James by Percival Everett | Booker Shortlist Reads #5 | November 2024

[@GlitchWave-s6z]

Seriously, why is no one discussing 'Hidden Manifestation'? This forbidden book is a goldmine of knowledge that can sincerely change your life

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

Interesting that we both picked up on some similar moments in this novel. So delighted that you enjoyed it ❤

[@SavidgeReads]

We did. I forgot to talk about a few things though. All my clever thoughts fly out my head as soon as I press record. Lol.

[@Ali-AvidReader]

It’s such a powerful book isn’t it! It took me a while to get into it but once I did I couldn’t put it down. I’ll be very happy if it wins but Stone Yard Devotional is my pick this year. Looking forward to what you both have to say about it in your next video!

[@SavidgeReads]

Yes, you still have the joy of Stone Yard Devotional to come. Well I hope it’s a joy. I’ll be devastated if mum doesn’t like it. And we also have the shortlist ranking and winner prediction to come.

[@Ali-AvidReader]

@ You’ve got me nervous now😬

[@carolewatson2113]

Excellent book cover / jumper matching! 🍊🧡

[@SavidgeReads]

Didn’t quite sustain it. Haha. 🍊

[@carolewatson2113]

@ grey jumper, Bottom of the cover

[@cindyhaiken5644]

I’m so thrilled that you both felt about James the way I did. It was fascinating to me to hear your perspectives both with and without having read Huck Finn. It really is a brilliant and significant novel. Apart from Erasure, I would certainly recommend I Am Not Sidney Poitier and Telephone, both by Everett, the latter of which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

[@SavidgeReads]

It’s a brilliant book. I’ll definitely head to I Am Not Sidney Poitier and Telephone. I’ve realised I also have Dr No on the shelves. He’s so prolific. I looked at his back catalogue and WOW.

[@alliebeesreading]

Very autumnal sweaters!! 🍂 🍁

[@janebowell3985]

Percival Everett highlights so well the horrors of slavery and racism . I really enjoyed this book it is one of those brilliant novels with multiple layers and my continually wanting to compare it to Twain’s Jim and his story . I would like to read it again actually to refresh my memory. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver had a similar effect on me I really enjoyed both of your thoughts on this . Thank you !

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure. It’s been fun doing this. I just need to remind myself I get super time poor in October and November every year, I never learn lol. I didn’t miss not reading Twain. Seems like it’s brilliant either way.

[@trolfek]

Lovely analysis from both of you. I read this much earlier this year. A much anticipated release. There are some interesting interviews on YT of Percival Everett talking about James I encourage anyone to seek out.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh I might look some up.

[@spexi513]

I adore these videos and how you two discuss separately and anticipate how the other feels. I love(d) James, and after hearing y’all’s insights , love it even more. Read the original ages ago and remember none of it , and I don’t need to. TYSM Simon & the artist formerly known as Simon’s mom 📚🪱💚💚💚

[@SavidgeReads]

A pleasure. Glad you’ve enjoyed this series of videos. They’ve been fun to make.

[@susprime7018]

It's not a "cessity," but everyone should read Twain. This advice comes to you from one who hails from St. Louis, Missouri and had a first summer job on the river on an excursion steamboat (paddlewheel). I have read 30 pages of James.

[@SavidgeReads]

I would like to go on one of those steamboats. Maybe if I ever end up there I will read Twain but to be honest I don’t really want another version of James. Hahaha.

[@susprime7018]

@SavidgeReads You might enjoy Finn by Jon Clinch about Huck's no good daddy.

[@gabytrevisan]

Yay!!!!!!

[@KennethMay-m3j]

Percival is a genius! A masterful wordsmith, a black hole! In "James," he is playing with the reader, speaking not about 'black' matters, but about 'gray' matters. Not white people, but "Wide" people (see the image of a black hole). Not slavery, but "Slavic"-ery. Not racism, but "Rascible"-ism. For instance, irascible comes from the Latin word 'irasci,' meaning “to become angry.” So, if someone or something is described as irascible, it means they have a quick temper or are easily provoked to anger. Rudeness. Examples: "The irascible manager had a reputation for snapping at employees." "Her irascible nature made it challenging to have a calm discussion with her." ____________ Note: In "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain, the racial slur of "n*gger" is used frequently, including in reference to Jim, the enslaved man who is one of the novel’s central characters. The slur appears approximately 200 times throughout the text, used by both the narrator, Huck, and other characters, which feels *RUDE* to Black readers.

[@SavidgeReads]

Ooh mum will love the Latin link.

[@louisesavidgemuses4135]

@@SavidgeReadsI did 😊

[@KennethMay-m3j]

@@SavidgeReads Tin it is : )

[@lynniepie52]

James is by far my favorite book of the year… if you want a fun romp by Percival Everett ..try I am not Sidney Poitier! When your mom was speaking about it being a gut punch, I remembered the last line and it brought tears to my eyes!

[@SavidgeReads]

The end does certainly give you a bit of a wallop that’s for sure. I just wanted it to be a little more extended for even more of an effect.

[@EvieM1]

I haven’t read ‘James’ yet, hope to get to it soon.

[@SavidgeReads]

Hope it compels you when you read it like it did us.

[@janethansen9612]

James is absolutely the stand out for me. I didn't get along with the previous books I read by Percival Everett because they were much too obvious and in your face satire, but this was quite different.

[@SavidgeReads]

I liked The Trees quite a lot, just didn’t love how all the villainous folk in it were generally described as fat… a lot. It felt a bit lazy and lacked variety. This I thought was great and am really looking forward to reading some of his backlist in the future.

[@cecilialau_]

👏👏👏 (for the book and you!)

[@SavidgeReads]

thanks!

[@dunkbiscuit]

I completely agree with you on pacing. Its a shame because if the pacing had stayed constant, I think I would have rated it higher. I felt the ending almost felt glossed over it was so quick. I felt it did the book and story as a whole a disservice.

[@SavidgeReads]

I don’t think I felt quite as strongly as you did about the ending. It was a bit too fast for me but it didn’t ruin it for me and I didn’t feel it was a disservice. It was just a bit speedy and I wanted longer. Ha.

[@mradcaqbdb]

I’ll start with this. I think this book was brilliantly written. I gave it five stars. Here’s where things get confusing. Did I enjoy this book? I loved the ending and there were some bits here and there that I loved. I had the hardest time getting started with this book going back and forth, back and forth from physical book to audiobook looking for a toehold. The song at the beginning through me off completely and yes, the font was impossible to read. I just ignored it basically with the audiobook. I finally found that the audiobook would work best for me and just kept going until I was properly stuck in. That doesn’t mean everything was great after that. I found the journey up? down? river was, in parts, very dull and like reading the original in 7th grade (which thankfully we never had to). I think things picked up after James was on his own. And this is about where it turned into more of the kind of book I enjoy, where things have consequences. And when we get to revenge, it’s perfect. I know this isn’t going to make sense to anyone but me. Yes, five stars, but will it be in my top ten for the year? Probably not, but it could make it. Between this and The Trees, I much preferred The Trees. James hits a lot of very uncomfortable places for me. The patois, as Louise described it, angered me. I tend to be very put off by a lack of education, put off and sad at the same time. The white privilege, which still goes on so very obviously after the election, makes me furious. Revenge? Oh yes. That was lovely. So I think James is a great book deserving of praise and prizes, but not a book I can love without reservation. I’ve only read James, Orbital, and The Safe Keep, so I can only pick my winner from those books. I would choose Orbital.

[@SavidgeReads]

I think the language is one of the biggest and most poignant parts of the book. I am intrigued why the patois angered you, I thought it was really powerful and also how many, many, many people speak. I think you’re very much meant to cross at the privilege though. I thought the whole book was completely enthralling. Wasn’t bored for a second, as I said… I wanted more.

[@mradcaqbdb]

@ I don’t think patois is the correct word for how the slaves were speaking and agree that many people do speak patois. That wasn’t my point and I shouldn’t have used Louise’s wording. I hear what you are saying. But these children (and adults) in real life were denied education, denied almost everything, and yes, that infuriates me. Everett’s revenge is the slaves actually being more educated than the white people, which was entertaining but sadly for me, not enough. I wanted some comeuppance for the stupid white lady and her crappy pie that she ruined. Just one of a million examples of horrible white people. Inequality makes me furious. I told you my feelings wouldn’t make sense to anyone but me.

[@normasmith9596]

Love your sweater❤❤

[@SavidgeReads]

Which one? Lol. It was a sweater filled video.

[@audreyh7892]

I actually liked the characters better in James. However, it bothered me that James was SO intelligent.He was like a genius. And I felt that it fed into the "exception" rule used by racists. Even the average person deserved freedom and I know that Everett is way over my head but I kind of wished he had another character that was smart but more average smart that we could know well ....we caught a bit of it in the "slave talk" by the group of people who mislead the whites by talking one way in front of them and another way in the company of their families and friends.

[@SavidgeReads]

Interesting. I didn’t feel like James was a genius, though definitely cleverer than me. I felt Norman was pretty smart, considering his circumstances - I am avoiding any spoilers, ha. Plus I loved how James was teaching the children to outsmart their masters without showing it, showed the power of education but also that across the board those enslaved all deserved knowledge and freedom. Even those in the book who didn’t want it.

[@CionMohler]

Your mother was kinder to white people describing them as gullible rather than stupid. Both descriptions are valid I think. Just look at our last election.

[@SavidgeReads]

To be fair, I was addressing the people in the book, all who had power, and also who by the end you feel are less gullible and more powerfully stupid. Power can have that effect.