From the Bookshelf of EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club…

The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

Start date: July 1, 2020

Finish date: July 31, 2020

Discussion: MODERN / POPULAR READS

Why we're reading this: Group Read for July '20 - Modern Classic / Popular …more
[close] Group Read for July '20 - Modern Classic / Popular

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MODERN / POPULAR READS

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What Members Thought

Apr 14, 2019 Chanie rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

I’m not sure how to rate it - do I rate it based on how it’s written or how I experienced it? It’s a good book, but it’s such a TEDIOUS read! Ugh. It was awful. And I couldn’t work up enough interest in the characters to sludge through this man’s stiff writing. I will NEVER recommend this to anyone.

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Apr 26, 2017 Katie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Caesar wants Cora to escape from the plantation with him because he considers her a good luck charm - her mother was the only slave to ever leave the plantation and not be captured. They are pursued by the ruthless slave catcher Ridgeway, who shows his contempt for the slaves he hunts down by referring to them as “it” instead of “he” or “she”.
In Whitehead’s rendering, the underground railroad is an actual physical railroad that Cora rides while chasing freedom. Whitehead also takes liberties wi ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Amy rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

When I first finished this, I felt emotionally this was a 5. It's not really a 5-star book for me, though. The characters were a bit too undeveloped; I have too many questions remaining, and not in the "Man, I wish there was a sequel" way, but just in general.

It was a good read, though. I didn't know anything about it before I read it, so I was *really* confused when the railroad turned out to be a REAL subway-like railroad system. ...more

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