Many congratulations!
It was a really good read, very clever and well-written book I thought.
I also liked Martyr from the list of finalists. My favourite was My Friends, one of the best reads this year for me.
lifefeed on
I just read Erasure and Trees earlier this year and he’s easily my new favorite author.
JesyouJesmeJesus on
Nice! Was hoping it would be this or *My Friends*, though I haven’t yet gotten to *Martyr!* or *Ghostroots*. Congratulations to him
micro_berts on
Has to be my favorite read of 2024! I’m at about 65 books for the year and this one is keeping the top spot.
sinned-fiji on
If you’ve read Huckleberry Finn, you gotta try James, quite interest.
postpunktheon on
It was excellent, I’m glad to see all the buzz it created. You don’t have to have knowledge of Huck Finn to enjoy it, I would say that it helps add a little flavor, but the story splits off at a certain point and becomes its own unique thing.
meander-663 on
I was hoping for Martyr or Ghostroots but happy to see Everett rewarded for the talent he is!
These-Background4608 on
Well-deserved. It was one of the best books I read this year.
averageveryaverage on
This book is definitely on my list. However, the only reason I haven’t bought it yet is b/c I have not read Huckleberry Finn. My question for other members of this sub is whether I have to read HF beforehand to properly understand or enjoy this book? Thanks in advance for your help.
DogFun2635 on
Hell yeah! Should have taken the Booker too
Ryman13333 on
Dissenting opinion: I thought James did a horrible job of actually inhabiting the character of Jim in any meaningful way. Instead the author just chose to use the character as a mouthpiece for his own ideas, which while I mostly agree with many, feel poorly explored. I cringed when he had the multiple confrontations with John Locke.
The other thing I take issue with is how the story seems to dismiss Huck as a silly child. To me the power of Twain’s story comes from how the naive Huck can cut through the absurdity of racism so easily despite being inculcated into it. He says he is willing to go to hell for helping Jim escape and that in the end he’s okay with that because he is his friend. All of that energy is sapped away in James with the protagonist seemingly being infallible.
Also, I’d like to say that I was very interested in the premise and totally understand the desire to deepen, explore, and change Jim who comes off in Huck Finn as a minstrel stereotype. I just think Everett went about it poorly.
PRH_Eagles on
Anyone else have tepid feelings about alternative character perspective books? I’d like to read one of Everett’s books, but I’m not a big fan of this subgenre. Strikes me as an excellent educational & creative writing opportunity for students & people at large to engage in themselves, less compelling as standalone novels (Respectfully please spare me the Paradise Lost was fan fiction response, the Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead response, etc. Not opposed to the practice but not very into how common it has been).
Bookmaven13 on
I have this on my Kindle. Good to know it’s considered a good read.
foreverpeppered on
I accidentally bought the large print version and I laugh whenever i see it
15 Comments
Good. One of my favorite books this year.
Many congratulations!
It was a really good read, very clever and well-written book I thought.
I also liked Martyr from the list of finalists. My favourite was My Friends, one of the best reads this year for me.
I just read Erasure and Trees earlier this year and he’s easily my new favorite author.
Nice! Was hoping it would be this or *My Friends*, though I haven’t yet gotten to *Martyr!* or *Ghostroots*. Congratulations to him
Has to be my favorite read of 2024! I’m at about 65 books for the year and this one is keeping the top spot.
If you’ve read Huckleberry Finn, you gotta try James, quite interest.
It was excellent, I’m glad to see all the buzz it created. You don’t have to have knowledge of Huck Finn to enjoy it, I would say that it helps add a little flavor, but the story splits off at a certain point and becomes its own unique thing.
I was hoping for Martyr or Ghostroots but happy to see Everett rewarded for the talent he is!
Well-deserved. It was one of the best books I read this year.
This book is definitely on my list. However, the only reason I haven’t bought it yet is b/c I have not read Huckleberry Finn. My question for other members of this sub is whether I have to read HF beforehand to properly understand or enjoy this book? Thanks in advance for your help.
Hell yeah! Should have taken the Booker too
Dissenting opinion: I thought James did a horrible job of actually inhabiting the character of Jim in any meaningful way. Instead the author just chose to use the character as a mouthpiece for his own ideas, which while I mostly agree with many, feel poorly explored. I cringed when he had the multiple confrontations with John Locke.
The other thing I take issue with is how the story seems to dismiss Huck as a silly child. To me the power of Twain’s story comes from how the naive Huck can cut through the absurdity of racism so easily despite being inculcated into it. He says he is willing to go to hell for helping Jim escape and that in the end he’s okay with that because he is his friend. All of that energy is sapped away in James with the protagonist seemingly being infallible.
Also, I’d like to say that I was very interested in the premise and totally understand the desire to deepen, explore, and change Jim who comes off in Huck Finn as a minstrel stereotype. I just think Everett went about it poorly.
Anyone else have tepid feelings about alternative character perspective books? I’d like to read one of Everett’s books, but I’m not a big fan of this subgenre. Strikes me as an excellent educational & creative writing opportunity for students & people at large to engage in themselves, less compelling as standalone novels (Respectfully please spare me the Paradise Lost was fan fiction response, the Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead response, etc. Not opposed to the practice but not very into how common it has been).
I have this on my Kindle. Good to know it’s considered a good read.
I accidentally bought the large print version and I laugh whenever i see it