Annual Book Group Discussion/ Holiday Party

Join the LWVN Book Group

December 8, 1:00-3:00 pm, Waban Library Center

The League of Women Voters of Newton invites all community members to join us on Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 1:00-3:00pm, at the Waban Library Center (1608 Beacon Street, Newton), for an intimate gathering and book group discussion on the novel, James, by Percival Everett.

James is a brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.  It won the 2024 National Book Award and has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize. 

Whether you’ve read the book or not, come engage in a lively discussion of the book.  Bring family, friends and neighbors.  Following the discussion, we invite all to celebrate with us the holiday season and join in some holiday cheer.

Newtonville Books has generously agreed to provide a member discount to anyone purchasing the book from their store.  Just mention that you are buying the book for the LWVN book group discussion.

RSVPs to info@lwvnewton.org are appreciated!

About the Author

Percival Leonard Everett II is an American writer and Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California. He has described himself as “pathologically ironic” and has played around with numerous genres such as western fiction, mysteries, thrillers, satire and philosophical fiction. His books are often satirical, aimed at exploring race and identity issues in the United States.

He is best known for his novels Erasure (2001), I Am Not Sidney Poitier (2009), and The Trees (2021), which was shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, as was his 2024 novel James.

Erasure was adapted as the film American Fiction (2023), written and directed by Cord Jefferson, starring Jeffrey Wright, Sterling K. Brown, and Leslie Uggams.