I promised myself I wouldn’t dive into any more space horror stories, but “Julia,” Sandra Newman’s retelling of Orwell’s 1984 from Julia’s point of view, completely swept me up. Naturally, when I saw James hit the shelves—a reimagining of Huck Finn through Jim’s eyes—I couldn’t resist. I was curious, but also wary, because I knew this story would be as psychologically traumatic as I feared. And I wasn’t wrong.
Reading James is a deeply personal experience, especially as a Black woman, knowing that the only thing separating me from that nightmare of slavery is the year I was born. The narrative forced me to confront the reality that my great-grandparents and countless others who share my skin color endured this hellscape. It's more than just history—it's a stark reminder that they were treated as "it," less than animals, mere property. This is the kind of story that takes a physical toll on me every time I bear witness to it, but at the same time, it's necessary.
One of the things I found most powerful was how James fills in the emotional and psychological blanks left by Huckleberry Finn. In Everett’s hands, Jim is more than just a loyal protector or a man enslaved. The inner thoughts and eventual confession he shares go beyond the brutality of slavery, offering an explanation for why he’s so devoted to Huck. This complexity and depth made the retelling masterful—it's still settling with me, but I can already say it was absolutely worth the read.
Another aspect that haunted me was the subtle but consistent pattern Everett weaved through the story—everyone who helped Jim, except Huck, met a tragic end. It’s hard to tell if it was a coincidence or a chilling reflection of how dangerous it was to aid a Black person back then, but either way, it made clear just how easily Black lives were discarded. That’s a stark, painful truth to digest.
Percival Everett’s writing is as sharp and introspective as ever, breathing new life into a character who has long been a symbol but rarely fully understood. His retelling connects a lot of plot points and unspoken questions from Huckleberry Finn in ways that are satisfying, thought-provoking, and deeply unsettling. It's one of those stories that will stay with you long after you've closed the book.
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“Folks be funny lak dat. Dey takes the lies dey want and throws away the truths dat scares ’em.”10,217 位 Kindle 读者已标注- At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.6,504 位 Kindle 读者已标注
- How strange a world, how strange an existence, that one’s equal must argue for one’s equality, that one’s equal must hold a station that allows airing of that argument, that one cannot make that argument for oneself, that premises of said argument must be vetted by those equals who do not agree.5,438 位 Kindle 读者已标注
- I chose the word enemy, and still do, as oppressor necessarily supposes a victim.5,300 位 Kindle 读者已标注
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Imagination is everything with this story.
James is not exactly a retelling of Huck Fin because if it was, it would have been titled Jim instead of James. You have been warned. The author took liberties and turned this story on its head. I admit, I was was taken aback at first. That being said, I decided to just go with it and see what happens. I’m so glad I did as I was pleasantly surprised. If you can loosen your brain a bit and allow imagination to take over, you just may find a hilarious and ludicrous story told through the eyes, ears and thoughts of James long before the The Civil War.Imagination is everything with this story. I encourage you to keep an open mind and allow the door of implausibility to remain open. The exaggeration of James’s character is what brought this story to life for me…like a breath of fresh air. This contrast of literary characterization is what captured my imagination.An Imaginative ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Note: As I had read Huckleberry Fin many decades ago, I googled a synopsis to refresh my old brain.
