James by Percival Everett, winner of the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, March 19, 2024; Knopf, library
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jim's story of escaping with Huckleberry Finn on a raft heading for freedom is an amazing novel of an adventure that shows almost all aspects of slavery and the south before the beginning of the Civil War - the lives of slaves, their imprisonment and harsh treatment, while being hunted if they tried to escape, subject to being sold and separated from their families at any moment, or punished at the whim of their masters.
Jim runs for personal freedom, and Huck runs from an abusive father whom he fears will kill him. Their relationship of help, trust, and humanity is an amazing part of this story, set mostly on the Mississippi River and on its banks.
The novel departs in some aspects from the original story written by Mark Twain, as it is described as a reimagining of Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Jim's story of escaping with Huckleberry Finn on a raft heading for freedom is an amazing novel of an adventure that shows almost all aspects of slavery and the south before the beginning of the Civil War - the lives of slaves, their imprisonment and harsh treatment, while being hunted if they tried to escape, subject to being sold and separated from their families at any moment, or punished at the whim of their masters.
Jim runs for personal freedom, and Huck runs from an abusive father whom he fears will kill him. Their relationship of help, trust, and humanity is an amazing part of this story, set mostly on the Mississippi River and on its banks.
The novel departs in some aspects from the original story written by Mark Twain, as it is described as a reimagining of Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Published Jan. 1, 2025.
Genre: Mystery thriller, cozy mystery set on a luxury yacht in the mid-Atlantic Ocean
My rating: 4 stars
When a passenger is found dead and her valuable necklace missing, the detective on board as a guest must find the killer while he himself tries to stay alive.
Ingtriguing mystery. I never expected the culprits to be who they were, although I had wished for a more unusual motive.
Aug. 19, 2025; Vintage, library
Genre: literary fiction, adult fiction set in Sweden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Bo is too old to take care of himself at home, so he has caretakers who come four times a day to his house. But Bo gets upset when his son wants to take away his pet elkhound, saying that he could injure himself walking the dog in all kinds of weather and in the woods.
This is a moving story of an aging man who has lost his wife to dementia and has to live with his own infirmities, while trying to keep what he loves - his way of life and his dog, close to him.
What are you reading this week?
I'm happy to see how much you enjoyed James; I did, too. I haven't heard about When the Cranes Fly South, but I think I will see if I can find a copy of that one.
ReplyDeleteI just downloaded James on audiobook. It's been on my TBR list forever, maybe I can actually get to it by listening to it! I'm glad you enjoyed it! When The Cranes Fly South is also on my TBR list, but I'm waiting until I can emotionally take it because I hear that it's a tear jerker. Sounds like you had some great reading!
ReplyDeleteReading the large print version of the book made it easier for me to read it! You might give that a try if the audio doesn't work well.
DeleteI've heard of James but not read it - glad you enjoyed it so much. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteMay Contain Murder sounds like something I would like. I'll have to look for it. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteJames is one off the best books I've read in years. So well done. Can you believe the Pulitzer board didn't take the committee's recommendation and instead picked James? What was the committee thinking not even having this book in their top three?
ReplyDeleteGlad to see James lived up to the hype. When the Cranes Fly South sounds like a sad one! They better not have taken his dog from him!
ReplyDeleteNice looking assortment of books. James makes me curious. I have deliberately avoided reading Huckleberry Finn for years, but maybe this related book would work for me. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDelete