Top Retellings of Classic Tales
Kate
Kate asked Colson Whitehead:

I had to put it down maybe 100 times I felt such deep pain, range, shame. What do you hope we can do with those feelings?

Colson Whitehead A lot of shameful things happen in the book, despicable things, and that is slavery. As to what you can do with it -- I write. I don't know what you can do in your own life, but in most situations being more empathetic works, so...
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More Answered Questions

Emily
Emily asked Colson Whitehead:

The names in the book are striking, especially Caesar and Royal. How did you name your characters, and what were you consciously trying to say with your choices?

A Goodreads user
A Goodreads user asked Colson Whitehead:

I read an Advance Reading Copy. I would like to know why you decided to include vignettes of the various characters throughout the book as you did? Also, why did you choose Mabel’s vignette (Cora’s mom) as the last one?

Shannon
Shannon asked Colson Whitehead:

Did you find it a challenge to immerse yourself in subject matter that is so heartbreaking and horrific? How did you maintain emotional and psychological balance during the research and writing process?

All answers from Colson Whitehead…
Colson Whitehead
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