“At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.”–Percival Everett, James: A Novel

There has been a lot of hype about this book and for good reason. James, the titular character, may be better known to most readers as “Jim” from The Adventures of Huck Finn. The novel begins with some of the same storyline, but from James’ perspective. As the story continues, however, it is very much James’ story. He is the master of his destiny. The writing pulled me into the story as it illustrates James’ intelligence, humor, courage, and perseverance. It also highlights the moral relativism used by many in the antebellum South. This book was a 2024 Pulitzer finalist and quite frankly, I am surprised it didn’t win. It is that good.

Content Advisory: sexual assault, abuse, murder, slavery