BookTalk introduces readers to a carefully chosen, provocative selection of novels for reading and informal discussion, considering the author’s writing techniques and the character’s personal journeys. Readings include translations of books from other countries and cultures in the search for fictions that illuminate the lives and understanding of those from all across the globe.
This class focuses on Percival Everett's acclaimed novel James, an action-packed reimagining of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, indelibly narrated from the point of view of the enslaved Jim and brimming with the lacerating humor and keen observations that define Everett's distinctive style. Upon learning that he is about to be sold and forever separated from his wife and daughter, James hides to formulate an escape plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father. Thus begins their dangerous and life-changing journey by raft down the Mississippi River, where encounters with an evolving cast of characters continually expose the absurdities and injustice of racism on the eve of the Civil War. Throughout, James's intelligence and compassion shine in a radically new light.
Login/Create account
