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The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

Start date: February 1, 2017

Finish date: February 28, 2017

Discussion: Monthly Bonus Reads

Why we're reading this: February Bonus Read- Black History Month
[close] February Bonus Read- Black History Month

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What Members Thought

Feb 08, 2018 Puck rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: people-of-colour, historical-fiction

“All men are created equal, unless we decide you are not a man.”

The Underground Railroad was one of the most praised historical-fiction novels from last year, and that is (mostly) well deserved. Yet I found it lacking something, something that sadly prevented me from agreeing with all the praise.

The book tells the story of runaway slave Cora, who together with fellow slave Caesar escape their Georgia plantation in the hope of finding safety and freedom. They escape with the help of the Un ...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Aug 25, 2020 Jaclyn~she lives! catching up on reviews~ rated it really liked it

Cora’s entire journey was tragic and the ending gutted me.

To be updated

5 likes · Like · see review

May 22, 2018 Jehona rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: america-north, speculative-fiction-scifi-fantasy

It looks so historical in the beginning that t is hard to accept it when it abruptly turns into SF. It's a good book, but if you cannot handle even the mildest of SF elements in a book, this is probably not a book for you.
...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Jan 06, 2019 Keri rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reading-challenge, ontd-2019-reading-challenge

4.5. I was really engrossed in Cora's plight and couldn't put it down. However, I agree that characterization didn't really play much into the story. I liked that the plot was always moving and something new was always happening. The flashbacks felt genuine and only gave enough information that you would need / want to know. The flashback chapters broke up the story, though I can see why they were needed. Overall, a highly recommended read. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 20, 2019 Kathy Miller rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: literary-books, historical-fiction

Colson Whitehead's novel is raw and compelling. The novel revolves around a young slave girl, Cora. Through her bid for freedom we meet other runaway slaves and those, black and white who were part of the Underground Rail Road. Absolute power over slaves, corrupts, absolutely. The savagery of many plantation owners is gut wrenching. With so many slaves out numbering the plantation whites, it was evident they turned to cruel punishments to keep order. With the horrific Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, ...more

1 like · Like · see review