First Edition, 320 pages
English language
Published March 19, 2024 by Doubleday.
When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
Something about knowing this was tied to Huckleberry Finn made this much less interesting.It's well written, but the plotline was desigend for Huck, not Jim. Trying to squeeze something out of that side of the story leaves it lacking. Again, good writing, and Jame's internal monologue and perception of the world is very powerful. But the lasting impact was very low given high expectations going in.
This book should honestly be required reading for any school students that read Huck Finn. A bit dark at times due to the brutal nature of slavery, but this is one of my favorite books of the past few years.
Everett takes Huckleberry Finn, tells it from the point of view of Jim and makes it new. Fittingly, he combines a wild adventure story and sharp social commentary and does so to great effect. Best book I’ve read in a while.
