Welcome to Litsy!

Finally one I've actually read...

#BooksoftheYear

Seconds later…..this is a good reminder not to let others live in my head. I think I should rewatch the Inside Out movies too. 😔

Breakfast with James. 💛 Hooked right from the beginning.

Absolutely loved it !!!

Almost didn‘t make it through this one. The first half was so slow and too closely followed Huck. Felt like the author was more interested in being clever than writing something interesting. But once Huck was out of the picture and even when he came back, I saw what so many critics and others became enamored with.

i was on a streak of books i haven‘t loved…but damn this one is turning things around. subversive in that the main story is not what you think it is…it is instead a lens by which we can understand the terror of slavery. you can feel it and if we feel it even in small part we can begin to try to deal with the aftershocks that shape our world today.

After hearing so many good things about this book, I had high hopes—and was NOT disappointed!! So many surprises and outstanding food for serious thought. Highly recommended for all who have read Huckleberry Finn. (The references are plentiful.)

I had trouble with the way the author played with the timeline, but that does not detract from the power of this novel. A plot that begins as a retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim‘s viewpoint, but evolves into a compelling commentary on injustice and a narrative of self-actualization. A work worthy of its many accolades. A 4+/5⭐️pick.

Omg!!! I was sick yesterday so sorry I missed opening day, but I am ELATED!!! @Pogue this is such a sweet box I am spoiled!!! Two of my most anticipated books, my favorite chocolate covered sunflowers seeds and toffee candy, my absolute favorite coffee, delicious smelling pumpkin candle, bookmarks, lovely mug, yummy jelly beans and a card!! You are amazing!!! #FFFS #FallingForFallSwap

Yay! James by P. Everett was one of the winners in the National Book Award Fiction category! #camplitsy24

I‘ve read all but one. Now off to find Aguda‘s book. #nationalbookaward

It is difficult to believe that Jim would have time to launch Huck in the canoe and then walk to the cave. Once there he first practiced writing and then completed an essay before returning to the bank of the river to see Huck arrive on the other side. How wide was the river? Impactful read, but I am finding some of the continuity issues distracting.

I found this so bold. And he pulled it off. It‘s a terrific book. Critical of Twain‘s classic, while deeply honoring it. And provoking the reader. Making us uncomfortable. Confront us with this alternate world take. It‘s a brilliant book.

#booker #booker2024 #longlist #shortlist

Who else could have done such a brilliant job with this? Who else could have reimagined this story? I believe only Percival Everett could have written this book. Not to be overly dramatic but this really does deserve all the awards.

An absolute masterpiece. I have read Huckleberry Finn countless times. I was a little worried about anyone taking this on. But it‘s absolutely brilliant. The stories mesh like pieces of a puzzle that have always belonged together, but took awhile to find each other. I think Mark Twain would approve. It‘s beautifully done.

I'm not American so I imagine this landed a little differently for me than for most of you, but it's a damn good story and I flew through it. I enjoyed the humour, flinched at the brutality (he must have been seething when he wrote some of those sentences!) and even had an unflattering self awareness epiphany.*
I'm delighted it made the #bookerprizeshortlist . I'm happy to discover a new-to-me author.

My next from the #booker #booker2024 #longlist

I didn‘t mean to get large print, but I might have been a little click happy on amazon, selecting the slightly cheaper option. ☺️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everett wrote this book with such honesty, respect, and agency. Taking a story so fully engrained in American Literature and flipping it to be something with a deeper understanding of every character must have been a massive undertaking, and there are so many impactful moments in this book. The audio is powerfully read, and I‘ll be buying my own copy and annotating all the moments that stilled my body & pushed into my heart.
A gift.

Such an engaging read..half way through and loving James by Percival Everett. A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told by Jim an escaped slave. Lovely writing, funny and compassionate!
#americanliterature #historicalfiction #literature

“Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass.”

#firstlinefridays
#currentlyreading
@ShyBookOwl

“Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass.”

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Huck was off thinking he was having an adventure with his buddy, Jim. But what was this whole scenario like from Jim's perspective? The consequences for him could be deadly because Black people and white people lived in two separate worlds. The book was amazing. There was never a dull moment. I thought it was brilliant. History is still tied into the now of things.

August Reads
5 🌟
James: Percival Everett 📖
Galatea: Madeline Miller 🎧
4.5 🌟
The Safekeep: Yael Van Der Woden 🎧
Enlightenment: Sarah Perry 🎧
4 🌟
Chain-Gang All Stars: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 🎧
Brotherless Nights: V. V. Ganeshananthan 📖
3.5 🌟
Whale Fall: Elizabeth O;Connor 📖
3 🌟
This Strange Eventful History: Claire Messud 🎧
Orbital: Samantha Harvey 🎧 📖
2 🌟
Held: Anne Michaels 📖

#AboutABook

I got a little confused & was trying to decide on my favorite book of August before reading the that prompt is #FavoriteOfJuly 😆 July was a great reading month but I have to go with these two (can‘t pick just one!)

Thank you to @Eggs & @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks for a great month of prompts! 🤗

Turns out I neglected to post a review of James here after reading it the week it came out (months ago at this point). I realized I couldn‘t find my review of this after it was the winner of #camplitsy24. Kinda makes me wonder how many other books I‘ve missed over the years. Anyhoo, as many have already mentioned here, it‘s a great read, and I‘m glad to see Everett being more widely read.

As all readers of American literature know, it all begins with a raft down the Mississipi River towards the unreliable promise of the free states and beyond.

This is James's version of his adventure with Huckleberry Finn.

I love how the author has really tied this into the Twain novel and that it gives another side to Huckleberry's story by giving James a voice without tearing it down. It's a fantastic companion novel.

We do have our #CampLitsy24 winner and it‘s a good one. James received by far the most votes, followed by Clear.

Meg, Helen and I have so enjoyed camp with all of you and we are very happy with all your thoughts and insights during the discussions, which have add so much to the books and the reading experience.

We thank you all and hope to see you next year again, or maybe during #LitsyToB25 😀🤍

Action-packed and insightful. I especially liked the duality of the language James and the other slaves used.

I was mildly concerned this wouldn‘t live up to the hype, but happily I had no reason to worry. This was just excellent in every way. Everett is such an amazing writer and I‘m so glad he‘s finally getting his due.

Loved this one (read it before the longlist was announced). I generally enjoy Everett‘s writing and this was a brilliant reworking of Huckleberry Finn. I did reread Huckleberry Finn prior to reading this one. Our Booker panel reviewed that here https://thereadersroom.org/2024/08/14/2024-booker-longlist-james-by-percival-eve...
#bookerlonglist2024

#AboutABook

4 of our 6 books for #CampLitsy24 have a #OneWordTitle
🏕️💚

I have mixed feelings about this one. I love that the author takes back Jim's story as he retells the classic Huckleberry Finn tale. But at the same time, I felt like the storytelling was so heavy handed. Retellings are tricky and I think hearing Jim's story through his own voice is completely different from Huck's POV. But I struggled to connect. That doesn't mean it's not worth reading, I just struggled with it.

This was great! Good as audiobook - the language, which is such a dynamic part of this novel, really shone this way. So interesting. No desire to read Huck Finn. James is such a well drawn, introspective character - could have spent so much more time with him.

"Who should read this book? Every single person in the country." Anne Patchett "Percival Everett is a genre." Kiese Laymon 5 ? Everett is one of my favorite writers. This is my favorite novel of his. The book takes off when it stops following the plot of Huck Fin. A top read of the year for me. #booker2024 @BarbaraBB @jlhammar @Graywacke @JamieArc @Leniverse @AnneCecilie @JenP

I cannot say enough about this book. It should be required reading, it‘s about agency and liberation and Blackness (and tangentially , whiteness) in America. Percival Everett has written a masterpiece. My recommendation: read this book (then, maybe read it again… it‘s that good).⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My house already looks like this as I try to cull my book collection. 😱 So, yes, please, #Booker Prize, I am up for a distraction, and I will take you up on your #BPReadingChallenge2024. 😈📚📚📚📚😈
Let me just reorganise said cull pile into a book fort, and I'm all yours. 😊

Is anyone else doing the #Booker #longlist challenge?

#AboutABook

I‘m a bit ashamed to say that Percival Everett was a #NewToYouAuthor for me before James was a #CampLitsy2024 July pick & it turned out to be one of my best books of the year so far. I will be reading more of Everett & happy to hear any recommendations!

July stats:
A banner month, but then I was home, not working, in AC lots.
30 books
~21 mystery
~8 fiction
~1 memoir
Library books: 11
Kindle: 8
Audio: 4
My books: 7
Obviously I remain a mystery addict. Easy reading!

Book 159 of the year.

#JulyWeeklyFavorites

Favorite fiction tagged, favorite nonfiction These Precious Days.

@Read4life

Great reading month!

5⭐️
James
The Things We Cannot See

4⭐️
The Enigma Girls
Interesting Facts About Space
We Used to Live Here
The Girl From Silent Lake
How the Word is Passed

Best of July was James 😊 #readingbracket2024 @CSeydel

My July book stats.

I can‘t believe that I read this many books in July!

Unsurprisingly given our mixed reactions to All Fours, which still got 11 votes, James is our July winner!! It will go on to face Clear and August‘s winner for Best of Camp.

James was also the top vote-getter for all books nominated, so I‘m glad many of you liked it as much as you hoped you would! #CampLitsy24

Just an amazing book - I read Twain‘s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn again prior to starting this one and it really is a great re-visioning of events. Perspective matters. The audio, narrated by Dominic Hoffman, is excellent.

Jim is the slave from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, only now we get the story from his POV. I loved this retelling of the story. The stay on the island and the trip down the Mississippi River, and how Jim slowly through the book becomes James.

#ReadAway2024

I‘ve been so bad about posting my reviews this month but I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook of this #CampLitsy24 July pick. I don‘t remember all of the details of The Adventures Huckleberry Finn (read back in Junior High I believe) & didn‘t get a chance to reacquaint myself but I don‘t think I needed to. This retelling from the slave Jim/James‘s perspective was cleverly written & while a tough read at times, ultimately hopeful. ⬇️

I listened to this one on my walks , and it was a lovely easy listen. A retelling of Huckleberry Finn from Jim‘s POV. It flowed along just the river. An engaging listen. ♥️

A belated review for a fantastic #CampLitsy24 pick—it made for a great read & wonderful discussion!

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” —Scout Finch, in To Kill a Mockingbird

A retelling from a different character‘s perspective invites its readers to consider things from a new point of view—it was high time someone did this with Huck Finn.⤵️