James(novel)
 | |
| Author | Percival Everett |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Doubleday[1] |
Publication date | 2024 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Pages | 320 |
| Awards | National Book Award for Fiction Kirkus Prize |
| ISBN | 978-0385550369 |
Jamesis a novel by authorPercival Everettpublished byDoubledayin 2024. The novel is a re-imagining ofAdventures of Huckleberry FinnbyMark Twainbut told from the perspective of Huckleberry's friend on his travels,Jim,who is an escaped slave. The novel won the 2024Kirkus Prizeand theNational Book Award for Fiction.
Story
[edit]Jamesis loosely based onMark Twain's classicAdventures of Huckleberry Finn.Some of the early scenes of Everett's novel closely follow Huckleberry Finn, but as the two separate and Jim goes off on his own picaresque "adventures", the tone turns more serious as it explores issues of rape, murder, beatings, and racism.
Reception
[edit]According toBook Marks,the book received a "rave" consensus, based on twenty-six critics: twenty-two "rave", one "positive", one "mixed", and two "pan".[2]In the May/June 2024 issue ofBookmarks,the book was scored four out of five stars. The magazine's critical summary reads: "Critics quibbled a little over the novel's ending, but, asThe New York Timesconcludes, "Jamesis the rarest of exceptions. It should come bundled with Twain's novel ".[3]
Writing forThe New York Times,Dwight Garnerpraised the novel as more successful than many re-imaginings of famous classics, stating, "What sets 'James' above Everett's previous novels, as casually and caustically funny as many are, is that here the humanity is turned up — way up. This is Everett's most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful."[4]Writing forThe Guardian,Anthony Cummins stated: "James offers page-turning excitement but also off-kilter philosophical picaresque".[5]
A finalist for the2024 Booker Prize,[6]Jameswon the 2024Kirkus Prize for Fiction,[7]as well as the 2024National Book Award for Fiction.[8]It appeared on 33 lists of the best books of the year.[9]
Film adaptation
[edit]Feature film rights in the novel were acquired in 2024 byUniversal Pictures,withAmblin Entertainmentfor production andSteven Spielbergas executive producer.Taika Waititiwas in early talks as director.[10]
References
[edit]- ^"James by Percival Everett".PenguinRandomhouse.com.
- ^"James".Book Marks.RetrievedJanuary 16,2024.
- ^"James".Bookmarks.RetrievedJanuary 14,2023.
- ^Garner, Dwight (March 11, 2024)."'Huck Finn' Is a Masterpiece. This Retelling Just Might Be, Too ".The New York Times.
- ^Cummins, Anthony (April 8, 2024)."James by Percival Everett review – a gripping reimagining of Huckleberry Finn".The Guardian.
- ^"James Written by Percival Everett".TheBookerprizes.com.
- ^Schaub, Michael (October 16, 2024)."Winners of the 2024 Kirkus Prize Revealed".Kirkus Reviews.RetrievedNovember 23,2024.
- ^Alter, Alexandra (November 20, 2024)."Percival Everett, Author of 'James,' Wins National Book Award for Fiction".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 21,2024.
- ^Temple, Emily (December 17, 2024)."The Ultimate Best Books of 2024 List".Literary Hub.RetrievedDecember 18,2024.
- ^Lang, Brent; Saperstein, Pat (June 20, 2024)."Steven Spielberg's Amblin to Produce Adaptation of Percival Everett's Bestseller 'James' for Universal, Taika Waititi in Early Talks to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)".