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The Underground Railroad

Colson Whitehead

Start date: January 22, 2017

Finish date: January 31, 2017

Discussion: Books of the Month

Why we're reading this: January 2017 Anything Goes Book of the Month
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What Members Thought

Oct 01, 2020 Debbie M rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: choice-awards

3 1/2 Stars.

Colson Whitehead is a very talented writer.
Pretty interesting read, for the most part.
Some scenes so horrific, will forever be embedded in my mind.
This story certainly "worked me up" and had me talking about it to anyone who would listen.
I did not give this 5 stars because I was hoping for more character development.
Some parts dragged and felt unnecessary. The ending, especially, the last 30 pages felt too long and I skimmed through it.

I'm anxious to read Roots and 12 Years a Slave ...more

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Apr 18, 2017 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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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