James: Winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

A phenomenal read that merges with a timeless classic, adding a beautifully brutal verse to it. It helps add layers to a seemingly simplistic tale, transforming it into an infinity more complex and heart shattering mirror to the times it belonged to.

I have not read Huckleberry Finn. Went into the book not even knowing that the character will show up. But what kept me going was the lovely awareness of the lead character who is telling the story. There is instantly something amazing about this book that makes you want to keep turning the page. This is a great understudy of humanity held by the threads. The book has mystery, adventure and a lot of drama. You will meet some great people along the way. You will get a sense of understanding of the culture that existed during slavery and how it has impacted our world. If only you study minorities do you get a sense of human civilisation and the complexities of the human mindset. Loved the pacing, masterful editing, not one page seemed force or irrelevant, this book is timeless and it feels as though it could have been written in 1930. I have never read this author but I will try at least one more book because of how just good the storytelling was. WARNING - this is not an overdramatic book despite being about slavery, it does not have harsh depictions that will make you wince but it warms up to you by simply questioning the goings of the time it was written in.

Good font n cover I shall give my complete review after reading.

Incredible prose

I bought the book based on reviews & it’s amazing. I finished reading in 3 sittings over a week. It’s an inspiring story of courage & persistence. Highly recommended

Having grown up with the Mark Twain characters, this was a beautiful reimagining of James' life. The insight about how his grasp of language and ability to read was far more feared than his gun or ability to kill was striking. Huck's character growth is also wonderfully played out. The multiple side characters like the King and Bilgewater add the kind of dark humor - not quite comic relief - that kept the narrative fast-paced and engaging.

This book makes me angry. How have we claimed the human race to be "human"? How do we think we are better than animals? No animal will attack another just because it is different. That is our specialty. James is a retelling of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, but from the perspective of the Black companion who accompanies Huck on the adventure. For a full understanding of James, read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before you read this book.

The book came in perfect condition with a timely delivery. My rating for the book is ★★★★★ What would a 27-year-old enslaved man do after discovering he’s about to be sold and permanently separated from his wife and daughter? Does he fight or flee? Beg for mercy or confront a system built to break him? This extraordinary novel is the journey of what James chooses to do when there’s no room left to simply survive. The story flows like the Mississippi River itself—rough, unpredictable, and impossible to contain. Everett’s narration is so precise, so gripping, that even when life interrupts your reading, James’s voice follows you long after you close the book. We’ve seen epics like Django Unchained and 12 Years a Slave, where enslaved men struggle to reunite with their families. The themes and archetypes may feel familiar, yet this novel still feels utterly fresh. Every time James finds himself cornered by danger on both sides of the Mississippi, you can’t help but turn the page. This was my first Everett novel, and I’m blown away. I felt everything—James’s physical world, his fever dreams, his connection to weather and water, and the soulful rhythm of his narration. It’s rare to be this immersed. Re-contextualizing Mark Twain’s iconic work is something only a handful of writers could even dare. It could have easily fallen flat or turned slow, but Everett never lets the momentum slip. Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger that makes you crave the next one. You constantly wonder: What happens to James and Huck? Does James ever reunite with Sadie and Lizzie? The injustices shown through James’s point of view are the true force of the novel. From a stolen pencil to the unspeakable abuse enslaved people endure, the emotional impact is relentless. The system’s cruelty—especially embodied in Norman’s fate—hits hard, and James’s despair in those moments is unforgettable. I won’t spoil anything. This book deserves to be experienced page by page, breath by breath. It may be rooted in American history, but its power is universal. Simply international! A masterpiece!

This captivating work of black literature is a must-read for everyone, young and old alike. Its brilliance resonates across generations and invites all minds to explore its profound themes and messages.

After this book I want to read everything by this author. Super read.

Who could retell Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, except Percival Everett, one of America's best novelists ? The story is told from the point of view of the runaway slave (i.e. James) and it makes all the difference, adding a new perspective on this classic narrative. Definitely, it could be said that Everett's novel is the twenty-first century twin to Twain's story. A must-read for who is interested in American literature.

Book well-wrapped and well-received. Thanks and looking forward to read.

A close up picture of how slavery treated the blacks. Good writing and characters and well worth the read.