James by Percival Everett

 

My beloved Book Club read this book before it won the Pulitzer.  We are so ahead of the times!

Briefly, this is a retelling of sorts.  This time, we get Jim's perspective of his time with Huckleberry Finn.  And wowza, is that perspective different!

We had mixed reviews.  Some members found it hard to read.  The language, the treatment of slaves as less than human, the way the slaves found ways to survive and hope despite all of it.  My comments here are not really a review but more of a jumble of reactions!

Huck's recognition that slavery/ownership is wrong is a strong theme here - he is a cast off too in some ways, and knows from experience what it is like to be overlooked, beaten, and treated less than human.  The scene where Jim find's Huck's dad's body is heartbreaking  - Jim does his best to protect his young friend. 

Jim's written idea that only your peer can stand up for you - for your equality - made me stop and think that through.  You (a slave) cannot say that you're equal to them (whites) because in their eyes you are NOT equal to them.  So somebody else has to tell you or them that you are equal.   Also, this whole notion of the black code, where Jim changes his language, switches in front of white people to keep up white people's belief that slaves are uneducated and stupid. I listened to the audio version of this one, and the "switch" in front of white people really came out strong.  Something this white girl never thought about. To be black, and smart, were never two things that could both be true as far as the white people were concerned.  After all, that would make their slaves human.  

James, once rid of Huck, spends his time reading and worries that he'll be caught reading and writing.  And he says he reads so fast that his brain didn't have time to stop and think through what he had read.  Was he reading fast because he was afraid of being caught and didn't want to waste a moment?   

"With my pencil, I wrote myself into being."  As if he needed tangible proof that he indeed lived.  Otherwise, there would be no tangible evidence of his existence after he was gone.

James Faber - he got that name off the side of the pencil!!  But oh, that pencil was crazy expensive.  Poor young George.

"I ain't no N Word, but I is a slave."  Whoa.

A slave can be defined by a piece of paper, by law, but a N word is a slur, an insult, the worst derogatory that a black person can hear about himself.  What was really meant by N word in those days?  And did white people see a difference between the two terms?  Doubtful, and shameful.  Could a Freeman be an N word?

And, towards the end, that heartbreaking choice Jim must make.  A lot to talk about there!!

So, definitely a LOT to unpack here.  Brilliant and brave, even if the ending did stretch the imagination a bit and diverged from the original story.  If you liked The Kitchen House, this book is for you.  And I would say, this story is a good reminder of where we do NOT want to be ever again.

The Secret War of Julia Child by Diana R. Chambers

 

If you like historical fiction, and especially fictionalized history, this book is for you!

I had NO IDEA.  Of course we all know who Julia Child was, but most of us only knew her as (older) woman who brought French cooking to the American public.  I didn't know she was a SPY.

This novel gives a possible scenario of Julia's time in Burma (Sri Lanka) and other exotic locations.  It supposes details on how she met her husband, and how their love grew.  Chambers does what I thought was a great job in describing Julia's life, her big personality, her outlook, and how she was also insecure - about her voice and her height and her Self.  And, how Paul Child saw all of it and loved her.  

But mostly this story is one of action.  While I wouldn't say the writing was of the highest quality here, I was so fascinated by the story of what Julia was fictionally up to that I could not put this one down.  The author is careful to state that these events "could" have happened this way but that she imagined them all.  We have no real record of what Julia did during her time in the service, but we know she was there and I admire the author for taking that fact and weaving a very possible story from it with very little actual events to go on.  Well done!  I believed every word.

Plus, I mean just LOOK at that cover!  Love it.

This could be a great book club book.  Matter of fact, I think this might have been a book in our book club swap.  Maybe I will recommend it!  As you will see, I seem to be reading a lot of books about "seasoned" women lately, and I am loving it.  Being very salty myself.  HAHA.

Gothictown by Emily Carpenter

 

It just so happens this was the first book I bought on the 2025 Greater Charlotte Book Crawl, on April 1, at an event for Emily Carpenter!  Gothictown was originally described to me as horror, which is not really my jam.  But, I admire authors so much for their work, dedication, revision acceptance, and research that I will go to any Author Event I can!  I even asked the question during the Q&A if this was really True Horror like the King, Stephen.  I was assured it was more creepy than anything, and that was true.  Like chills up your spine trying to figure out how Billie was going to get out of this mess!!

Here's the gist:  a young couple and their 6 year old daughter take an offer to move from NYC to small town Georgia, where for $100 they can buy a house if they will set up business in this dying town.  (Hint - that is foreshadowing!!!)  This small town named Juliana, after the founder's daughter who died young, is a close knit community who seem to barter many services, never go on vacation, and are dedicated to Juliana.  Like, really dedicated. 

So, Billie and Peter move into the big mansion, and things get weird.  They can't sleep, there are nightmares, nothing seems to get done.  Billie opens her restaurant (which was another draw for me - scary story about a restaurant owner!  HAHAHA!  Welcome to my life!) and gets some intense attention from her business neighbor.  (In her Author's notes, Carpenter admits she did not spend much focus on how hard it is to open and run a restaurant; she worked in one for a while before writing this so she knew of what she spoke.  That part of the novel is 100% fantasy haha!!!)

Yeah, things go downhill from there.  Billie is a great strong female protagonist, and her daughter is adorable and perceptive.  The town Elders are the creeptastic ones, and that is a good word to describe this story.  I could not put it down.  It just kept rolling faster and faster and faster and I thought to myself that the writing actually got better and better and better as it went on; not that it was bad at first but the story just rolled!!!

The moral of the story is:  don't always believe what they tell you about a book.  Or a $100 mansion, either.

The 2025 Greater Charlotte Book Crawl Report

 (This is a long one, y'all, get your coffee/wine ready....)

Ah, April in Charlotte - the azaleas bloom for about 3 days, the Pollen keeps my husband indoors and medicated, and the rain gives us a hint of the June thunderstorms to come.

Also, it is the month of the Greater Charlotte Book Crawl!!!!!!!

I started the Book Crawl in its inaugural year, 2023.  I made it to a few stores but didn't come close to finishing.  Last year - well, last year was Restaurant Hell, so I didn't even try.  But this year, I was determined!  I even wore my Book Earrings.  (What, you don't have any??)  Over about 11 days, I completed the Book Crawl Challenge by visiting 22 bookstores in and around Charlotte.

This is such a great, win-win event.  With several corporate sponsors (thank you Cannon School, Rowan Rock & Timber, and Charlotte Arts & Lectures!), and powered by Independent Booksellers in and around Charlotte, this event encourages not only reading, but support of local businesses, a sense of adventure and community, and a great excuse to buy more books!  No purchase is necessary, but hey, we are talking about READERS here.

A new scheme was put into place this year to encourage tiers of completion:  At the seventh store visited, participants received a free poster about reading.  Once they hit 15 stores, the prize is a GCBC tote bag that perfectly fits two layers of several hardback books sideways.  IYKYK!  And at completion of all 22 stores, a coupon for 10% off at any store was handed out, to be used by the end of May.  I loved these levels of incentives - kept me interested and motivated!! 

Once I finished visiting all the stores, I entered to win the Grand Prize, which is a $20 gift certificate to EACH of the 22 stores!!  Whoo hoo!  More books!!  Yesterday I found out that 676 of my fellow participants also entered to win, and alas, I did not win the Grand Prize.  

Oh well.

I still consider myself a winner.  Although my TBR stack has now spilled into TWO bookshelf cubbies.

Here is how I did it:

1.  Troubadour Booksellers is one of the newest stores in town at only 6 months old.  This proper bookstore in Matthews on Monroe Road is beautifully set up with tables at the door for new releases, a whole section of fantasy/romantasy, science fiction and horror, and most all other fiction blended together by alphabetical author all down the right hand side wall.  Troubadour hosts several different book clubs, has reading sessions with Library employees for kids, hosts author events like the one I went to April 1 with Emily Carpenter for her new book Gothictown (Book #1 in my stack!), and has a super friendly staff!  This is my new Local!!!

2.  So Much More To The Story - a Bookery is a sweet little brick and mortar store that started out as a mobile pop up and graduated to permanent status (while keeping the bookmobile) in Monroe.  The flowers out front, the sweet window display, the gifts selection!  This is a gem of a store, and the first of many with that highly desired address of MAIN STREET!

3. The Book Lady is a used book store institution, also in Monroe.  Stacks and stacks of books and a hush over them all make this feel like an old library.  You can drop off used books for store credit, and all fiction is alphabetical by author - although they separate paperbacks and hardbacks!  Super fun for browsing, you definitely need extra time in here.

4.  The final stop in Monroe was Archimedes Loft.  Took me a while to find this one - you must look for the sign painted on the window of the eclectic gift shop the books share space with.  Archimedes was also mobile only to start, and she focuses on LGBTQ stories.  I had a great time chatting with the owner and bought two books here - AND a darling reversible hand sewn apron for my daughter!

5.  Park Road Books has long been my favorite local bookstore, as well as many a Charlottean since 1977!  For a while I thought they were the only gig in town besides the big box stores.  (Thank you, GCBC, for my education!)  I was in there so much that the owner, Sally, recognized my voice over the rows of shelves!  She came to my book club to talk books, and to my church to talk books, and I love Sally.  I read what Sally says to read.  Sally is the one who admonished me for not reading more of an author just because I didn't like one book.  (You don't "not like" a sibling of someone you don't like, do you?)  So when PRB had an author event/book launch, and for my NEIGHBOR Carol Baldwin no less, in April, this had to be next on my list!  I love to wander down the first aisle, then say hello to the chairs and the kids books, then have a look at the YA Fantasy covers as I make my way back up to the recent releases in the front window.  Just, a CLASSIC bookseller, and man do they know their books (and puzzles!). PRB is on par with Costco for me not being able to leave without a stack of books.  I love it.  Say hello to Yola for me next time you go (woof woof!).

6.  Next up for me was a trip to Belmont, NC and Belmont Books.  I walked in through the back door, wandered up the back hall by the staircase, and BAM - this is my new favorite store.  It is BEAUTIFUL!! Now, maybe I loved it because they serve wine.....  ha. And have a darling little patio out back. But honestly, I loved the color, the set up, the furniture - it just had that Vibe.  I told my book club we should do a field trip out to Belmont - it is worth the drive. Plus, they have a dog. (Cute little Main street too!)

7.  About 2 miles up the street I found Cleary's Bookstore in Mount Holly (and I am still on Main Street!).  Jammed packed with books, this small space manages not to feel claustrophobic and literally packs a lot in.  They seem to do lots of good events, but at other spaces as they are so small.  Bumped into another fellow book lover here (Hi Annissa Joy!) and delighted the bookseller as this was my seventh stop so I was their first customer to receive the It's A Good Day To Read poster!!  Whoo hoo!

8.  Then I drove back through town and hit Book Buyers. Oh My Goodness do they have books.  Huge space, row after row after row of bookshelves!  And cats.  There must have been 5-7 cats wandering the aisles.  Just so ya know.  This is a used bookstore over on Eastway Drive.  I had never been here and I am not sure I have ever seen so many books.  Whew, overwhelming.

9.  So it is only fitting that I ended this day (five stores in one day was quite a lot, actually!) by going back down Central Avenue and venturing into Trope Bookshop.  I had heard about this store, but had never been.  For some reason whoever told me about it gave me bad vibes, but I thought it was super cute!  They ONLY carry Romance Novels.  That's right, y'all, it is no cliche to say this store was full of women, mostly young(er than me) girls.  Lots of bright covers, lots of romantasy, and lots of business!!  Romance novels are not really my thing, but I did like this old house converted into rooms of books.  Good think I like houses turned into bookstores.....

10.  ...because that was not the only one!  Editions - Coffee & Bookstore had even more twisty-turny rooms and hallways lined with books!  Located kinda out there, but not the farthest even, in Kannapolis, this one took a separate trip.  I grabbed some coffee and a delicious strawberry croissant and wandered the rooms, back hall, the sewing room, and the front porch filled with tables to look out through the enclosed windows onto, yep, you guessed it:  Main Street!!!  

11. Another Used Book Store was next up:  Second Look Books.  I felt very comfortable in here as if I was in someone's storage room, garage, or Rec Room full of books (I am looking at you, Mom).  I bumped into Kimber from The Book Rack (see below) in this shop!  Fun little gifts in here too, book related of course - I bought two books and two pair of book related earrings for my daughters (Harry Potter and Kitty with Tea and Books; if you know them, you know who got which!!).  I would actually make the trip back up to Harrisburg for this smaller store, I liked it!!

WHEW!  I AM HALFWAY THERE!  GO GRAB A REFRESHER ON YOUR CUPPA OR COFFEE OR SOME ICE CREAM WHILE I/WE TAKE A BREAK.

OK, READY?  GO!

12.  One Friday late afternoon, my husband was at our restaurant and I was home alone with no plans (That is what happens when you own a restaurant, you never make plans on the weekends because you are usually working!).  So I jumped into my car and headed southwest to my home state of South Carolina.  Rock Hill was on the GCBC map this year and I decided to spend my Friday night there!  The first shop, Tall Stories Books & Print Gallery, was easily the most eclectic shop with the most eclectic wares and books and layout!  Looked like they combined two former spaces, one on the ground floor and one up several stairs, and sold everything from books, used and new, to toys from the '70's to antique first edition books priced at $1000 just sitting right there on a shelf behind the main desk for all to see and reach.  Crazy!!

13.  Next I drove around the corner until I saw the huge skeleton.  Seriously, those were the directions I got from the staff at Tall Stories to find the Liberty Book Company.  Easily my second favorite store.  It too is an old house, and boy did they EVER cram some books in here!  I literally stood at the doorway for about 2 full minutes just taking it all in.  So many nooks and crannies and archways and rooms and BOOKS!   Another combo of new and old here, plus some spooky, witchy, magical, rebellious and winkable items.  I LOVED it.  I wandered and felt the ghost spirit that must be there and was fascinated by the layout of the house and its history - there were books all the way down the walls right up to the back door hallway.  I asked my new friend Allison (store owner) if the house was haunted because it MUST be and she just nodded knowingly. I knew she knew her stuff because she had Outlander in the Historical Fiction section where it belongs!!!!  We had a delightful chat, I bought several many books, and I would definitely go back there again.  Super fun to browse.

14. Last in SC was CCB Bistro & Vine.  Also known as Corks, Cooks & Books.  Situated at the end of a strip mall in Rock Hill, this is much more of a cafe/wine bar than a book store.  I will keep in mind that I was there on a Friday evening.  But with people sitting around the relatively small space, it was hard to browse without feeling like you were on top of the people eating.  So, when in Rome, right?  I ordered my dinner to go and had a glass of wine while I waited.  

15.  My final stop that evening was to sneak into my good old standby: The Book Rack in South Charlotte.  Best Used bookstore in town imho.  (Then again, I didn't know about all the other ones, shame on me.)  I honestly have so much credit in here that I should never have to pay more than $3 for a book ever again in my life.  But I will!  And, this being stop #15, I earned my GCBC Tote Bag with this visit!!  Cue the bar bell!!  Huge space laid out so there is room to wander, mostly organized by genre then author. Historical Fiction to the right behind the desk, thrillers in the middle, sci-fi to the left, romance in the back, Literary Fiction in the left side room with kids, cookbooks, and religion.  Drop off all your "I'm done with this one" books for credit when you come back in.  And Kimber does a hilarious job on social media  - so follow the Book Rack on Facebook/Instagram!

16.  The next several stops I had to break into visits on several different days.  There was one lady who completed the entire crawl in three days - no way I could have done that!  Anyway, I went up to North End one afternoon to visit That's Novel.  I had been there two years ago when I started the Crawl and there were a few books in the back of a gift shop.  Well, NOW there are a few gifts on a table in the middle of this Book Store!  Not a huge selection, but a great addition to all the restaurants and shops in the area of town just north of uptown for sure.

17.   Another day I headed to Concord and visited Goldberry Books.  Now this was an interesting stop.  Famous for the green velvet sofa in the middle of the shop, this store also had an entire cabinet devoted to Tolkien.  Turns out, even the name of the store is a reference to a character in his books.  AND, it was the first place I had been to that had all their fiction arranged by author - all of it.  No separate area for historical fiction and sci fi and thriller, nope it was all on the left hand wall.  I find this GREAT if you know exactly what book you are looking for, or if you are working on being a completist for a particular author.  But for browsing maybe not so much.  Still, I managed, haha.  I did like this store and spent a lot more time in here than I meant too.  Oops.  And, bought my first Christmas present!  Well, I won't wait that long to gift it, but you know what I mean.  I bought something for someone ELSE! Shocker. (and, no, the book in the picture is not the gift, it is for me - but it's a book club book so that's ok, right??)

18. Then I drove slowly through the little mill town -so cute- to find the Urban Book Reader Bookmobile.  Those ladies are hilarious!!  I just about fell into the bookmobile that used to be a school bus, and joked that I was falling for another book, and it went downhill from there (wink).  This bookshop focuses on African American writers and stories.  I walked out with two books that have been on my list for a long time and two new friends!! 

19.  Salisbury is a great little town, but I am sorry to say I just don't think this store should be on the Greater Charlotte Book Crawl. It's too far away.  There were plenty of other stores closer to home that I would rather visit.  BUT, I went - South Main Book Company was an hour drive from my house, and had one of the prettier storefronts on guess where - Main Street.  But honestly, nothing special.  

20. So close!  One more day of driving up 77 to go to Mooresville, Cornelius and Davidson and I would be done.  I may have spent more in gas than I did in books.  Yeah, ok, no not really.  Number 20 was Fred and June's Books on Main Street in Mooresville.  I had never been to Mooresville and the Saturday afternoon I went they had a festival on Main Street and it was all pedestrianized.  I did not have very high hopes about this store from the outside, but inside was a delight. Never judge a bookstore by its cover.  Clean lines, easily identifiable genre signs, adorable little kids room at the back.  This is what a local bookstore is all about.  Check out their story here: About | Fred & June's Books

21.  Walls of Books is another small used book store tucked in a strip mall just off I-77.  I walked in and almost immediately found two books of one of my favorite series that I had not been able to find in print.  BINGO!  Lots of eclectic and older choices in here - I could have browsed a bit longer but.....

22.  I saved Main Street Books for LAST!  I had been to Davidson to an Author event a few years ago, but it was not held at the store, so I had never actually been in the store.  Loved it.  Classic set up with shorter shelves throughout and a thoughtful display on the left side wall.  Lots of gift items too. So great to get that final stamp, plus a 10% off my entire purchase coupon to be used in May at any of the stores.  I felt very accomplished!

So THAT is my Book Crawl Report.  I will definitely visit several of these again, and loved seeing how they were all so different in design, space, use of space, definition of genre, choice of books, and just how friendly everyone was.  And how many bookstores are on Main Street (7!).  So fun.

That's a Reader for ya.  Next time, I'll reveal all the books I bought!!! My poor TBR.....