Pulitzer-prize finalist James by Percival Everett should be on your summer reading list. The novel feels note-worthy and important. Every American should read this book to gain a better understanding of the history of the United States and, more specifically, slavery. My Swedish husband Sven, no doubt, might have a hard time with the “slave speech,” but Jim’s switching back and forth from dumbed-down dialect to proper English is part of what makes this book so unique. The novel is about Jim, whom many of us met in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The action-packed story follows the same general plot line. It is told from the perspective of James who jumps off the pages with humor and charm, wit and intelligence. Critics have called James a masterpiece. Do get yourself a copy.
