genre: historical fiction
Like in the novel Huckleberry Finn that this book is based on, Jim is a runaway slave. "Huck" is an integral part of Jim's story as he flees the slave master who threatens to sell him and take Jim away from his wife and daughter. There are misadventures and strange characters and it's definitely a tight take on the classic tale. Unfortunately, I haven't read Huck Finn since I was in high school, so many of the parallels were lost on me - but even as a stand alone book, this was a phenomenal listen.
I did not find it hilarious, like several reviews have mentioned. I found it to be intricately thoughtful and sometimes ponderous, the great weight of Jim's skin color and role as slave bearing down on every move he makes in a broken society that sees that skin color as an excuse to treat him like garbage. I just wanted so much better for him, the indignity is so painful to witness and brings up such intense emotions, as well it should. I found it to be heartbreaking, honestly, desperately sad and raw. I loved the way that language is used in this book, the intentional and illustrated code-switching and how Jim's intelligence shines through in both his thoughts and actions.
I am so glad I listened to this because the narrator makes this story come alive in such a visceral way. For myself, there are only a couple of tiny plot holes that would make me give it 4.5 stars instead of 5 but I'm rounding up because I think it deserves it.
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