James

Synopsis: James is a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but from the perspective of Jim—wait, make that James. The enslaved man known as Jim can finally reclaim his identity, preferring to be known as James. Early in the novel, James acquires a pencil at an unspeakable cost, which allows him to tell his story. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold down South and separated from his family, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father. Thus, as all middle school readers of Huck Finn know, begins the journey by raft down the Mississippi River to the promise of the Free States.

Review: This is, not surprisingly, a sly and witty revision of the story of Jim. James, as he prefers, is not the naive butt of the joke that he is in Huck Finn. Rather, he is literate, thoughtful, and resourceful. Questions of freedom and identity must necessarily be explored, and notions of race are front and center. James hits many of the key plot points of Huck Finn, though this is not just a simple retelling. Percival Everett has produced a brilliant novel that many reviewers have described as funny, and while there are moments of humor, I wouldn’t describe this as comic. It is at times amusing, at times heartbreaking, with repeated opportunities to examine the best and worst of humanity in a stacked deck world. This may be one of my top picks for this year.

Rating: 5/5

Recipe: Life on the river would be challenge unless you know how to fish. Corn pone and catfish seem to be the staples for James and Huck. Catfish is a mild white fish, similar to sole, so prepare accordingly!

4 catfish fillets, about 2 pounds

1/4 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

salt and pepper to taste

1/3 cup vegetable oil

4 tablespoons butter

juice of 1/2 lemon

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

1) Dredge the fillets in milk, then dredge in the flour seasoned with salt and pepper.

2) Heat the oil in a skillet until quite hot. Add the fillets and cook for about 3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and cook another 5-6 minutes.

3) Transfer the fish to a plate, wipe out the pan.

4) Add the butter to the skillet and when it is foaming and starts to brown, swirl it around and pour over the fish. Sprinkle with the lemon juice and garnish with lemon slices and parsley. James and Huck wouldn’t have capers, but they would be good here too.