JAMES
“ I had to ask myself and answer honestly: how much do I want to be free?”
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Where to begin in reviewing this brilliant, masterful retelling of Huck Finn’s story from the perspective of Jim. The novel begins with the enslaved Jim as a runaway, fearing he will be sold away from his family, while Huck is on the run from his abusive father. Linked by their longtime friendship and collective escape, Jim and Huck become inextricably bonded as they journey down the Mississippi River. Meeting unexpected obstacles in nature and man, the story gains momentum and builds in intensity as Jim is forced to reckon with the fear, anger and longing he has carefully kept in check as an enslaved person. The result is a captivating, combustible novel that confronts slavery with unexpected plot twists and a thrilling conclusion. I hope everyone will read or listen to this masterpiece! Thank you @librofm for the ALC!
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James offers a perspective on slavery that feels familiar yet is entirely new, as he recounts his harrowing tale with disarming directness. Philosophical, erudite and eloquent, James feigns poor grammar and illiteracy, maintaining it is essential to the slaves’ safety to be underestimated (a parallel theme in Erasure/American Fiction: intentionally reducing Black stories to denigrating tropes to meet the expectations of a white audience). This self diminishing strategy is heartbreaking to read. But as James continues his journey, he is able to find hope through his faith in others, and their trust in him. I was captivated and moved as a reader, swept away by James’s sense of purpose and determination for survival. An astonishing work filled with humanity that I will be thinking about for a long time. This book should be part of every high school English curriculum!
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On the banks of the Mississippi, James and Huck eat little apart from dried fish and blackberries. I thought the latter would be more photogenic! Unpopular opinion but I prefer cobbler to pie. There’s more of the good stuff, and the ratio of berries to crust is perfect.
You can find this recipe here!
