Adult Book Discussion
The Adult Book Club will meet on March 20 to discuss James by Percival Everett
1:00 p.m.
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.
Brimming with electrifying humor and lacerating observations, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
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.
Brimming with electrifying humor and lacerating observations, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
The Adult Book Club provides an informal, congenial atmosphere for patrons over eighteen years of age to share their literary interpretations of the current book selection. Everyone should read the month’s selection before the meeting. Please feel free to attend even if you haven’t finished the book as long as you don’t mind hearing how the book ends. Everyone is encouraged to participate in the discussion, but listeners are welcome.
Light refreshments are served by individuals from the group on a volunteer basis. Extra copies of the book selection are available one month in advance at the library circulation desk.
Registration is requested and may be done at the circulation desk or by calling the library at 812-358-2853.
Program facilitated by: Karen Raymer
