Gibson's Book Club reads James, by Percival Everett
In June the Gibson's Book Club reads James, by Percival Everett.
A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view. NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER
When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, 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, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
Our book club is free and open to the public. We welcome newcomers and one-timers with open arms! Our eclectic and ambitious book club selections are chosen democratically by the members each year. Join us for our next meeting!
You may also like the following events from Gibson's Bookstore:
- This Saturday, 10th May, 12:30 pm, Bedrock: The Making of a Public Garden, with Jill Nooney in Concord
- Next Friday, 16th May, 06:30 pm, Poets Square: A Memoir in Thirty Cats, with Courtney Gustafson in Concord
- Next Sunday, 18th May, 01:00 pm, Storytime! Kari Allen and Carrie Kruck in Concord
Also check out other
Arts events in Concord,
Literary Art events in Concord,
Meetups in Concord.