! And I probably wouldn’t have picked it up without you two so I’m so glad we got to read it.

I was getting very nervous near the end for how it would end up, but I was very happy with it

[Jackie]

I was the same way about the ending. If I had any criticism it would be that the ending was a little abrupt. But I liked the ending so no big complaint.

[Kirsten]

I liked the way it didn’t really give us much beyond the immediate resolution. Like, we got the end of James’ story with his family and we weren’t owed any more than that.

He goes on, but it’s his life, not ours or even Huck’s, or Twain’s, or Everett’s. He’s free.

[Kirsten]

Jackie wrote: "I’m at Part II Chapter 4.

I remember seeing some old movies when I was a kid with black minstrel shows. Very interesting information, Kirsten.

Norman seems like a good guy. I’m not sure about th..."

Absolutely Twain was enlightened for his time. I had Black students over 20 years ago talk about how horrible it felt to be in class discussing Huck Finn, and the N word, and the attitudes, with their majority white classmates, and it really made me think about whether or not it was worth their pain to maybe help some white students rethink their assumptions. So for me, I’m not convinced that having high schoolers read Huck Finn with its progressive for the time but racist now is the right choice. But having them read both would be fascinating.

[Jackie]

Very good points, Kirsten. I can see how for black students today HF would be very hard to read. But reading both would give a better perspective to both white and black students.

Kudos to Everett for writing this book.

[Kirsten]

I think James would be incredibly empowering for most Black students. I want them to have that experience for sure. I’m also glad Everett gave them that chance.

[Amanda]

Have either of you read other Everett books? The Trees looks really good

[Kirsten]

No, but now I want to. I have Telephone on my tbr, too.

[Jackie]

I haven't but would like to.

[Ashley, The Tipsy Challenger]

Members RESTARTING the BR: Page Pioneers
Challenge: Book Quest Adventures
Book: James by Percival Everett


Anyone is free to join in this Buddy Read! Happy Reading!

[Judith]

I'm about 120 pages in and loving the story. I am a big fan of classics being retold by a side character and this I think is being done well and providing a interesting perspective.

[Jenny]

We're at about the same spot.
I agree with you, and with the comments above that this book is amazing, and should be taught alongside Huck Finn in schools. If that is still a book on school lists anymore.

[Judith]

Hmm it should be but I know the language in there is pretty strong. Probably depends on the location of the school

[Claire]

I have restarted it as the first time I listened to the audio in English and felt I missed quite a few things. This time I’m reading the translated version and I know I was right. I enjoyed the way they played with language acting as if they spoke stupid English a lot.

[Claire]

Kirsten wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Oh, Sammy 😭"

So heartbreaking (and also James saying she was already dead, but at least this time she died free)."

I agree… that was so heartbreaking. But I felt like she might have felt it different.

[Jenny]

I just finished this wonderful book.
First off, I have to say that I wish it was about 300 pages longer. I didn't want it to end. Second, I want to read what James wrote. I wonder if Everett wrote a bunch of stuff just for his notes and character development. I wonder if we will ever get to see it.

Anyway, this was so good. I am glad I finally picked it up.
I wanted a coda so we could get more of the ending. Maybe a twenty years later bit or something. I want to know if Huck joined up.
I get greedy with books I like. I always want more.
I think the ending was perfect as it was though.

[Claire]

Also finished the book. I enjoyed it so much. It really was a 5 star read for me, which I rarely come across. Now i’m off to read some more of this author this year.

[Angie ☯]

I'm not finished yet, trying to read it in sections! I agree with everyone, the retelling is great and I like the different perspective!

I can't see it ever being taught alongside Huckleberry Finn and I even have to wonder if Huck will continue to be taught!

[Angie ☯]

My first impression of Jim was that he was way too intelligent for his own good! But I loved the fact that he taught himself (and others) to read! Huck seems less of a rascal and more thoughtful than I remember from the original.

[Judith]

I’ve finished and thought the book was moving and brilliant. So glad it was a BOM over in NBRC. Thank you Jenny for nominating it until it won!

While I think it ended at a good point an epilogue flashing forward would of been nice too

[Angie ☯]

Wow! That was quite the read. It was sad and brilliant!! I don't think I would have read it, had you not nominated Jenny! So I thank you, too. (Well, I may have read it for our other challenge here but I wouldn't have just read it!)

I don't remember having the same feelings for Huck Finn - but it's been a lifetime ago since I read it.

[Angie ☯]

I do have to say, that I loved this quote!! Bloody brilliant writing!!

“I am the angel of death, come to offer sweet justice in the night. I am a sign. I am your future. I am James.”

[Jenny]

I'm glad I decided to keep trying to nominate it as well. This one deserves to be read by a lot of people.

Great quote.

[Sammy]

Ok, question for you guys... did you like the original?

I wasn't a fan of either Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer, neither in terms of story or writing style. It's the main reason I didn't have any interest in reading this one.

What are the chances of disling one but liking the other?

[Kirsten]

HATED Huck Finn. Loved James.

[Jenny]

You absolutely do not need to like Huck Finn to adore this one.
I read the original in school, and I don't remember how I liked it, but I learned from it.
This one is just pure joy to read.

[Angie ☯]

I didn't like Huck Finn either and was reluctant to read this one.