James by Percival Everett | Spoiler-free book review 📖

They're maybe few and far between on this channel, but James by Percival Everett is so good it deserved a standalone review.
I one hundred percent recommend reading this book. In fact, I can't recommend it enough. What a novel.
Thanks to Picador Mantle for the advance copy.
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Thank you so much for watching.
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[@benreadsgood]

Apologies if the video and audio quality are a bit different in this video. I've upgraded (in theory!) my equipment so that I'm finally no longer using my phone, but I am a total newbie to proper cameras and post production. May take a little while to get everything looking and sounding as good as possible with the new setup. Thanks for bearing with me! ✌

[@StephanieP1901]

I think it’s fine … don’t know if that’s due to editing but there’s certainly nothing wrong with the quality of this.

[@peaseblossom4252]

I’m eagerly waiting for my copy to cross the pond to me (I like the UK cover better). I did read Tom Sawyer and then Huckleberry Finn, mainly as an excuse to revisit them since I hadn’t read them since middle school. I forgot how much I enjoy Twain’s writing. In Huckleberry Finn, Jim gives a speech after Huck “gaslights” him as a joke, and it’s so profound and moving as an example of a person claiming their power. I can’t wait to see how Everett builds on Twain’s character and fleshes Jim out to having a full voice, his own story. Great review! Thank you for getting me even more excited. Happy Reading. 📚

[@benreadsgood]

Glad it's on it's way, and you've prepared yourself by reading the Twains! Hope James is full of little tidbits and references that I will have missed 😊

[@ReadingNymph]

Running to see if my library has this book, it sounds amazing

[@benreadsgood]

Future classic! It’s honestly so good.

[@joangavrilik3009]

Loved this book❤ This is only my 2nd Everett novel, but I might spend this summer diving into his backlist. His insights are just so smart.

[@benreadsgood]

Yeah I love his approach to things. I think I might tackle Telephone next! It’s great that a bunch of his books have just been reissued in the UK.

[@Girlytang]

I have James on hold at the library behind 32 others requests. 🥴 After your review, I may have to relent and buy my own copy. Thank you!😊

[@benreadsgood]

If you do hold out for your hold, it will be worth the wait!

[@cindyfreese254]

I agree 100%! Excellent review of one of my favorites this year.

[@benreadsgood]

It's an absolute gem. I can't see it not being part of my favourites of the year list!

[@StephanieP1901]

Amazing review Ben. It sounds like everything I was hoping it would be. I can't wait.

[@benreadsgood]

It does not disappoint. Believe the hype!!!

[@tabitha_h2000]

What👏 a👏 review👏!!!! this was incredible. thank you!

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks so much Tabitha - glad you enjoyed it! It was such a fantastic novel I thought it deserved its own video 😅

[@ht6743]

Nice review, BEN! My copy was delayed for weeks, but it's finally arriving today. Glad that you mentioned James's future awards potential. It already feels like next year's Pulitzer frontrunner in my mind.

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks so much! Hope it turns up as expected. You're in for a treat!

[@ht6743]

@@benreadsgood It's arrived! 😁 Demand for this book is ridiculous here.

[@judybrown1624]

I received my copy yesterday. So excited.

[@benreadsgood]

You're in for such a treat - it's so good.

[@juliebeatty2351]

Great review, Ben! I've just finished Huckleberry Finn and started reading James. Through this immersive experience I also read Toni Morrison's essay on Huckleberry Finn that affirms its brilliancy, repugnancy and legitimacy in classic literature. Glad I read Huck first.

[@benreadsgood]

Ooh that's really interesting, I didn't know about a Morrison essay. I'll have to look it up! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@jacquelineturner7206]

I’ve been loving his work for several years and this one was riveting.

[@benreadsgood]

I am so grateful to the Booker for nominating him and bringing his work to my attention. He's so talented and I'm really excited to dive into his backlist more deeply!

[@TerryJ950]

I just finished reading James today, so I’m on the hunt to hear what Booktubers said about it. I loved your review - I felt the same way about the book. I never read the original and it was not needed, at least for me. I’ll be thinking about James for a long time.

[@benreadsgood]

It’s such a brilliant novel, isn’t it! There’s something about authors being able to mix absurdity and humour and serious topics right now that is really pushing my buttons. Definitely will stick with me for a long time too.

[@seamusgaelic6447]

Put it on my TBR. Another book you might consider reading is Finn by Jon Clinch. Jon Clinch's speculative extrapolation on the peripheral character of Pap Finn, from Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckelberry Finn, is not only genius in its level of imagination, but beautifully written. I have to say though, that I have not encountered such a thoroughly amoral character in literature since Fagin from Oliver Twist. In fact, in some ways, Finn makes Fagin look downright honorable.

[@peaseblossom4252]

Thank you for the recommendation! I’ll check out Finn.

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks for the recommendation! It takes such skill to do a retelling well, but it seems like everyone has Twains number 😅

[@mradcaqbdb]

I will be reading it this weekend! I’ve already gotten through the language-y bits you alluded to, but I’m not far in yet at all. Very excited by your review and for new Percival Everett! Almost forgot. No intention to read Huckabee Finn. I figure if I escaped grade school without having to read it, it’s a sign that I really don’t need to read it now. 😉😂

[@benreadsgood]

It's such a brilliant book - you've got an emotional and powerful experience ahead of you!

[@mollyb698]

Good to know I don't need to go back and reread Huck Finn (It has been probably 15 years - yikes!) to get a lot out of this one. I was on the fence about reading it but your review pushed me to put it on hold at my library!

[@benreadsgood]

I'm so pleased you've decided to take the plunge. It's so fantastic! Having a rough idea of the Huck Finn plot is definitely enough to give you a few extra insights, I think.

[@1book1review]

Well that was the first time I got actually curious about this author and this book. Good job Ben!

[@benreadsgood]

Glad you found it interesting 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@thelefthandedreader6632]

Oh I could not agree more!

[@benreadsgood]

It’s such a stunning achievement! I don’t know how he does it, but I am excited to get deeper into his backlist.

[@jakemaddox3657]

That book cover is amazing. I bought it on release day. We have the Black and Yellow cover. It’s nice too though.

[@benreadsgood]

The UK did win this round 😉

[@janethansen9612]

I hated Dr No and was ho hum about The Trees. However I'm planning to read James as it sounds somewhat different and I suspect it will get prize attention.

[@benreadsgood]

It's definitely not a radical departure from his style, but I think it's got some magic ingredient that just brings it all together fantastically. Hope this is the one that tips you over into Percival fandom 😅

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Brilliant review, Ben. This is such an important novel. Well done!

[@benreadsgood]

It’s a fantastic book! Thanks so much for watching 🙏

[@dunkbiscuit]

Just started listening to huckleberry finn on audible as the free version is read by elijah Wood. I'm already thinking I should have read tom sawyer first! However I don't mind reading classics and I know from what you've said you don't need to read huckleberry finn to enjoy James, but going to read it anyway. Thanks for the review

[@benreadsgood]

I definitely think you will get a lot out of reading both Huckleberry Finn and James, I just done think it's essential. And I didn't know there was an Elijah-narrated version! I have read Tom Sawyer about 10 years ago and remember enjoying it, despite me not usually being a reader of classics. Thanks for watching.

[@CharlieBrookReads]

Really want to read this one. Great review as always Ben.

[@benreadsgood]

I'd definitely recommend it. I think you'd love it, Charlie!

[@philnasmith9755]

I only learned about Everett when TREES became nominated. That was my favourite read for 2023 and I have been a passionate Everett fan since then. Cannot wait for James to arrive. There was an interesting article on Everett in The Guardian Books blog this week - Everett is an amazingly talented man: a skilled woodworker, jazz musician, mule and horses trainer, and much more - well worth reading the article by David Shariamadari.

[@benreadsgood]

I’m the same! So glad the Booker introduced me to him. What a talented author. Read and loved that article too!

[@BookishTexan]

Great review of a great book!

[@benreadsgood]

Thanks so much! 🙌

[@GemofBooks]

I’m halfway through this now and completely agree. I love the language discussion, I don’t think I’ve seen it done around slavery before. James is such an awesome character, I have high hopes that it will make the Booker 🤞🏻

[@benreadsgood]

It’s so good isn’t it! Glad to hear you’re loving it too 👏

[@leafsonata]

I've never heard of this book, but you have a kind face and now I'm really glad I clicked on the video. Thank you so much for sharing this. Great content! I watched till the end. Could you please share what the author was like? What an awesome opportunity! Sending good vibes from Alabama, USA.

[@benreadsgood]

Ahh thanks for the kind message - that’s really nice of you to say ♥️ Everett was a really, really interesting guy. He had such a great perspective on reading and writing and the publishing industry. I’d definitely recommend checking out an interview with him online - I’m sure there must be some on KZbin!

[@the_snicklefritz]

So so good!!!

[@benreadsgood]

He’s a genius!

[@single2do694]

I agree. it's an excellent read. I've recommended this book to my

[@benreadsgood]

It's such an achievement - can't wait to see it gobble up all the book prizes!

[@Europa1749]

I'm going to order it asap.

[@benreadsgood]

Well worth it - just a brilliant, brilliant novel.

[@readandre-read]

If I read a better book than James this year my brain might explode. But that wouldn't be the worst way to go! I love Everett's abrupt endings, although he dialed that back in this one.

[@benreadsgood]

Haha imagine 😂 A book so good you do a literal 🤯

[@francissemazzi1530]

The code language is very interesting

[@benreadsgood]

It’s so interesting! The perfect balance of humour and cleverness that Everett is an expert at.

[@rachelmatthews8489]

James is tied with Wellness by Nathan Hill as my favourite reads of the year so far. It's phenomenal - funny, compelling, clever and brilliantly written. 10s across the board 🙌🏾

[@benreadsgood]

Absolutely! It's so hard to get those ingredients mixed together in the right proportions, but he's baked a perfect cake with this book. What a stunner! I haven't read Wellness, but maybe I'll see when it comes out in paperback 😅

[@rachelmatthews8489]

@@benreadsgood James is truly a perfect cake of a book. I rarely reread books but will absolutely reread James. Wellness is quite different. Meandering, a bit pretentious, a bit obscure, sometimes even a little farcical but it resonated with me a lot and I still think about it months later. Worth a try in paperback but not for everyone so I apologise in advance if you don't like it 😅

[@benreadsgood]

That’s excellent info, thanks! It’s been interesting to see people feel so passionately about Wellness on both the ‘love’ and ‘hate’ ends of the spectrum, so I do wonder where I’ll end up with it!

[@rachelmatthews8489]

@@benreadsgood I look forward to your review when you pick it up 🤞

[@WinkLinkletter]

The ad for the audiobook I just saw said this work 'imbued (Jim) with dignity and grace...', but the original presented him as such as well already, and I sure hope they weren't insinuating otherwise. Another Huckleberry spin-off is 'FINN', about Huck's awful father. I enjoyed it.

[@benreadsgood]

Interesting - that's not quite how Everett speaks about what he's doing. He sees it as being able to tell a more complex story about Jim, one that Twain (who he respects) wasn't equipped to tell because of how things were 180 years ago. But in any case, an absolutely brilliant book!

[@scotthacker2265]

Loved James. Re read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Enjoyed James more. Just finished Erasure and enjoyed that book also.

[@benreadsgood]

Yeah Erasure is so funny, really enjoyed it too. I think I’ll probably go for Telephone next!

[@scotthacker2265]

Have ordered Telephone and The Trees.

[@StephaniePatterson-jb5it]

This indeed was a fabulous novel.

[@benreadsgood]

It is such a special book. So glad to have read it!

[@chambersstevens3135]

Excellent book! Love Huck Finn. And now I love James!

[@benreadsgood]

James is such a banger! I'll have to go back and revisit Huckleberry Finn at some point - I really enjoyed Tom Sawyer when I read that.

[@t0dd000]

These two blew me away this year: James and Prophet Song. So good. By the way, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of my very favorite books. Read it.

[@benreadsgood]

Two great books (and right now I'm guessing both Booker winners 👀) I do have a copy of Huckleberry Finn, so it's in the queue... but don't ask me how far down the line it is 😅

[@Deejack27]

I can’t wait to read this one

[@benreadsgood]

It’s worth getting to - such a brilliant novel!

[@donreadsalot4932]

I really loved this gem of a book.

[@benreadsgood]

It’s a real stunner. So pleased to see how well it’s been received by readers.

[@nadiadixon5805]

goodness, my special number is 24. I suppose I am being told to read it 😊

[@benreadsgood]

It's meant to be!!!

[@tjp-re4du]

probably not

[@benreadsgood]

Great contribution, thanks.