Percival Everett (Photo – Michael Avedon)
To commemorate the 23rd year of Pasadena’s One City, One Story community reading project, the public is invited to a special event featuring renowned author Percival Everett, whose novel James has been selected as this year’s reading.
By News Desk
The event will take place on Saturday, March 15, at 2:00 pm at Pasadena Presbyterian Church (585 E. Colorado Blvd.), where Everett will share insights into the process of writing his critically acclaimed novel. A question-and-answer session will follow, allowing attendees to engage directly with the author.
Prior to the discussion, from 1:30 to 2:00 pm, attendees can enjoy an interpretive dance performance inspired by James, setting the stage for an afternoon of exploration into this powerful work.
James reimagines The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, offering a harrowing yet darkly comedic narrative from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved character from Mark Twain’s classic novel. Set in 1861 along the Mississippi River, the story follows Jim’s flight from slavery and his precarious journey alongside Huck Finn, who has escaped his abusive father. As they navigate treacherous waters, Jim must face the agonizing burden of separation from his family, the constant danger of discovery, and the weight of a lie that defines his existence.
Scorchingly plotted, unexpectedly comical, and heartbreakingly poignant, James reclaims Jim’s voice, allowing him to emerge from the margins of history with a depth and dimensionality that defy expectations. Through this reimagining, Everett captures the essence of Jim’s humanity while confronting the horrors of slavery and the pursuit of freedom.
Everett, a distinguished professor of English at USC, is widely acclaimed for his body of work, which includes James, winner of several prestigious awards, including the 2024 National Book Award, the 2024 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the 2024 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. Other notable works include Dr. No, The Trees, Telephone, and Erasure, the latter of which was adapted into the 2023 Academy Award-winning film American Fiction. Everett’s contributions to literature have earned him the NBCC Ivan Sandrof Life Achievement Award and the Windham Campbell Prize from Yale University.
Discussion with author Percival Everett March 15 Dance performance: 1:30 to 2:00 pm Discussion: 2:00 pm Location Pasadena Presbyterian Church 85 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena
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