Book Group: James

Primary tabs

Program Description

Event Details

Join us for the Pacific Beach Library's monthly book discussion!  Our group meets in a hybrid format, so you can choose whether you'd prefer to join us in-person in the PB Library's Community Room or virtually (please send an email to cwainwright@sandiego.gov for this year's Teams login info).  

Description: When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond. While many narrative set pieces of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river's banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin . . .), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.

If you'd like to check out a print copy of the book, they are available 1 month before each discussion at the Pacific Beach Library's Circulation Desk.  Please call 858-581-9934 x0 before coming to pick it up so that staff may confirm availability.

Book Discussion Calendar

  • January 8, 2026: Select titles to discuss in 2026
  • February 12: James  by Percival Everett
  • March 12: tba
  • April 9: tba
  • May 14: tba
  • June 11: tba
  • July 9: tba
  • August 13: tba
  • September 10: tba
  • October 8: tba
  • November 12: One Book, One San Diego selection (to be announced)
  • December 10: tba
  • January 14, 2027: Select titles to discuss in 2027
  • February 11, 2027: tba

Accessibility

Need disability-related modifications or accommodations? Information and program content can be made available in alternative formats upon request by emailing RACooper@sandiego.gov.