April 16 Meeting at Kathy's

We met at my house for lunch to discuss the book "James" by Percival Everet. The novel won the 2024 Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award for Fiction, and the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

The first half of the book I really enjoyed and I felt that the idea of presenting the narrative from the perspective of Jim was unique. However the author reimagines Mark Twain's Jim-- a character who is treated as benign and a bit simple-minded --as a secret intellectual who can not only read, but is well-versed in Voltaire. In this version, the way Black slaves behave and speak is not their true selves but a performance for slave owners. I thought this was a bit much.  Also I didn't understand why this book was Pulitzer quality because I was not impressed with the writing and did not care for the the twist at the end that James was Huck Finns dad.

One of the most beautiful aspects of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is that Huck and Jim were able to have a true, genuine friendship, and this allowed Huck to see the hypocrisy and immorality of the society in which he lived, and to realize that there are values, including friendship, which can transcend those of the society in which we live.  Some agreed with me and others did not.
We had a special guest, Dricka dropped in.  It was sure great getting to see her again.  Hail Hail the gangs all here  OR at least most, missing Edna, Sharon and Alice.

Next meeting is May 21 at Pat's and we will read "The Correspondent" by Virginia Evan.

💜 Kathy G