Reading Californians Book Discussion: 'James,' by Percival Everett
In-person TicketsOnline-only Tickets
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Join us for what is bound to be a lively discussion about Percival Everett's James, winner of the Pulitzer Prize as well as the California Book Awards' 2025 gold medal in fiction. The book retells Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved character, Jim, who is called James. The story follows James as he escapes to avoid being sold, meeting Huck Finn, who is also on the run, and their subsequent journey down the Mississippi River, but with James as the central, intelligent protagonist driving the narrative. The novel reclaims Jim's agency, offering a powerful and critical re-examination of the original classic.
We are returning to our roots with an in-person book discussion.
This program has 2 types of tickets available: in-person and online-only. Please pre-register to receive a link to the live-stream event.
If you have symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, etc.), we ask that you either stay home or wear a mask. Our front desk has complimentary masks for members and guests who would like one.
The Commonwealth Club of California is a nonprofit public forum; we welcome donations made during registration to support the production of our programming.
A Reading Californians Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums.
Commonwealth Club World Affairs is a public forum. Any views expressed in our programs are those of the speakers and not of Commonwealth Club World Affairs.
All ticket sales are final and nonrefundable.
The Commonwealth Club of California
Max Thelen Boardroom
110 The Embarcadero
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Moderator: Kalena Gregory
Chair, Reading Californians Member-led Forum, Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California—Moderator
4:30 p.m. doors open & check-in
5–6:15 p.m. program
(all times Pacific Time)
COST
In-person:
$5 nonmembers
Free for members and students
Online:
$5
Free for members and students
