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
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MODERN / POPULAR READS

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Jan 15, 2020 Rianto Dermawan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

Before reading the book I usually try to look for references and reviews from other readers. The interesting matter of the title can be captured wrongly because literally is related to the railway. By googling in Wikipedia,
'underground railroad' was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early to mid-19 century, and used by enslaved African-Americans to escape into free states and Canada. The scheme was assisted by abolitionists and others sympath Before reading the book I usually try to look for references and reviews from other readers. The interesting matter of the title can be captured wrongly because literally is related to the railway. By googling in Wikipedia,
'underground railroad' was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early to mid-19 century, and used by enslaved African-Americans to escape into free states and Canada. The scheme was assisted by abolitionists and others sympathetic to the cause of the escapees.

This book content a very insolent depiction of how white people brashing black people as property, goods traded. Not only their physical treatment which was very harsh but their perception of slaves' intelligence non-physically was insulting and damaging our nature as human
….Michael’s former master was fascinated by the abilities of South American parrots and reasoned that if a bird could be taught limericks, a slave might be taught to remember as well. Merely glancing at the size of the skulls told you that a nigger possessed a bigger brain than a bird
This is undeniable history crafted in many books by so many writer, fiction and non-fiction. The Underground Railroad is the one of thrilling book that feels hurt to the body and heart.

The story about Cora and Caesar run away from Georgia toward northern part, escape from abominable atrocities. Colson Whitehead is clear and direct, even in some parts he was like teaching a lesson of the story, it's different with mystery in reading Beloved's Toni Morrison.
Colson's words snap, snatch, punch , pain, poignant.

"In death the negro became a human being. Only then was he the white man's equal.
And if you could make a study of the dead, you could make a study of the living."

And there are very few people who have the courage and are willing to be a savior to those who cannot stand suffering. The two black have brave and luck, some did not have that fortune. Because the danger is everywhere, in the south and the north, searched by slave catcher, slave patroller, night rider

The South Carolina chains were of new manufacture - the keys and tumblers marked by regional design - but accomplish the purpose of chains. They had not travelled very far at all.
The devil had long nimble-fingers.

The story is like losing its line in the part when the fight between Ridgeway, the slave catcher against some fellow who suddenly appear helping Cora's escapee. It just stopped there and the story moved to next chapter telling Cora has found a free state and mingle with her new acquaintance, new neighborhood. Seems to be perplexing, is Cora ruminating and dreaming which quite often happened while in hiding. But the story back again with Cora and the slave catcher . For me this quite disturbing and the rating a little slip down from 4 stars. ...more

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Nov 21, 2016 Kathi Early rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I felt the story line was jumbled, skipping ahead than going back to explain how or what happened. There were too many characters and even the main characters were not developed enough to form an attachment to them. Some scenes were not even needed and did nothing to enhance the story line. An example would be the chapter on the grave robbers, one chapter and never mentioned again.

I was intrigued by the underground railroad but found this book to be lacking.

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