James: Book Review

Today, we will be reviewing James by Percival Everett, the novel considered to be the best book released in 2024. Find out what we thought and if you should add it to your reading list!

James Summary

James is based loosely on the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and is told through the eyes of Jim. Just like Huckleberry Finn, the novel is set in Hannibal Missouri. Jim does a bit of everything, making sure the work is done and that the other slaves are doing well. And Jim looks out for Huck, knows that the boy is in a bad situation with a father that abuses him. 

Things take a drastic turn and upend Jim’s life when he learns that Miss Watson is planning to sell him. Jim hides on a nearby island and soon discovers Huck, who is fleeing his drunken father. Both hide out on the island until a torrential storm floods the island, forcing them to flee on the Mississippi River.

On their journey, Jim and Huck run into con artists, other slaves, and see the world outside of Hannibal. But no matter Jim runs to, he knows that he can’t start a new life without his family that is still in Hannibal. And can Jim help Huck navigate this cruel world? 

Commentary

Tackling a book like The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a daunting task and yet Everett seems to be in his element. The novel is beautifully written and gives Jim a redemption arc that has been long overdue for centuries. 

This novel could have been a thousand pages and that still wouldn’t be enough. But Everett keeps it short and sweet. We see the pain and suffering of every slave and how the travels and his experience shape Jim and lead him to do what he does in the book. Everett has written a modern classic and a novel that should be taught in school. But we know that it may be decades before that ever happens.

With so many books being banned and history being censured, novels like this are even that much important. We can’t forget the pain and suffering of millions of slaves. Everett gives Jim a pencil and lets us know the power of storytelling. Stories are powerful and are being censured for that reason. 

Awards

James won the 2024 Kirkus Prize and the National Book Award for Fiction. They are well deserved and James was always one of the best books released in 2024 in my opinion. But it has some competition and it’ll be a while before I end up knowing what was the best book of 2024. 

The Women by Kristin Hannah is also an incredible read and that doesn’t even cover all the books I have yet to read. I am just glad we had an incredible year like 2024 with so many incredible books to read. 

Conclusion

With two major awards under its belt, James has separated itself as one of the best books of 2024 and one that book lovers need to read. Even if you haven’t read Huckleberry Finn, you can still read this novel as it is loosely based on the classic novel. The events that occur are very different and this is Jim’s novel and his story, not Huck’s.

I loved every second of this novel and have to say that Everett is an amazing writer and storyteller. Every word and sentence feels perfect and conveys so much emotion. This novel will definitely make me read his other books. I recommend this novel to everyone and list it as one of the three most important works of 2024. Happy reading!

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