Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass. The moon was not quite full, but bright, and it was behind them, so I could see them as plain as day, though it was deep night. Lightning bugs flashed against the black canvas. I waited at Miss Watson's kitchen door, rocked a loose step board with my foot, knew she was going to tell me to fix it tomorrow. [opening of James]
I grew up reading about Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn's adventures. I decided against re-reading Mark Twain's classic novels before picking up James though, preferring to let my memories of them remain as they are. Percival Everett opens his novel with a well known scene from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, only this time from Jim's perspective. It's Jim's turn to tell his side of the story, and I am here for it!
Deep in the night from deep in the forest, I heard the barking and howling of hounds. I pulled myself into an even tighter ball atop the tree roots that had become my bed. There was a mama raccoon that lived in the tree. She had taken to walking past me nonchalantly in the darkness. Tonight she stayed in the tree, high above me, listening to the dogs. We were both animals and we didn't know which of us was the prey. [page 92 of James]
I can already tell James will likely be among my favorite books of the year.
A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.
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 The 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. [Goodreads Summary]
Do you have a series you've been meaning to finish but haven't? Which one(s) and why?
I am the queen of starting series. I always mean to get back to them. And sometimes I do. But there are so many. And so many new ones to start. One of my ongoing reading goals it so work my way through the series I am reading. Let's be honest though. It'll take me a lifetime. Probably longer. I am caught up in a few of the series I read, but not most. The list of series I am in the middle of is way too long to post here today, but here are a small few series I have been wanting to finish or catch up with:
To answer the why of this week's question, all I can say is that each of these series captured my heart, has characters I have enjoyed getting to know, and want to continue to spend time with. Some I am newer to than others, but we have been through a lot together. Some make me laugh, almost all have brought tears to my eyes and kept me up too late at night because I have to know what happens next.
What about you? Are you a series reader? If so, which series are you looking forward to catching up on or completing? Are we reading any of the same series?
Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.With the changing of seasons from summer to fall in September, do you have a favorite book that reflects the essence of this transitional period or one that you enjoy reading when the temperature cools down? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)
Autumn is one of my favorite seasons. Although my reading does not always flow with the seasons and the cool temperatures do not hit until about mid-October, this time of year always makes me think of snuggling under a blanket with a book, the smell of cinnamon or wet leaves, and the feel of a chill in the air. It makes me think of Gothic novels, haunted houses, ghosts, witches, and dark academia, whether cozy, romantic, scary, or fantastical. I am not much of a re-reader and so there really isn't one book I return to this time of year. But here are some of my recent favorites that bring to mind this time of year:
What about you? Do you have a favorite fall read or a book you would recommend this time of year?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!
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