#38 James, by Percival Everett

 



Booker Prize:  Shortlisted 2024

Plot Time and Place: 19th century Missouri, USA

Opening sentence: "Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass."

Plot summary: This book is a reimagining of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", by Mark Twain (published in 1884), but this time the story is told from the point of view of the enslaved Jim (the titular character).

Review: This book should be read after reading "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain. I found it very easy to read, and very interesting to see things from Jim's perspective. However, I found some elements of the story, like the way that Jim talks, and the fact that he can read and write, totally unrealistic. 

Rating:  4/5









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